Temperament
They're playful, curious, happy, gentle and sensitive.
They're quite calm indoors, but very active outdoors. They love long unleashed hikes but won't complain if you don't have time. They have a natural tendency to stay close-ish to their people during unleashed walks, so you don't have to put a lot of training into that. They do obviously need to have some recall training, in case of dangerous situations. They do their own thing during walks, but always keep an eye on you. Most like to hunt/dig for mice, some are interested in birds, but they will stay close. They don't chase larger animals, as they know their limitations. They also know when to give up chasing birds or other smaller animals. When I can't find any of my Lundehunds during a walk, in most of the cases they're just right behind me.
They adapt to their owner's activity level. They can hike for hours in the woods, even my female of 14 years old could effortlessly come along, and the next day happily spend all day on the couch. They're alert and aware of their surroundings and will bark if there's something unusual, so they might not be the best fit for someone living in a noisy apartment.
They're independent but velcro, eager to please but stubborn, aloof but friendly. You can't force them to do things, you have to work together or convince him/her that it was his/her idea in the first place, but for a treat they'll do anything. Overall they love to do things together with their owner. If you're looking for a "sit, lay down, high five, heel"-kinda dog, this breed wouldn't be the best choice. They can learn all kinds of tricks, but if it's your main goal to do tricks/obedience, there are other breeds that would be a more suitable choice. This breed needs to have a bond with the handler before you uncover their biddability, if you know how to motivate them and like at bit of challenge, they would be happy to learn lots of stuff!They can hold a grudge if you don't treat them right (in their eyes). They require lots of socialization and exposure at a young age to make a well rounded dog. Pups of this breed are very mouthy. Consistent positive socialization is crucial for this sensitive breed. They imprint negative experiences very easily. If you don't desensitize them, they can have low tolerance for handling, by strangers or even by their owner sometimes. Most don't like getting their nails clipped, but because of the shape of their feet, they do need nail maintenance regularly. They can be manipulative with their drama, like screaming when their nails are done. Don’t fall for it, and they’ll give up. If you fall for it, they'll continue being a drama queen. If you want to do conformation, make sure to train, train, train. I've heard a lot of people describing this breed as nervous, skittish etc. These people think they're experts on the breed after meeting/seeing them at a show and probably never saw Lundies in a more natural environment, like their home or during walks. Some Lundies don't really like noisy, crowded places, so meeting them at shows isn't necessarily the best place to get an accurate impression of the breed.
There are 4 things that you should keep in mind though:
1) They bark. But usually only alert barking, so no "play with me" or "give me attention" barking. Out of the Scandinavian Spitz types, I think they're one of the quietest.
2) It might take a while before they're completely house-trained. Males are a lot easier than females. For my females it took between 6 to 12 months of age. Some people will say they're impossible to house-train. They just require consistency and a routine. Far too many people excuse their Lundies’ behavior as being “the breed” when in fact they’re just too lazy to be consistent.
3) Some are very sensitive. If you don't have the time to take certain things slow, don't get a Lundehund. They need a gentle but realistic owner who can read stress signals/body language. Some Lundies are bomb proof but it's not something you should expect. However, it is a combination of genetics, training, and careful rearing.
4) They need a good diet due to their higher risk to develop gastrointestinal issues. (Lundehund Syndrome is a collective term for a group of intestinal disorders, like IBD, IL & PLE. It's not something that only affects Lundehunds, it's also not uncommon in Yorkies, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Wheatens and Rottweilers, but any breed can get it). It is said that stress or dietary factors might aggravate the condition.Besides their gastrointestinal issues, it's a very healthy breed, it's not unusual for them to become 15+ years old. The breed club in the country of origin doesn't recommend any health testing, but personally I would want a breeder to test the knees and eyes. I had to cancel several studs already because they failed their eye test at young age (3+ years).
Also, this breed has an average litter size of 2,75 pups and singletons aren't unusual. This means it can take a long time before there's a pup available. Most breeders will prioritize puppy buyers that are willing to use the dog in breeding. Meet several Lundies in person if you can. If, after meeting them and hearing about their quirky adventures, you still think they are the right breed for you, talk to several different breeders and meet their dogs. Each breeder has their own philosophies and priorities. Find one that agrees with what is important to you. Your breeder should be someone you have confidence in and that you can talk to easily. Having a breeder that you can have a long term connection with is important.
They're great with kids, if the kid is too rude, they'll just walk away. Even though they're labelled as hunters, I think "gatherer" is a more appropriate description. They were actually just small allrounders, because besides their main job (retrieving alive puffins & their eggs), they also kept the vermin away, kept the kids warm at night and barked when there were intruders. Nowadays, they don't have a real job, but some individuals herd sheep. In Norway some individuals collect geese eggs at the airport. They can have some prey drive but if they grow up with small animals, they'll consider them family and won't hurt them. I know Lundehunds that play with ferrets, rabbits, cats and even small birds. Mine walked around in our garden between chickens and turkeys when we still had them. One of my girls helped me catch my chickens when I needed her to, though she could walk around them all day without even looking at them.They can have a huge personal space -especially the females- and if a dog/cat enters the personal space, it will be warned not to come any closer. When they isolate themselves they need rest and ALL family members should respect that. They love to be near you, but not necessarily on top of you. They're fine chilling on the other side of the room on their pillow.They're a small breed (really, most people think they're larger, but they're about the size of a Border Terrier), so you can easily pick them up when needed. Most females can even be transported in the cabin of planes!Generally, males tend to be cuddlier & more easy going than the females. Females have more drive and are a bit smarter.
