Norwegian Lundehund Dog Names

When the Norwegian Lundehund lost their official job of puffin hunting, people began to see these unique dogs as great family pets, even with their odd physical features. In the United States, the Norwegian Lundehund is not very well-known; however, they are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the United Kennel Club (UKC). This little dog is beginning to grow on people the more they are seen in dog sports and highlighted by the AKC and other dog clubs. Ski, for instance, is the only United States bred Norwegian Lundehund to win an international title. Ski is formally known in the dog world as International, Norwegian, Finnish, Deutsch, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Swiss Champion Cliffhanger Elsking Princess. Ski travelled overseas and began gathering championships. In Norway, she competed against 45 other Norwegian Lundehunds and was awarded Best of Breed. Ski was also the highest ranked Norwegian Lundehund in Europe, outside of Scandinavia. She also earned a group third placement at the Swiss International Show. While competing in Germany in 2008, Ski earned the Best Feet award at the Herborn-Seelbach shows. Aside from travelling abroad, Ski also competes in the United States and earned the Best Feet award two years in a row at the Norwegian Lundehund National Specialty.  Ski is owned by Sakari Kennels who specializes in Norwegian Lundehunds and Italian Greyhounds.

The Norwegian Lundehund’s name comes from the Norwegian word for puffin or sea parrot. Because these dogs were bred to hunt puffins, they were named Lundehund or puffin dog. For thousands of years, puffins were an important part of the natives’ diets making these dogs essential for catching the birds. Since the Norwegian Lundehund had to climb the cliffs to catch the puffins, they have several interesting characteristics that aided them in the hunt and climb. They have six toes, four that point forward and then two that point inward, similar to a human thumb. These extra toes helped them climb up the slippery rocks. The Norwegian Lundehund can completely fold their ears closed to protect their ear canal from water and dirt when they have to climb through narrow passages in the cliffs. These dogs are also extremely flexible and can bend in ways most dogs, and people, cannot. They had to be flexible so they could climb the steep cliffs. Their shoulders can flex to the point that their forelegs can completely stick out perpendicular to their body. Their neck can also bend all the way back so that the back of their head can touch their spine. This allows them to maneuver within very small and narrow passages.