Tempting as it is to say that the breed you see here is the “Dominique Wilkins” of dog breeds (Wilkins considered one of the best basketball dunkers of all time), the “Dunker,” stands on its own merits as a Norwegian scent hound renowned throughout Norway for its excellent scent-trailing abilities, no easy thing since Norway is one of the most challenging places for a hunting dog to work in the entire world. Created by Norwegian author and military officer, Captain Wilhelm Conrad Dunker, the Dunker filled a niche for dog that hunted rabbits by scent instead of sight, and was undisturbed by freezing temperatures and rough terrain. He did it by crossing the Russian Harlequin Hound with other dependable Norwegian scent hounds. One unique characteristic he got is the bluish-white iris of the eyes called “glass eyes,” although the breed standard also allows other eye colors. Welcomed, too, was the calm, relaxed and friendly dog that does best when well exercised.

Also known as the Norwegian Hound, the breed is in better shape than it was in the late 1980’s (in 2011, only 142 Dunker puppies were registered), but it’s still a rare and threatened breed found almost exclusively in Norway. The Norwegian Kennel Club granted formal recognition to the Dunker, and that was followed by the F.C.I., but the only major English language kennel club to grant full recognition to the Dunker was the United Kennel Club in 1996.

Do we have any Dunker owners among us?

Dunker image found on Pinterest and happily credited upon receipt of information