Is the German Pinscher Better than the Norwegian Lundehund as a Pet? Answer…

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German Pinscher Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher or the Norwegian Lundehund.

German Pinscher versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund are Working Dogs. This means both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund 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.

German Pinscher versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the German Pinscher 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund

Factor German Pinscher Norwegian Lundehund
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 10 to 12 years
Height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder
Dog Friendly 2/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Weight 25 to 45 pounds 13 to 16 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2040 No Data
Price Range $1150 – $2688 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 135 187

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the German Pinscher 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 the German Pinscher is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Norwegian Lundehund is 83 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Norwegian Lundehund is a better pet than the German Pinscher. 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 German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund

    Below is a list of where the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund are most different:

  • German Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs. However, Norwegian Lundehunds get along well with other dogs.
  • German Pinschers are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Norwegian Lundehunds are very friendly towards strangers.
  • German Pinschers 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 German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to train.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to groom.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of German Pinscher versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund.

    German Pinschers weigh 25 to 45 pounds when fully grown. German Pinschers are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 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.

    Lifespan of German Pinscher versus Norwegian Lundehund

    The lifespan of German Pinschers is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of German Pinschers is 13.0 years.

    The lifespan of Norwegian Lundehunds is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Norwegian Lundehunds is 11.0 years.

    German Pinschers live longer than Norwegian Lundehunds.

    The Popularity of German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Pinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Lundehund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the German Pinscher is 135 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Lundehund is 187 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of German Pinscher

    Popularity of German Pinscher

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Year German Pinscher Popularity Rank Norwegian Lundehund Popularity Rank
    2013 130 175
    2014 141 184
    2015 138 182
    2016 146 188
    2017 136 190
    2018 134 191
    2019 123 192
    2020 139 195

    Health Problems of German Pinscher versus Health Problems of Norwegian Lundehund

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

    Both the German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher is prone to more genetic health problems than the Norwegian Lundehund.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the German Pinscher than for the Norwegian Lundehund.

    4 health tests are recommended for German Pinscher while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Lundehund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in German Pinschers and in Norwegian Lundehunds.

    German Pinscher Health Problems

    German Pinschers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your German Pinscher 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 German Pinschers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • von Willebrand`s Disease
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for German Pinschers 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: German Pinscher versus Norwegian Lundehund

    German Pinschers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not like to be left alone.

    Do German Pinschers shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?

    German Pinschers shed moderately.

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

    Which one drools more, the German Pinscher or the Norwegian Lundehund

    German Pinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the German Pinscher or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    German Pinschers are very easy to groom.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to groom.

    Does the German Pinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    German Pinschers 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.

    Do German Pinschers Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    German Pinschers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can German Pinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    German Pinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Norwegian Lundehunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: German Pinscher vs. Norwegian Lundehund

    German Pinschers 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.

    Can German Pinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    German Pinschers 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 German Pinscher or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    German Pinschers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are German Pinschers good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    German Pinschers 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 German Pinschers and Norwegian Lundehunds?

    German Pinschers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

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

    Is the German Pinscher Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    German Pinschers are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to train.

    Is the German Pinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    German Pinschers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the German Pinscher or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    German Pinschers are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the German Pinscher

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher:

  • Australian Kelpie (79 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Australian Kelpie.
  • Belgian Malinois (80 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Belgian Malinois.
  • German Wirehaired Pointer (83 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs German Wirehaired Pointer.
  • Mudi (79 percent match with German Pinscher). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Mudi.
  • 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 German Pinscher vs Dalmatian.
  • Field Spaniel (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the German Pinscher vs Field Spaniel.
  • Flat-Coated Retriever (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the German Pinscher vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    German Pinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Pinscher versus Irish Setter     German Pinscher versus Weimaraner     German Pinscher versus English Toy Spaniel     German Pinscher versus Pharaoh Hound     German Pinscher versus Maltese     German Pinscher versus Akita Chow     German Pinscher versus Peek A Poo     German Pinscher versus Aussiedoodle     German Pinscher versus Shiranian     German Pinscher versus English Springer Spaniel     German Pinscher versus Pyredoodle     German Pinscher versus Jack Russell Terrier     German Pinscher versus Akita Chow     German Pinscher versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     German Pinscher versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     German Pinscher versus Shiranian     German Pinscher versus Labradoodle     German Pinscher versus American Hairless Terrier     German Pinscher versus Sheepadoodle     German Pinscher versus Pug     German Pinscher versus English Toy Spaniel     German Pinscher versus Japanese Spitz     German Pinscher versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     German Pinscher versus Korean Jindo Dog     

    Norwegian Lundehund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwegian Lundehund versus Catahoula Bulldog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Coton de Tulear     Norwegian Lundehund versus Skye Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Dalmatian     Norwegian Lundehund versus Frenchton     Norwegian Lundehund versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Norwegian Lundehund versus Dachshund     Norwegian Lundehund versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Goldendoodle     Norwegian Lundehund versus Whippet     Norwegian Lundehund versus Brussels Griffon     Norwegian Lundehund versus Papipoo     Norwegian Lundehund versus Valley Bulldog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Cocker Spaniel     Norwegian Lundehund versus Swedish Vallhund     Norwegian Lundehund versus Cairn Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Boxer     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bloodhound     Norwegian Lundehund versus Spinone Italiano     Norwegian Lundehund versus West Highland White Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Karelian Bear Dog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Pyredoodle     Norwegian Lundehund versus Berger Picard     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bracco Italiano     

    Conclusion: German Pinscher 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 German Pinscher and the Norwegian Lundehund better suits you and your family.