Norwegian Buhund Breed Information and Buying advice

Why Norwegian Buhunds are great

Norwegian Buhunds are cheerful dogs and they love to talk in their own way. They bark and chortle away to their humans. This makes them highly entertaining companions to spend time with. This medium-sized dog is also confident and lively and can bring a lot of pleasure to any home. Some highlights:

1. Norwegian Buhund puppies and older dogs are alert and energetic. This makes them a fun and interesting housemate to have around.
2. Norwegian Buhunds are great watchdogs. This is due to their alert nature. They know when a stranger is approaching and they bark to let their humans know.
3. One of the most attractive features of these beautiful dogs is that they cope well with being left alone. This means that they can be welcomed into a home where there is no one around during the day.

 

Things to consider when looking at Norwegian Buhunds for Sale

Some downsides to the Norwegian Buhund:

1. Norwegian Buhund puppies and adult dogs love to bark when they hear a noise. This can be a problem if they start to annoy the neighbours.
2. These energetic dogs love to run around a lot. This means that they need a lot of space in their home. They also need to be given a lot of exercise.
3. Norwegian Buhunds are similar to all spitz breeds, in that they shed a lot. They have a thick double coat, so anyone who shares a home with them can expect a lot of hair to be around during shedding season.

 

History of Norwegian Buhunds

Buhunds are Norwegian farm dogs. Their original purpose in life was to guard property and herd livestock. They were also used to hunt off predators that presented a danger to farm animals. Over the years, Norwegian Buhunds have also been used as police dogs. They were first known as show dogs in Norway during the 1920s. These friendly dogs are still employed as working animals and are also popular as housemates.  

Appearance

How big is the Norwegian Buhund?

Norwegian Buhunds are medium-sized dogs. Females usually measure 41–45 cm. Males are slightly larger. They usually measure 43–47 cm.  

How heavy is a Norwegian Buhund?

For anyone who is thinking of buying a Norwegian Buhund puppy, It's important to know how heavy a Norwegian Buhund will be as an adult. Normally, males weigh  14 – 18 kg and females weigh 12 – 16 kg.  

What Colour is the Norwegian Buhund?

The undercoat of a Norwegian Buhund is soft and dense. These dogs also have a hard outer coat. This outer coat is normally pale cream to bright orange in colour or black. The coat can come with or without dark tipped hairs. It should have as little white as possible.  

Temperament

Do Norwegian Buhunds make good guard dogs?

Norwegian Buhunds may not chase people away from a property. However, they are highly alert and bark when strangers approach. This makes them very effective watchdogs.  

Do  Norwegian Buhunds bark a lot?

Norwegian Buhunds do love to bark when they hear sounds. These sounds can be anything from a stranger approaching, to something as simple as leaves falling in autumn. The problem with this is that excessive barking may not be popular with the neighbours.  

Are  Norwegian Buhunds easy to train?

Norwegian Buhunds are easier to train than some other Spitz breeds. However, they still have a massive independent streak. This can make it challenging to train them. These confident dogs often find it difficult to maintain their focus. Fortunately, they can often be coaxed by using food as an incentive. Positive training techniques should also be used in order to train Norwegian Buhunds effectively.  

Are Norwegian Buhunds good with children?

Norwegian Buhund puppies and adult dogs are affectionate. They love being around people, including children. However, they can be lively and boisterous. Therefore, it makes sense to supervise when they are playing with younger children.  

Are Norwegian Buhunds good with other pets?

Norwegian Buhunds should be fine with other pets in the home if they are all raised together. They are less headstrong than many other Spitz breeds, so they tend to get along better with people and other animals.  

Can I leave a Norwegian Buhund Alone?

Unlike many dogs, Norwegian Buhunds are happy to tolerate some alone time. These confident dogs are comfortable with their own company. However, it's important that they have toys to keep them occupied. They should also have access to plenty of space where they can run around during the day.  

Health

How long do Norwegian Buhunds live?

Buying a Norwegian Buhund puppy means having a faithful companion for many years to come. These dogs usually live for between 13 and 15 years.  

How much exercise does a Norwegian Buhund need?

Norwegian Buhunds were originally bred as herding dogs. This means that they have high energy levels. They need to get plenty of exercise every day. This exercise needs to involve a lot of running. Anyone who welcomes a Norwegian Buhund into their life can expect them to be an excellent companion on a long bike ride or hike. These intelligent dogs also love their minds to be exercised. This is why they enjoy activities such as dog sports. This can be great fun for a Bohund and their human friends.  

What are Norwegian Buhund Common health issues?

Norwegian Buhunds are usually healthy dogs. However, as is the case with many purebred dogs, there are certain hereditary conditions that can affect the Buhund. These conditions include:

• Hip dysplasia which involves the malformation of hip joints. This can lead to arthritis in Norwegian Buhunds.
• Eye disease which can cause major problems with a Buhund's sight.
• Willebrand's disease, which is a bleeding disorder.

Tests are available to check for these disorders. These tests help to prevent these problems from being passed on.  

Care

How much space do I need for a Norwegian Buhund?

Norwegian Buhunds enjoy activities such as agility courses and ball chasing. Of course, they can get a lot of this exercise during long walks and time spent at the park. However, it also helps to have a large garden, if there is a Norwegian Buhund in the household. Having this space means that the Buhund can get all of the activity they need, whenever they need it.  

How much grooming do Norwegian Buhunds need?

Norwegian Buhund puppies and adult dogs do not need a lot of grooming. They are naturally clean dogs and they do not smell. However, Buhunds should be brushed 2-3 times a week. This brushing should be increased when a dog is shedding. This shedding of the undercoat normally takes place once or twice every year.  

Average costs

How much does it cost to keep a Norwegian Buhund?

As a rough guide in pricing: Cost to buy: roughly £1,500 for a well-bred Norwegian Buhund puppy Other costs (Vet, Food etc): £100 per month  

Specific Buying Guide

You can read our general buying guide here (/advice-on-buying-a-puppy/), with the most important thing being going to view your Norwegian Buhund Puppy, seeing it with its mother, and checking the quality of the breeder. More specifically, here is some Norwegian Buhund puppy buying advice:

1. Before buying a Norwegian Buhund puppy, it's important to make sure that there is enough space for them to get the exercise that they need. This means that a large garden is necessary. The garden should be well secured in order to make sure that the Buhund is not able to escape.
2. Norwegian Buhunds have a strong independent streak. For this reason, it's important to be prepared to invest time and patience in order to train a Norwegian Buhund puppy properly.

 

Other reading, Adopting Norwegian Buhund Puppies and Rescue Organisations

A big thank you to the following sources who helped to shape this article: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/norwegian-buhund/ https://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/norwegian-buhund#grooming https://www.petguide.com/breeds/dog/norwegian-buhund/ https://www.thesprucepets.com/norwegian-buhund-dog-breed-profile-4691112 https://norwegianbuhund.org.uk/