Originally used by Norwegian farmers to hunt Puffin birds, the Norwegian Lundehund can be traced back to Norse and Danish writings as far back as the 1500s. As its chief role was to hunt Puffins for its meat, eggs and feathers, this dog had to be agile in order to scale and tunnel into the crevices of steep vertical cliffs. This would account for its unusual anatomical characteristic.
Around World War II, the breed nearly became extinct due to rampant canine distemper in the area. Now that Puffins are an endangered species, the Norwegian Lundehund is out of a job in its native country. And even though this is considered a rare breed, the Lundehund is still bred and kept by fanciers of the dog.
The first Lundehunds in North America arrived in Canada in 1960. Paul Ross imported the first Lundehund to the United States in 1987, and The Norwegian Lundehund Club of America was formed in 1988. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed as a member of the Non-Sporting Group in 2011.