The Lovely Norwegian Buhund

There are some extremely cute dogs native to Scandinavia with just one of them being the Norwegian Buhund, a dog that boasts a 15+ year life span when they are well loved and looked after. For centuries, these lovely looking dogs have been popular in their native homeland and in times long past, they travelled with their masters the Vikings to many different countries.

Medium in size, they are energetic characters that are always a pleasure to be around. They are alert, cheery by nature and they are both extremely loyal and courageous. For years, in their native Norway, these lovely dogs have been an extremely popular breed because they are known to be good when children are around. When puppies, these dogs have to be the cutest on the planet! Being a sptiz-type dog, the Norwegian Buhund is well proportioned with a distinct look that's typical to this type. Their tails curl over their backs much like others of their kind and their coats are thick with a lush, soft undercoat and a smoother and rougher outer coat that offers superb protection from the elements.

A Little Background History to the Breed

The breed can be traced right back to the time of the Vikings with skeletal remains having been found in a dig that took place in Gokstad. It is known the Vikings buried their most treasured possessions with them when they died, so finding the bones of the Buhund in these ancient graves means their masters thought very highly of their dogs and as such they were buried with them so they could look after them in the afterlife. The Buhund was bred to work looking after herds of sheep and cattle. They also accompanied their Viking masters on long journeys across land and sea when they went exploring and plundering different lands.

The first every Buhund show was held in Norway in the twenties and the breed registry was set up in 1939. These clever and attractive dogs were also trained to do other things apart from working on farms and this includes more recently doing police work as well as working as hearing dogs. But in times long past, their courage was more than evident when they were used to hunt wolves and bears in their native Norway.

Wonderful Temperaments

As previously mentioned, the Norwegian Buhund is an energetic, active dog and they boast a lot of stamina. However, they are incredibly affectionate and like nothing more than a cuddle or two. They are not the best of choices for first-time dog owners because they really do benefit from being handled with a fair yet firm hand and being so intelligent, if they are allowed to get away with anything, they soon learn to be “top dog” which is something that needs to be avoided at all costs. They are much happier characters all round when they have clear leadership and know the boundaries and rules.

There is nothing these dogs enjoy more than being taught new tricks which they learn extremely quickly. However, this also means they are quick to pick up any bad habits too which is why it's important that owners are consistent in the way they handle their dogs always being firm yet fair. The Buhund is extremely good as a family pet because of their kind and gentle natures. They are very good with children and love being around people in general.

Lots of Exercise and Mental Stimulation

As with all highly intelligent dogs, the Norwegian Buhund needs lots in the way of mental stimulation and physical exercise. They benefit from obedience training which helps them understand “the rules” and that certain behaviours are unacceptable. If they are allowed to get away with things, they quickly become the alpha dog and this can lead to them showing a stubborn side of their otherwise lovely characters.

Healthy and Robust Characters

When it comes to health issues, the Norwegian Buhund is a pretty robust dog that suffers from very few conditions compared to other pure breeds. However, they are prone to develop hip dysplasia and can often suffer from inherited eye problems too which is why it's always a good idea to discuss these with a breeder before you decide to buy a puppy from them. A good and reputable breeder would always make sure they use healthy dogs in their breeding programmes to reduce the risks of their puppies developing any genetic health disorders.

Grooming Requirements

When it comes to keeping their coats looking pristine and in good condition, the Buhund is pretty low maintenance because they boast an easy-care type of coat that is not prone to tangles or matting. However, during the spring and then again in the autumn, they do tend to shed quite a bit which means more grooming may be necessary to keep coats looking nice and any excess hair off the furniture!

Conclusion

There are some lovely Scandinavian dog breeds around and the Norwegian Buhund is one of them. They are very clever dogs that love to be kept busy, but they are also very loyal and extremely good around children, which is just one of the reasons why they have become so popular as family pets both in their native Norway and elsewhere in the world. They are also a healthy breed that’s not known to suffer from many health issues like many other pure breeds. However, the Norwegian Buhund is not the best choice for first time dog owners because they need to be taught the “rules and boundaries” or they start to think they are the alpha dog.