The Little Dunker The Norwegian Hound

 He's a tracker dog with a keen sense of smell. The Norwegian Hound is not so much a homebody as he is a working dog, and a real tough one at that

The Norwegian Hound is also known as the Dunker dog for a simple reason you will discover below.

The dog is a toughie, especially in the harsh winters of Norway, and is adept at tracking and hunting. While the breed is made for such activity, they can be kept as pets and do better with single-occupant households or families with a large space to expend their energy.

ORIGIN: Dunker isn't just a random name or anything to do with the dog's basketball skills. A Norwegian author and officer named Captain Wilhelm Dunker was in need of a hunting dog with a sturdy composition to withstand the Norway winds. So, in the early 1800s, he went about breeding a variety of Scandinavian scenthounds with the Russian Harlequin Hound and we have the Norwegian Hound we know today, the Dunker. The breed is a small but sturdy one, and a good-looking hound with a sharp nose and the endurance to track down their prey, whatever that may be.

DESCRIPTION: They sure are something to look at, with that sturdy body, unusual markings of a white shade and a saddle of blue or black. It's a pattern that's peculiar to the breed. The build is medium and athletic with an appearance that is typical of scenthounds like the Beagle or the Basset. The flop ears have a distinctive purpose which is how such hounds carry out their hunt. The gentle flapping of the ears as they go about sniffing for their prey helps set up micro air-currents which send scent molecules to the nose. Fascinating isn't it! The ears frame a face that is clean and cute with a well-defined muzzle, large and round eyes, a domed head, and a long neck that extends to a straight and muscular back. The tail is at the same level, carried in an upward curve to a slight extent.