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Lundehund

History

Characterized by owners as extraordinary, the lundehund is loyal, kind, observant, clever, good, affectionate, lively, charming, playful, happy and always in top shape for a tramp. Obedient and devoted, the lundehund boasts occasional obstinacy as its only negative trait. There also exists both incredible and singular physical aspects of the lundehund. This northland survivor boasts six toes on each foot; ears that can close to protect its ear-canal against dirt and moisture; neck joints that enable it to ben its head backward over its shoulders so that its forehead touches its back; foreshoulder-joints that empower both front legs to stretch straight out to both sides. The lundehund's unusual physical characteristics proved to be useful for the particular hunt in which they engaged. Their toes provided them with a good foothold when they had to balance on steep cliffs or slippery rocks, And these unusual toes also enabled them to crawl through dangerous exhausting passageways. Too, the lundehund used his extra toe to support and brake himself on slippery or uneven terrain. The dog, then, was equipped to venture where no man could go. Mdst useful when he had to titrn or shift in cramped passages were the foreshoulder-joints which enabled the lundehund to 'throw out his arms' if he perchance lost his footing scaling the slippery rocks. Finally, when the lundehund had to reverse himself in order to emerge from the passages to the puffins' nests, the mobility of his neck was uncommonly effective. Some scientists have suggested that lundehunds are the original 'ur' hund, and have survived from before the last Ice Age on the outermost islands of Lofoten; islands that were recorded to be ice-free during the third, and last, Ice Age.

General Appearance The Norwegian Lundehund is a rectangular spitz dog, small, comparatively light, with distinct secondary sex characters. Strong legs with at least six toes on all feet, of which at least five toes on the forefoot and four on the hind foot should take part in supporting the dog. The tail is carried ring-shaped or slightly rolled over the top line, or hanging. Alert, energetic and lively of temperament.

Head Clean, of medium width, wedge shaped. Skull roof slightly domed, protruding supraorbital ridges. Pronounced, but not sharp stop. Wedge shaped muzzle of medium length, ridge of nose slightly convex. A level bite and a moderate undershot bite should not be penalized. Lack of premolars on both sides in both jaws is quite common. Slightly slanted eye openings, eyes not protruding, brown circle around the pupil of the eye. Triangular ears of medium size, broad at base, carried erect, very mobile. They have the specific quality that the cartilage around the ear opening is able to contract, and the external ear leather is folded and turned up in a peculiar way backwards or at right angles upwards so that the ear opening is shut.

Height Dog: 35-38 cm. Bitch: 32-35 cm.

Weight * Dog: approx. 7 kg. Bitch: approx. 6 kg.

A dog measuring the stated maximum should not be preferred to a smaller, otherwise equally good dog.

Neck * Clean cut, of medium length, rather strong with rather rich color.

Tail Set on high, medium short with dense coat but no "flag". Carried ring shaped or slightly rolled over top line, or hanging. The tip of the tail should not be too much over to the side or down the flank. When, for instance, smell or sound catches attention, the tail is hanging, slightly bent backwards.

Body * Rectangular. Strong, straight back, rather slightly descending croup. Long chest of medium width, relatively deep and spacious, not barrel shaped. Belly slightly tucked up.

Forelegs Not markedly angulated. Straight under arms. Oval, slightly outward turned paws with at least six toes of which five should take part in the support of the dog. Eight pads on each paw. The inside plexus of the toe consisting of one three-joint and one two-joint toe with the corresponding tendon and muscle apparatus, gives the paw a strong appearance.

Hind legs Moderately angulated, strong with muscular upper and lower thighs. Oval, outward turned paws with at least six toes of which four take part in supporting the dog. Seven pads because the center big one and the one between toe number 0 and 1 have grown into one, the center pad thereby seeming to be prolonged backwards. When the dog is standing normally on level ground, the toe pads usually carry the weight. Position of hind legs somewhat narrow.

Gait Easy and springy. Movement of front legs with a characteristic rotatory action. Parallel hind movement.

Coat * Soft undercoat. Dense, rough outer coat. Short on head and front of the legs. Richer around the neck and the back of the thighs.

Color * Reddish-brown to fallow with more or less black hair tips, all with white markings. The full-grown dog usually has got more distinct black in the outer coat than the young dog.

Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note * Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.