Not long ago, we talked about the breed known as the Dunker, but another Norwegian hound is the Hygenhund, and until 1934, they were considered the same breed.

The Hygenhund is an endurance hunter who can traverse arctic-type terrain for proverbial “ages” without suffering from fatigue. Created in the 1830s by HF Hygen who crossed Holstein Hounds from northern Germany with local Norwegian hounds, English Pointers, and a variety of hounds, Hygenhounds seem exclusive to Norway.  Aside from a sublte difference in size and in color, the Hygenhund looks just like a few other Nordic hounds which is why some confused it with the Dunker.

Hygenhounds are highly valued in Norway,  though their population is small. The Hygenhund is under a strict breeding program, and its standard specifies that it cannot be reconstructed from other breeds,  therefore breed enthusiasts are being careful to maintain the numbers as well as the fine qualities of this breed.

You may not ever encounter a Hygenhund, but you should still know of its existence.

Image by Bjørn Konestabo – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8015177