< Back to Dogs page

The Norwegian Lundehund:
A Rare Breed

Norwegian Lundehunds originated on the islands off the coast of Norway. People bred the dogs to hunt puffins, a sea bird that looks like a cross between a penguin and a parrot.

Lundehunds developed several astonishing physical traits as they adapted to the treacherous terrain they had to navigate in their quest for puffins. For example, Lundehunds have six fully developed toes on each paw. The extra toes help their feet grip the craggy cliff edges of the fjords where the puffins nest.

Lundehunds have pointed ears that stand erect, but they can also fold their earflap closed to protect the ear canal from rain and cold winds that blow off the seacoast.

Lundehunds are also incredibly limber. Extra joints in their necks allow them to bend their head back nearly 180 degrees. Super-flexible shoulder joints let them extend their forelimbs at 90-degree angles from their bodies. Some speculate that such agility made it possible for the dogs to double back in a tight crevice while in pursuit of a puffin.

Lundehunds also have many extraordinary characteristics of temperament and personality that made them successful hunters: tenacity, courage, intelligence, curiosity and an independent spirit.

By the early 1900s, people were no longer using the dogs for hunting. Lundehund numbers soon dwindled to the point that the dogs nearly became extinct. Then, during the mid-1900s, two distemper outbreaks nearly wiped out the Lundehund. Only six dogs remained, and five of them were from the same mother. Thankfully, a few dedicated enthusiasts scrambled to preserve the breed. Today all Lundehunds alive are descended from those six individual dogs, the last survivors of a breed nearly lost to legend.

Sebastian's Story

Story added August 2008. Sebastian's story first appeared in our Spring 2008 newsletter and was written by Amy Fink.

Sebastian and Holly
HFL animal care specialist Holly Thielmann
with Sebastian.

Sebastian is a four-year-old neutered male dog. He resembles a small red fox, but Sebastian is actually a Norwegian Lundehund, one of the world's rarest dog breeds. In the entire world, there are just 1,500 Lundehunds, and only 350 of them live in the United States.

How did such a unique dog find his way to Home for Life®? Sebastian came to the sanctuary from a member of the Norwegian Lundehund breed rescue, who is also a Home for Life® supporter. The rescue took him from a young couple in Oregon who had
neglected him, underfed him and even gave him beer and other liquor to drink!

The rescue could not find Sebastian's breeder, but they did everything they could to rehabilitate the young dog. They removed two bad teeth and put him on an appropriate diet (that did not include alcohol). Sebastian's health improved, but he found it difficult to adapt to life in his rescuer's Minneapolis townhouse. He developed several behavior problems. He ate items like chapstick and ziplock bags, drank copious amounts of water, and resisted all attempts to housebreak him, even with the use of a
crate. Moreover, his high energy and antics unnerved an older Lundehund who shared the household.

At last his rescuer sought out the sanctuary, where she hoped that Sebastian could find a loving, permanent home with those who would understand and cherish all that was unique about him.

Lindsay holding Sebastian
Sebastian's rescuer, Lindsay Baylon, was reunited with her dog at HFL's Tiramisu for Tails event.

Sebastian was quite thin when he arrived at Home for Life®. Initially he seemed to gain weight, but then we noticed that his stomach had become swollen and filled with fluid. We took him to the vet right away. We learned that Sebastian suffers from a medical condition called protein losing enteropathy. Dogs with this condition can literally starve to death because they are unable to absorb the nutrients in their food. The genetics of rare species are often complicated, and such was the case with Sebastian. Research on his breed revealed that Sebastian's illness is known as "Lundehund Syndrome" because so many Lundehunds carry the genes that result the malady.

Although Sebastian will never be cured, the condition can be managed by a fat-free diet, low doses of steroids, antibiotics, and special oil diet additive. Interestingly, Sebastian's attitude and energy never seemed depleted by his disease. Maybe he had just learned to live with feeling ill for so long he knew no different and made the best of it as animals will.

We eagerly anticipate seeing an enhancement in Sebastian's energy and happiness as his health improves. Sebastian has been at HFL for over six months now, and he has become an inseparable part of the small dog group, which includes several young (and young-at-heart) dogs who can match his energy and moxie. His two closest friends are Harry, a Maltese from the Animal Welfare League in Chicago, and Sammy, a cockapoo, who came to HFL form the Animal Humane Society in Minneapolis.

Sebastian is very curious about all the activity at the sanctuary. He monitors all comings and goings from the front port and view windows of his room. Sebastian's sweet nature and inquisitiveness make him a natural for our Pet Peace CorpsSM. He will train in the Renaissance Program, working one-on-one with a student from Boys Totem Town. After he achieves his therapy dog degree, he can begin working with in our other community outreach programs.

Sebastian looks up patiently at his trainer 
Since this story was written, Sebastian did indeed complete his training through the Renaissance program. This photo captures his ability to wait patiently for instructions.

Since Sebastian arrival at the sanctuary, we have taken the time to study the fascinating history of his breed [see right column]. Understanding Sebastian's heritage has helped us appreciate his many remarkable qualities. Yet, his inner qualities of intelligence, resilience, curiosity, and spunk are what make him the rare and special treasure he is to us at Home for Life®.