List of Scandinavian Dogs

The Norwegian buhund, Norwegian elkhound and the lundehund all hail from the kingdom of Norway, and all are closely related members of the spitz grouping of dogs. The buhund, whose name derives from the Norse word for farm, is used for herding and guarding homes. His cousins the elkhound and lundehund were both originally bred for hunting. The elkhound independently tracks and hunts moose and elk, while the tiny lundehund was designed to hunt puffins and locate their eggs among the cliffs of coastal Norwegian towns.

Sweden is home to three other spitzes: the Swedish elkhound, Norbotten spitz and Swedish lapphund. Both the Swedish elkhound (also known as the Jämthund) and the Norbotten spitz were bred for hunting and companionship, with high prey drives and keen senses of smell. While the Swedish elkhound was used primarily for hunting elk and moose, the Norbotten spitz hunted squirrel and rabbits. The Swedish lapphund is one of Sweden's oldest breeds and was originally bred to guard and protect reindeer for the ancient hunting tribes that traversed Scandinavia in the neolithic era.

The old Danish pointer and Danish chicken dog are similarly marked breeds that are often confused. The old Danish pointer is taller and heavier than the chicken dog and is used for hunting waterfowl. The Danish chicken dog sports longer ears and a stockier frame and is a general working farmdog. Both are joined by another Danish breed, the broholmer, also known as the Danish mastiff. This gentle giant was employed as guard dog for wealthy Danish politicians and businessmen.

The Finish spitz and Icelandic sheepdog are both Nordic spitzes, but were bred for entirely different purposes. The agile Finnish spitz is a bark hunter; she barks to alert hunters to the location of grouse or squirrels, then points until the hunter arrives. The tough and muscular Icelandic sheepdog, on the other hand, spends his days herding livestock and searching for lost sheep. Despite his abilities to locate baby lambs and lost livestock, the Icelandic sheepdog has no innate hunting instinct.