The heavy-coated Norwegian Buhund is a medium-sized cold-weather workhorse that is skilled at guarding and herding. It is a Nordic spitz-type closely related to the Vikings. Buhunds make excellent family dogs because they are perceptive, gentle, and tenacious. The Buhund, a typical spitz, offers a nice chance to define the phrase. Spitz is cold-weather breeds distinguished by a dense coat, a tail curled firmly over the back, a wedge-shaped head, and erect, pointed ears (‘spitz’ means ‘pointed’ in old German). They come in a variety of sizes, including tiny Pomeranians, powerful Malamutes, and medium-sized breeds like the lean yet robust Buhund. Males can weigh up to 40 pounds and stand 18.5 inches tall. Black or wheaten are the hues of coats.
Norwegian Buhund
confident / smart / perceptive
Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.
Height
17-18.5 inches (male)
16-17.5 inches (female)
Weight
31-40 pounds (male)
26-35 pounds (female)
Life Expectancy
12-15 years
Breed Traits & Characteristics
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Affectionate With Family
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Shedding Level
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.
Coat Grooming Frequency
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.
Drooling Level
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.
Coat Type
Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.
Coat Length
Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.
Openness To Strangers
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.
Watchdog/Protective Nature
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.
Trainability Level
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!
Energy Level
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.
Barking Level
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.
About the Breed
What To Expect When Caring For a Norwegian Buhund
Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.
Health
Norwegian Buhunds are typically robust and healthy animals. Responsible breeders examine their breeding stock for diseases such as von Willebrand's disease, eye disorders, and hip dysplasia. It is generally advisable for prospective puppy buyers to validate the results of the sire and dam's health examinations.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
- Hip Evaluation
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
Grooming
Norwegian Buhunds do not require as much grooming as other breeds. Even when wet, they are naturally odorless and clean canines. The Buhund has two coats: a soft, dense, and woolly undercoat and an outer coat that is rich, dense, firm, and smooth lying. The coat easily sheds the majority of foreign objects and dries by itself after a bath. Like other double-coated dogs, Buhunds blow their undercoats once or twice a year, therefore they do require brushing two to three times a week, and more frequently during the shedding season. The nails should always be trimmed periodically, regardless of the breed.
Exercise
Buhunds were bred to work and herd continuously for long periods of time. Due to this, dogs may become extremely energized and require vigorous exercise (that allows them to run quickly) twice daily in order to maintain their best physical and mental health. These canines enjoy doing long, all-day treks, retrieving balls, and running alongside bicycles. By taking part in obedience, tracking, agility, and other activities that dog and owner can enjoy together, the breed can also exercise its mind and body.
Training
Norwegian Buhunds are simpler to train than other Spitz and Northern breeds, yet they still exhibit the autonomous traits of those breeds. Buhunds do have a desire to please, but their independence frequently comes through louder, making it difficult to keep them focused and persuade them to keep training. Fortunately, most Buhunds have strong food motivation, making positive training methods like clicker training effective. However, the majority of Buhunds are very sensitive to their surroundings, which makes them difficult to handle in the dog show ring.
Nutrition
The Norwegian Buhund should thrive on premium dog food, whether it is produced commercially or is made at home under the guidance and consent of your veterinarian. Whatever the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior), the diet should be suitable. Watch your dog's calorie intake and weight level because certain dogs are prone to obesity. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian. Fresh water that is clean should always be accessible.
History
The romantic legends of the Buhunds who sailed with the Vikings, those Nordic invaders whose lightning raids terrorized Europe some 1,200 years ago, are true. Buhunds are, at their core, homebodies, even though they may have relished plundering and pillaging their way across the continent alongside Vikings (Buhunds appreciate any activity they can do with their owners!). In fact, the word “Buhund” comes from the Norwegian word “bu,” which means “homestead” or “farm.” For generations, Buhunds were used as herders, family protectors, and general agricultural workers.