A Detailed Comparison of the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund.

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Neapolitan Mastiff Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction

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

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

Neapolitan Mastiff versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund are Working Dogs. This means both the Neapolitan Mastiff 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.

Neapolitan Mastiff versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund

Factor Neapolitan Mastiff Norwegian Lundehund
Good For Novice Owners 1/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 2/5
Weight 120 to 200 pounds 13 to 16 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Height 24 to 31 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Intelligence 3/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 1/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Life Span 8 to 10 years 10 to 12 years
Average Lifespan 9.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2870 No Data
Price Range $1800 – $3700 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 104 187

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff is 71 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 Neapolitan Mastiff. 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 Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Neapolitan Mastiffs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Norwegian Lundehunds can tolerate cold weather.
  • Neapolitan Mastiffs are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Norwegian Lundehunds are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Neapolitan Mastiffs 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.
  • Neapolitan Mastiffs do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Norwegian Lundehunds do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Neapolitan Mastiffs do not get along well with other dogs. However, Norwegian Lundehunds get along well with other dogs.
  • Neapolitan Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool. However, Norwegian Lundehunds do not have the tendency to drool.
  • The Similarities Between the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund are very playful.
  • Both the Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Neapolitan Mastiff versus Norwegian Lundehund

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

    Neapolitan Mastiffs weigh 120 to 200 pounds when fully grown. Neapolitan Mastiffs are 24 to 31 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 Neapolitan Mastiff versus Norwegian Lundehund

    The lifespan of Neapolitan Mastiffs is between 8 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Neapolitan Mastiffs is 9.0 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 Neapolitan Mastiffs.

    The Popularity of Neapolitan Mastiff 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 Neapolitan Mastiff and the Norwegian Lundehund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Neapolitan Mastiff is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Lundehund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Neapolitan Mastiff is 104 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Lundehund is 187 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Neapolitan Mastiff

    Popularity of Neapolitan Mastiff

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Year Neapolitan Mastiff Popularity Rank Norwegian Lundehund Popularity Rank
    2013 111 175
    2014 114 184
    2015 106 182
    2016 99 188
    2017 107 190
    2018 102 191
    2019 100 192
    2020 100 195

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

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

    4 health tests are recommended for Neapolitan Mastiff while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Lundehund.

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

    Neapolitan Mastiff Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Neapolitan Mastiffs 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: Neapolitan Mastiff versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Neapolitan Mastiffs do not like to be left alone.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Neapolitan Mastiffs shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs shed moderately.

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

    Which one drools more, the Neapolitan Mastiff or the Norwegian Lundehund

    Neapolitan Mastiffs have a very high tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Neapolitan Mastiff or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs are moderately easy to groom.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to groom.

    Does the Neapolitan Mastiff Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs 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.

    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 Neapolitan Mastiffs Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs 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.

    Can Neapolitan Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Norwegian Lundehunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Neapolitan Mastiff vs. Norwegian Lundehund

    Neapolitan Mastiffs 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.

    Can Neapolitan Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Neapolitan Mastiff or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Neapolitan Mastiffs good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs 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 Neapolitan Mastiffs and Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Neapolitan Mastiff Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs are fairly easy to train.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to train.

    Is the Neapolitan Mastiff Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Neapolitan Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Neapolitan Mastiffs 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 Neapolitan Mastiff

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

  • Doberman Pinscher (67 percent match with Neapolitan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Doberman Pinscher.
  • Mastiff (72 percent match with Neapolitan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Mastiff.
  • Spanish Mastiff (69 percent match with Neapolitan Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Spanish Mastiff.
  • 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 Neapolitan Mastiff vs Dalmatian.
  • Field Spaniel (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the Neapolitan Mastiff vs Field Spaniel.
  • Flat-Coated Retriever (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the Neapolitan Mastiff vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Neapolitan Mastiff Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Neapolitan Mastiff versus French Spaniel     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Shetland Sheepdog     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Great Dane     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Yorkshire Terrier     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Chinese Crested     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Komondor     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Brittany     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Norwegian Buhund     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Greyhound     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Cocker Spaniel     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Doberman Pinscher     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Cavapoo     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Tibetan Mastiff     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Boerboel     Neapolitan Mastiff versus American Bulldog     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Biewer Terrier     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Patterdale Terrier     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Chinook     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Morkie     Neapolitan Mastiff versus Pomapoo     

    Norwegian Lundehund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwegian Lundehund versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Norwegian Lundehund versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Xoloitzcuintli     Norwegian Lundehund versus Pointer     Norwegian Lundehund versus Jack Russell Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Dutch Shepherd     Norwegian Lundehund versus Shiranian     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bouvier des Flandres     Norwegian Lundehund versus Saint Berdoodle     Norwegian Lundehund versus Kishu Ken     Norwegian Lundehund versus English Springer Spaniel     Norwegian Lundehund versus Boerboel     Norwegian Lundehund versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Saint Bernard     Norwegian Lundehund versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Norwegian Lundehund versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Norwegian Lundehund versus Standard Poodle     Norwegian Lundehund versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Pointer     Norwegian Lundehund versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Norwegian Lundehund versus Spanish Mastiff     Norwegian Lundehund versus Spanish Mastiff     Norwegian Lundehund versus Fila Brasileiro     Norwegian Lundehund versus Pharaoh Hound     Norwegian Lundehund versus Saint Berdoodle     

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