Which is Better between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund? A Very Detailed Review.

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Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and for the Norwegian Lundehund. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Norwegian Lundehund

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview

Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund are similar in size. The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Norwegian Lundehund belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever to the Norwegian Lundehund based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Curly-Coated Retriever Norwegian Lundehund
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 65 to 100 pounds 13 to 16 pounds
Life Span 9 to 12 years 10 to 12 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 11.0 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Temperament Score 91.7 percent No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 162 187

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Curly-Coated Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Norwegian Lundehund. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Norwegian Lundehund is 83 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Norwegian Lundehund is a better pet than the Curly-Coated Retriever. So, you should get the Norwegian Lundehund!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund

    Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund are most different:

  • Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Norwegian Lundehunds have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.

    • The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund

    The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund are most similar:

  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund.

    Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Norwegian Lundehunds weigh 13 to 16 pounds when fully grown. Norwegian Lundehunds are 1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    The Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Curly-Coated Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Lundehund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever is 162 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Lundehund is 187 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Year Curly-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Norwegian Lundehund Popularity Rank
    2013 163 175
    2014 163 184
    2015 151 182
    2016 164 188
    2017 171 190
    2018 162 191
    2019 163 192
    2020 159 195

    Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Norwegian Lundehund

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Curly-Coated Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Norwegian Lundehund.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Curly-Coated Retriever than for the Norwegian Lundehund.

    7 health tests are recommended for Curly-Coated Retriever while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Lundehund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and in Norwegian Lundehunds.

    Curly-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Curly-Coated Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Curly-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Curly-Coated Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Curly-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Curly-Coated Retrievers here.

    Norwegian Lundehund Health Problems

    Norwegian Lundehunds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Norwegian Lundehund puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Norwegian Lundehund puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Norwegian Lundehund breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Norwegian Lundehunds for:

  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Norwegian Lundehunds here.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Norwegian Lundehund

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Norwegian Lundehunds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to groom.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Norwegian Lundehunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Norwegian Lundehunds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Norwegian Lundehund

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Norwegian Lundehunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Norwegian Lundehunds have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Curly-Coated Retriever:

  • Airedale Terrier (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Airedale Terrier.
  • English Springer Spaniel (79 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Irish Setter (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Irish Setter.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Norwegian Lundehund

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Norwegian Lundehund that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Norwegian Lundehund:

  • Dalmatian (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Dalmatian.
  • Field Spaniel (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Field Spaniel.
  • Flat-Coated Retriever (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Flat-Coated Retriever.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Curly-Coated Retriever and how the Norwegian Lundehund compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and of the Norwegian Lundehund to other breeds:

    Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Curly-Coated Retriever versus Afador     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Jack Russell Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Puli     Curly-Coated Retriever versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Great Dane     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Buhund     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Skye Terrier     

    Norwegian Lundehund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwegian Lundehund versus Shih Tzu     Norwegian Lundehund versus Pug     Norwegian Lundehund versus Miniature Schnauzer     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bolognese     Norwegian Lundehund versus Shiba Inu     Norwegian Lundehund versus American Eskimo Dog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Norwegian Lundehund versus Border Collie     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bulldog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Catahoula Bulldog     

    Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Lundehund. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Lundehund better suits you and your family.