Differences and Similarities between the Australian Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund.

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2022

Quick Links: Table of Contents

• Australian Shepherd Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction
• Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview
• Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table
• The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Australian Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund
• The Similarities Between the Australian Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund
• Size Comparison of the Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund
• Lifespan of Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund
• The Popularity of Australian Shepherd versus Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund
• Health Problems of Australian Shepherd versus Health Problems of Norwegian Lundehund
• Tolerates Being Alone: Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund
• Do Australian Shepherds shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?
• Which is Easier to Groom, the Australian Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund?
• Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Australian Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund?
• Are Australian Shepherds good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?
• Is the Australian Shepherd Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?
• Which one drools more, the Australian Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund
• How Kid-friendly are Australian Shepherds and Norwegian Lundehunds?
• Does the Australian Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Lundehund?
• Do Australian Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?
• Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Cold Weather?
• Wanderlust Potential: Australian Shepherd vs. Norwegian Lundehund
• Can Australian Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?
• Australian Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds
• Conclusion: Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund. Which One is a Better Pet?

Australian Shepherd Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction

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

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

Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Australian Shepherd 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.

Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Australian Shepherd 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 Australian Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund

Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Australian Shepherd 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 Australian Shepherd is 70 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 Australian Shepherd is a better pet than the Norwegian Lundehund.

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

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

The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Australian Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

The Similarities Between the Australian Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

Size Comparison of the Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund

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

The Australian Shepherd weighs 40 to 65 pounds when fully grown. The Australian Shepherd is 18 to 23 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.

Lifespan of Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund

The lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Australian Shepherd is 13.5 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 Australian Shepherd live longer than the Norwegian Lundehund.

The Popularity of Australian Shepherd 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 Australian Shepherd and the Norwegian Lundehund over the years.

Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Australian Shepherd is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Lundehund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Australian Shepherd is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Lundehund is 188 out of about 200 dog breeds.

Popularity of Australian Shepherd

Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

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

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

7 health tests are recommended for Australian Shepherd while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Lundehund.

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

Australian Shepherd Health Problems

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

You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Australian Shepherds 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:

You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Norwegian Lundehunds here.

Tolerates Being Alone: Australian Shepherd versus Norwegian Lundehund

Australian Shepherds do not like to be left alone.

Norwegian Lundehunds do not like to be left alone.

Do Australian Shepherds shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?

Australian Shepherds shed moderately.

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

Which is Easier to Groom, the Australian Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund?

Australian Shepherds 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 Australian Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund?

Australian Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.

Norwegian Lundehunds get along very well with other dogs.

Are Australian Shepherds good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

Australian Shepherds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

Is the Australian Shepherd Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?

Australian Shepherds are very easy to train.

Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to train.

Which one drools more, the Australian Shepherd or the Norwegian Lundehund

Australian Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.

Norwegian Lundehunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

How Kid-friendly are Australian Shepherds and Norwegian Lundehunds?

Australian Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

Does the Australian Shepherd Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Lundehund?

Australian Shepherds 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 Australian Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

Australian Shepherds 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 Australian Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

Australian Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.

Norwegian Lundehunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

Wanderlust Potential: Australian Shepherd vs. Norwegian Lundehund

Australian Shepherds 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 Australian Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

Australian Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.

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

Is the Australian Shepherd Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Lundehund?

Australian Shepherds do not adapt well to apartment living.

Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

Australian Shepherds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

Australian Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds

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

Australian Shepherd versus Valley Bulldog     Australian Shepherd versus Bloodhound     Australian Shepherd versus Mastiff     Australian Shepherd versus Rottweiler     Australian Shepherd versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog     Australian Shepherd versus Coton de Tulear     Australian Shepherd versus Goldador     Australian Shepherd versus Labrador Retriever     Australian Shepherd versus Saint Berdoodle     Australian Shepherd versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Australian Shepherd versus Maltese     Australian Shepherd versus Finnish Spitz     Australian Shepherd versus Belgian Sheepdog     

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

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