Norwegian Lundehund

Lundehund syndrome is a protein-losing enteropathy — the dog's malformed gut leaks protein, causing diarrhea, weight loss, a swollen belly, and limb swelling, usually appearing between 2.5 and 10 years of age. You largely cannot avoid it: the breed was rebuilt from about six dogs, so the genetics are near-universal across the population. The realistic goal is management, not prevention — early diet changes, B12 supplementation, and regular albumin bloodwork. Anyone buying this breed should budget for it as a near-certainty, not a risk.

Estimates of 12-15 years are commonly published, but they are optimistic for any individual because Lundehund syndrome materially shortens many dogs' lives. A Lundehund whose gut disease is caught early and managed well can reach that range; one with severe protein loss often does not. In practice, lifespan in this breed is less about age tables and more about how aggressively the digestive disorder is monitored and managed from the first symptoms.

Yes — notably so, and this is one of the most reported owner frustrations. The Lundehund is a primitive, independent breed, and many owners never achieve fully reliable indoor reliability even with consistent effort. Crate training, rigid schedules, and patience improve results, but you should plan for a longer process and the realistic possibility of occasional lifelong accidents. If reliable housetraining is non-negotiable for your household, this is an honest reason to choose a different breed.

Generally yes with their family — they are loyal, energetic, and alert, and bond closely with their people. They can be reserved or wary with strangers and have a primitive, independent streak, so they are not as openly tolerant as a Labrador. Supervise interactions with young children, give the dog space to retreat, and keep play calm. The bigger ownership consideration is rarely temperament; it is the lifelong digestive-health commitment the breed requires.

Purchase price is high simply because the breed is so rare and litters are small, but the meaningful cost is medical. Plan for lifelong gut monitoring: periodic bloodwork (albumin/protein panels), specialized or prescription diets, B12 supplementation, and vet visits for flare-ups — realistically hundreds of dollars a year on the low end and substantially more during active disease. Treat Lundehund syndrome management as a fixed ownership cost, the same way you would budget food, not as an unexpected emergency.

The extra toes are a working adaptation, not a defect. The breed was developed to climb steep sea cliffs and wedge into narrow rock crevices to catch puffins, and at least six fully jointed, muscled toes per foot — plus extra paw pads — gave it the grip and stability to do that on wet rock. The same job produced its foldable ears and a neck flexible enough to bend back to the spine. The toes are healthy and functional; the breed's real health concern is its gut, not its feet.