The Norwegian Lundehund is unlike any other breed on earth — a small Spitz developed on the remote Norwegian island of Værøy to climb sheer cliffs and pull live puffins from rock crevices. Six fully functional toes on each foot, ears that fold shut to keep out debris, shoulders that rotate flat to the side and a neck that bends backward to touch the spine are not curiosities — they're working adaptations. Fewer than 2,000 Lundehunds exist worldwide, and almost every individual carries the gene for Lundehund Syndrome, a protein-losing intestinal disorder that defines how the breed must be fed and monitored. This guide covers the breed's near-extinction and recovery, its quirky independent temperament, the realities of living with a primitive Spitz in a UK home, and the lifelong dietary management every owner has to commit to.
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