Differences and Similarities between the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund.

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Great Dane Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane or the Norwegian Lundehund.

Great Dane versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview

A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Norwegian Lundehund is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are Working Dogs. This means both the Great Dane 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.

Great Dane versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund

FactorGreat DaneNorwegian Lundehund
Adapts Well To Apartment Living1/51/5
Good For Novice Owners1/51/5
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Weight100 to 200 pounds13 to 16 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather2/55/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight4/53/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Height26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Hot Weather3/53/5
Intelligence3/55/5
Low Prey Drive3/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/51/5
Does NOT Drool2/55/5
General Health4/53/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl2/55/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Dog Friendly5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/55/5
Does NOT Shed1/51/5
Easy To Groom5/54/5
Easy To Train5/54/5
NOT Rambunctious1/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/51/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Life Span7 to 10 years10 to 12 years
Average Lifespan8.5 years11.0 years
Average Price$1560No Data
Price Range$1000 – $2000No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation
    • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds15187

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Great Dane 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 Great Dane is 73 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 Great Dane. 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund

    Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are most different:

  • Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Norwegian Lundehunds can tolerate cold weather.
  • Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool. However, Norwegian Lundehunds do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Norwegian Lundehunds are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.

    • The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Great Dane versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund.

    Great Danes weigh 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. Great Danes are 26 to 34 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 Great Dane versus Norwegian Lundehund

    The lifespan of Great Danes is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Great Danes is 8.5 years.

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

    Norwegian Lundehunds live longer than Great Danes.

    The Popularity of Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Great Dane is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Lundehund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Great Dane is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Lundehund is 187 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Great Dane

    Popularity of Great Dane

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

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    Year Great Dane Popularity Rank Norwegian Lundehund Popularity Rank
    2013 16 175
    2014 15 184
    2015 15 182
    2016 14 188
    2017 14 190
    2018 16 191
    2019 17 192
    2020 15 195

    Health Problems of Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane is prone to more genetic health problems than the Norwegian Lundehund.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Great Dane than for the Norwegian Lundehund.

    4 health tests are recommended for Great Dane while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Lundehund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Great Danes and in Norwegian Lundehunds.

    Great Dane Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Danes 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: Great Dane versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Great Danes do not like to be left alone.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Great Danes shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Norwegian Lundehund

    Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Great Danes are very easy to groom.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to groom.

    Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Great Danes 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.

    Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Norwegian Lundehunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Norwegian Lundehund

    Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Great Danes 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 Great Danes and Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Great Danes are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to train.

    Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Great Dane

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Great Dane 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 Great Dane:

  • Flat-Coated Retriever (72 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Labrador Retriever (72 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Labrador Retriever.
  • Shiloh Shepherd (70 percent match with Great Dane). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Shiloh Shepherd.

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

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Great Dane versus Schipperke     Great Dane versus Akita Chow     Great Dane versus Belgian Malinois     Great Dane versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Great Dane versus Redbone Coonhound     Great Dane versus Pointer     Great Dane versus Alaskan Malamute     Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever     Great Dane versus Bullmastiff     Great Dane versus Japanese Chin     Great Dane versus Havanese     Great Dane versus Japanese Chin     Great Dane versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Great Dane versus Welsh Terrier     Great Dane versus Border Terrier     Great Dane versus Boston Terrier     Great Dane versus Pomeranian     Great Dane versus Weimaraner     Great Dane versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Great Dane versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Great Dane versus Saint Bernard     Great Dane versus Irish Terrier     Great Dane versus Lancashire Heeler     Great Dane versus Field Spaniel     Great Dane versus Beaglier     

    Norwegian Lundehund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwegian Lundehund versus Barbet     Norwegian Lundehund versus Komondor     Norwegian Lundehund versus Beaglier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Kishu Ken     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bull Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bullmastiff     Norwegian Lundehund versus Basenji     Norwegian Lundehund versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Norwegian Lundehund versus Hovawart     Norwegian Lundehund versus Kuvasz     Norwegian Lundehund versus Dutch Shepherd     Norwegian Lundehund versus Labradoodle     Norwegian Lundehund versus Goldendoodle     Norwegian Lundehund versus Havanese     Norwegian Lundehund versus Black Russian Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Australian Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Chinook     Norwegian Lundehund versus Carolina Dog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Jack Russell Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus American Water Spaniel     Norwegian Lundehund versus Belgian Malinois     Norwegian Lundehund versus Schipperke     Norwegian Lundehund versus Puli     Norwegian Lundehund versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Norwegian Lundehund versus Basenji     

    Conclusion: Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Norwegian Lundehund better suits you and your family.