Which is Better between the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund? A Very Detailed Review.

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Dutch Shepherd Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund

Dutch Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview

Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are similar in size. The Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Dutch Shepherd belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

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.

Dutch Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd Norwegian Lundehund
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 1/5
Height 21 to 25 inches 1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 1/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Weight 50 to 70 pounds 13 to 16 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1590 No Data
Price Range $900 – $2000 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•

    *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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Norwegian Lundehund is 83 out of 125.

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

    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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund

    Below is a list of where the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are most different:

  • Dutch Shepherds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Norwegian Lundehunds are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Dutch Shepherds do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them. However, Norwegian Lundehunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    • The Similarities Between the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund

    The Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are most similar:

  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are very playful.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to train.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Dutch Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund.

    Dutch Shepherds weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Dutch Shepherds are 21 to 25 inches 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dutch Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Dutch Shepherds do not like to be left alone.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Dutch Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund

    Dutch Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do Dutch Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Dutch Shepherds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Dutch Shepherd vs. Norwegian Lundehund

    Dutch Shepherds do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

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

    Is the Dutch Shepherd Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Dutch Shepherds adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dutch Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Dutch Shepherds are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dutch Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Dutch Shepherds are moderately easy to groom.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to groom.

    Does the Dutch Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Dutch Shepherds have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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.

    Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dutch Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Norwegian Lundehunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Dutch Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Are Dutch Shepherds good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Dutch Shepherds 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 Dutch Shepherds and Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Dutch Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dutch Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Dutch Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Dutch Shepherds shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Dutch Shepherds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Is the Dutch Shepherd Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Dutch Shepherds are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dutch Shepherd

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd:

  • French Spaniel (80 percent match with Dutch Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs French Spaniel.
  • Japanese Spitz (79 percent match with Dutch Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Japanese Spitz.

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

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Dutch Shepherd and how the Norwegian Lundehund compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Dutch Shepherd and of the Norwegian Lundehund to other breeds:

    Dutch Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dutch Shepherd versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Dutch Shepherd versus Frenchton     Dutch Shepherd versus Great Dane     Dutch Shepherd versus Komondor     Dutch Shepherd versus Australian Terrier     Dutch Shepherd versus Cocker Spaniel     Dutch Shepherd versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Dutch Shepherd versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Dutch Shepherd versus Norwegian Buhund     Dutch Shepherd versus Newfoundland     

    Norwegian Lundehund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwegian Lundehund versus Lhasa Apso     Norwegian Lundehund versus Spanish Mastiff     Norwegian Lundehund versus German Longhaired Pointer     Norwegian Lundehund versus Akita Chow     Norwegian Lundehund versus Tibetan Spaniel     Norwegian Lundehund versus Lhasapoo     Norwegian Lundehund versus West Highland White Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Shih Tzu     Norwegian Lundehund versus Peek A Poo     Norwegian Lundehund versus Lowchen     

    Conclusion: Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund better suits you and your family.