Which is Better between the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund?

Last Updated: May 01, 2022

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Collie Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction

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

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

Note that the Collie breed comes in two varieties based on coat texture. There is the smooth collie and the rough collie. Read our article on rough collie versus smooth collie.

Furthermore, the border collie dog breed is very different from the collie dog breed. Learn about the differences between these two dog breeds in our border collie versus collie article.

See this article that compares the Border Collie to the Norwegian Lundehund.

Finally, just like the collie, the border collie also comes in two varieties. There is the rough border collie and the smooth border collie. To learn about the differences and similarities between them, check out our article on rough-coat border collie versus smooth-coat border collie.

Collie versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Collie 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.

Collie versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Collie 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 Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund

FactorCollieNorwegian Lundehund
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Tendency NOT to Wander5/51/5
Life Span10 to 14 years10 to 12 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/52/5
Easy To Groom2/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/52/5
Height22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living3/51/5
Tolerates Hot Weather3/53/5
General Health3/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/53/5
Does NOT chew on things3/53/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Minimal Exercise Needs3/51/5
Good For Novice Owners4/51/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/55/5
Dog Friendly4/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers4/55/5
Easy To Train4/54/5
Intelligence4/55/5
Low Prey Drive2/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl2/55/5
Potential For Playfulness4/55/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Does NOT Shed1/51/5
Weight50 to 70 pounds13 to 16 pounds
Average Lifespan12.0 years11.0 years
Average Price$1480No Data
Price Range$1000 – $1800No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds37188
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

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

    Despite the equal Better-Pet score of the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund, we still think that the Collie is a better pet than the Norwegian Lundehund.

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

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Collies 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.
  • Collies are good for new dog owners. However, Norwegian Lundehunds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Collies 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 Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund are very playful.
  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Collie and the Norwegian Lundehund shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Size Comparison of the Collie versus Norwegian Lundehund

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

    The Collie weighs 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. The Collie is 22 to 26 inches all 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 Collie versus Size of Norwegian Lundehund

    Lifespan of Collie versus Norwegian Lundehund

    The lifespan of the Collie is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Collie is 12.0 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 Collie live longer than the Norwegian Lundehund.

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

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Collie is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Lundehund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Collie is 37 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Lundehund is 188 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Collie

    Popularity of Collie

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Year Collie Popularity Rank Norwegian Lundehund Popularity Rank
    2013 35 175
    2014 36 184
    2015 36 182
    2016 37 188
    2017 40 190
    2018 38 191
    2019 38 192
    2020 40 195
    2021 38 197

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

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

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

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

    Collie Health Problems

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

  • Clear By Parentage
  • Dermatomyositis
  • Multiple Drug Sensitivity
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test

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

    Collies do not like to be left alone.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Collies shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Collies 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 Collie or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Collies 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 Collie or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Collies get along very well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Collies good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

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

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

    Is the Collie Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    Collies are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Collie or the Norwegian Lundehund

    Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Collies and Norwegian Lundehunds?

    Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

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

    Collies 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 Collies Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

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

    Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Norwegian Lundehunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. Norwegian Lundehund

    Collies 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 Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Collies 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.

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

    Collies adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Collies are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds

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

    Collie versus Frenchton     Collie versus Doberman Pinscher     Collie versus Boston Terrier     Collie versus Collie     Collie versus American Water Spaniel     Collie versus Rottweiler     Collie versus Xoloitzcuintli     Collie versus Pomchi     Collie versus Cockapoo     Collie versus American Hairless Terrier     Collie versus Standard Poodle     Collie versus Beaglier     Collie versus Beagle     Collie versus Welsh Terrier     Collie versus Weimaraner     Collie versus French Bulldog     Collie versus King Shepherd     

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