The Norwegian Lundehund is the least popular dog breed and the only dog breed created for the job of puffin hunting.
In 2020, the Norwegian Lundehund was ranked the least popular dog breed. The Norwegian Lundehund is a spitz dog breed from Norway that was originally bred for hunting puffins and their eggs in hard-to-reach places like cliffs and rocky areas. They have the strength, flexibility, and literally "bones" to navigate and climb narrow cliff paths and walk on ground strewn with rocks and boulders in their hunt for puffins.
The Norwegian Lundehund is able to bend their head backward along their spine at will. They can turn their forelegs to the side at a 90-degree horizontal angle to improve their balance. Their ears are like shutters that can be folded forward or backward to protect their ears from debris or water. They're also one of the few if not "only" breed that is polydactyl with fully formed, jointed six toes for improved traction and grip. The Norwegian Lundehund has physical features that are often considered "primitive" and rare due in part to its unique physical characteristics not found in other breeds.
If you're looking to buy a Norwegian Lundehund, expect to pay around $2,500 on average. For dogs that have pedigree documents that display their lineage and information about their parents and ancestors, the Norwegian Lundehund is valued more than those without a pedigree certificate.