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

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Mudi Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction

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

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

Mudi versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Mudi 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.

Mudi versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Mudi 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 Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund

Factor Mudi Norwegian Lundehund
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 10 to 12 years
Height 14 to 20 inches 1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight 18 to 29 pounds 13 to 16 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
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
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 11.0 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Patellar Luxation
  • WSU VCPL
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Mudi 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 Mudi is 76 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 Mudi. 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 Mudi 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 Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Mudis do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Norwegian Lundehunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Mudis do not get along well with other dogs. However, Norwegian Lundehunds get along well with other dogs.
  • Mudis are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Norwegian Lundehunds are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Mudis are good for new dog owners. However, Norwegian Lundehunds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Mudis 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 Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Mudi 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 Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund are very playful.
  • Both the Mudi and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to train.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Mudi versus Norwegian Lundehund

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

    Mudis weigh 18 to 29 pounds when fully grown. Mudis are 14 to 20 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.

    Lifespan of Mudi versus Norwegian Lundehund

    The lifespan of Mudis is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Mudis 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.

    Mudis live longer than Norwegian Lundehunds.

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

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

    10 health tests are recommended for Mudi while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Lundehund.

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

    Mudi Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Clear By Parentage
  • DNA Repository
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Patellar Luxation
  • WSU VCPL
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Mudis 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: Mudi versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Mudis do not like to be left alone.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Mudis shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Mudis shed moderately.

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

    Which one drools more, the Mudi or the Norwegian Lundehund

    Mudis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Mudi or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Mudis are very easy to groom.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to groom.

    Does the Mudi Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Mudis 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 Mudis Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Mudis 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 Mudis Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Mudis can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Norwegian Lundehunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Mudi vs. Norwegian Lundehund

    Mudis 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 Mudis Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Mudis 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 Mudi or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Mudis do not get along well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Mudis good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Mudis 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 Mudis and Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Mudis do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Mudi Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Mudis are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to train.

    Is the Mudi Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Mudis do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Mudis are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Mudi

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

  • Alaskan Klee Kai (79 percent match with Mudi). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Alaskan Klee Kai.
  • Australian Kelpie (78 percent match with Mudi). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Australian Kelpie.
  • German Pinscher (79 percent match with Mudi). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs German Pinscher.
  • 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 Mudi vs Dalmatian.
  • Field Spaniel (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the Mudi vs Field Spaniel.
  • Flat-Coated Retriever (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the Mudi vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Mudi Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Mudi versus Papipoo     Mudi versus Pomapoo     Mudi versus American Bulldog     Mudi versus Boxerdoodle     Mudi versus Shiloh Shepherd     Mudi versus Mal Shi     Mudi versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Mudi versus Beagle     Mudi versus Weimaraner     Mudi versus Cavapoo     Mudi versus Airedale Terrier     Mudi versus Belgian Tervuren     Mudi versus Papipoo     Mudi versus Field Spaniel     Mudi versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Mudi versus Redbone Coonhound     Mudi versus Norwegian Lundehund     Mudi versus Schnoodle     Mudi versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Mudi versus Carolina Dog     Mudi versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Mudi versus Pomsky     Mudi versus Tibetan Terrier     Mudi versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Mudi versus Lhasapoo     

    Norwegian Lundehund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwegian Lundehund versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus German Shepherd Dog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Lhasapoo     Norwegian Lundehund versus Japanese Spitz     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bluetick Coonhound     Norwegian Lundehund versus Mudi     Norwegian Lundehund versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Norwegian Lundehund versus German Pinscher     Norwegian Lundehund versus Irish Wolfhound     Norwegian Lundehund versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Saint Berdoodle     Norwegian Lundehund versus Belgian Tervuren     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bedlington Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Airedale Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Cocker Spaniel     Norwegian Lundehund versus Border Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Boxerdoodle     Norwegian Lundehund versus Biewer Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Chi-Poo     Norwegian Lundehund versus Korean Jindo Dog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Korean Jindo Dog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Whippet     Norwegian Lundehund versus Ibizan Hound     

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