Norwegian Lundehund

Officially originating from Norway, the Lundehund is a very old breed and his physical characteristics make him a cynological rarity.

His very ancient origins go far back in time. The first mention of the breed is found in the writings of Provost Erik Hansen Schonnebol in the 16th century.

Some writings are also dated from the 18th century, the most famous of which is in the book "Trumpet of Nordland" by Petter Dass, this pastor poet recounting the puffin hunt in 1700 on the island of Lovund.

Some even say that his origins could easily date back to the Ice Age.

In any case, the Norwegian Puffin Dog was used for centuries for puffin hunting. This bird was the main source of food for the local population and the feathers were used to make blankets.

This dog, with his six fingers and distinctive ear canals that could close underwater, could easily sneak into cliff holes and precipices to hunt puffins.

The population living on the islands North of the country lived from farming and fishing. Puffin hunting was for a long time one of the main activities at the time.

Between May and June, each dog could bring back a minimum of 100 birds per day for 2 to 3 weeks.

In the 19th century, the use of nets and the protection of puffins made the dog lose his popularity, as he was no longer needed for the survival of the population.

The breed was threatened with extinction with the loss of numbers. In the 1940s, the breed almost disappeared completely.

Later, the remaining specimens were saved and the breed resumed some of his growth, only to face a new threat in the 1960s.

Despite all these threats of extinction, he is still present today. He was officially recognized in 1943 and 1962, and the Norsk Lundehund Klubb was founded.