Why you Should Get the Pomeranian Instead of the Norwegian Lundehund.

Last Updated: Apr 12, 2022

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Pomeranian Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction

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

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

Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund

Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Pomeranian belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

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.

Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund

FactorPomeranianNorwegian Lundehund
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Tendency NOT to Wander5/51/5
Life Span12 to 16 years10 to 12 years
Tolerates Hot Weather2/53/5
Kid-Friendly2/55/5
Dog Friendly2/55/5
Easy To Groom2/54/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Low Prey Drive4/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs4/51/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/55/5
General Health3/53/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Potential For Playfulness3/55/5
Weight3 to 7 pounds13 to 16 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/51/5
Good For Novice Owners4/51/5
Easygoing2/53/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/55/5
Does NOT Shed2/51/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/53/5
Easy To Train4/54/5
Intelligence4/55/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/55/5
Height7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan14.0 years11.0 years
Average Price$2150No Data
Price Range$1500 – $2500No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds22188

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian is 79 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Norwegian Lundehund is 83 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Norwegian Lundehund, we still believe that the Pomeranian is a better pet than the Norwegian Lundehund.

    This is because Pomeranians are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Pomeranian will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Pomeranian :-). We are for the Pomeranian. So get a Pomeranian!

    Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Pomeranians 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.
  • Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Norwegian Lundehunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs. However, Norwegian Lundehunds get along well with other dogs.
  • Pomeranians have low exercise needs. However, Norwegian Lundehunds require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Pomeranians adapt well to apartment living. However, Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Pomeranians are good for new dog owners. However, Norwegian Lundehunds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Pomeranians 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 Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Both the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size Comparison of the Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund

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

    The Pomeranian weighs 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. The Pomeranian is 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Norwegian Lundehund weighs 13 to 16 pounds when fully grown. The Norwegian Lundehund is 1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Pomeranian versus Size of Norwegian Lundehund

    Lifespan of Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund

    The lifespan of the Pomeranian is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Pomeranian is 14.0 years.

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

    The Pomeranian live longer than the Norwegian Lundehund.

    Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund
    Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund

    The Popularity of Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian and the Norwegian Lundehund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pomeranian is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Lundehund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pomeranian is 22 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Lundehund is 188 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Year Pomeranian Popularity Rank Norwegian Lundehund Popularity Rank
    2013 19 175
    2014 20 184
    2015 21 182
    2016 22 188
    2017 22 190
    2018 23 191
    2019 24 192
    2020 23 195
    2021 24 197

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

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

    6 health tests are recommended for Pomeranian while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Lundehund.

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

    Pomeranian Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pomeranians 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: Pomeranian versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Pomeranians do not like to be left alone.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pomeranians shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Pomeranians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

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

    Pomeranians require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to groom.

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

    Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Pomeranians good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Pomeranians are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Pomeranian Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Pomeranians are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Pomeranian or the Norwegian Lundehund

    Pomeranians do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Pomeranians and Norwegian Lundehunds?

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

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

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

    Pomeranians 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 Pomeranians Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

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

    Pomeranians can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Norwegian Lundehunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Pomeranian vs. Norwegian Lundehund

    Pomeranians 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 Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Pomeranians 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.

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

    Pomeranians adapt very well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Pomeranians are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Pomeranian compares to other breeds aside from the Norwegian Lundehund. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Pomeranian to other breeds:

    Pomeranian versus Shih Tzu     Pomeranian versus Lakeland Terrier     Pomeranian versus Puli     Pomeranian versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Pomeranian versus Chinook     Pomeranian versus Irish Terrier     Pomeranian versus Kai Ken     Pomeranian versus Kishu Ken     Pomeranian versus Affenpinscher     Pomeranian versus Boxerdoodle     Pomeranian versus Afghan Hound     Pomeranian versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Pomeranian versus Valley Bulldog     Pomeranian versus Saint Berdoodle     Pomeranian versus Akbash     Pomeranian versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Pomeranian versus Catahoula Bulldog     Pomeranian versus Mastiff     Pomeranian versus Dogo Argentino     

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