Norwegian Buhund Dog Breed

The Norwegian Buhund, also referred to as the Norsk Buhund or Norwegian Sheepdog, is a Spitz-type breed hailing from Norway. Buhund type skeletons have been found in Viking burials dating back as early as 900 A.D. The centuries since have seen them have herding sheep and guarding properties. They are also very friendly family-oriented pets that make perfect companions for active individuals as well as families with children. Norwegian Buhunds have the typical Spitz-type looks typical for cold weather dogs: double coats, wedge-shaped faces and muzzles, triangular, erect ears, and a tail held curled over the back. Consider the following quick facts before deciding if the Norwegian Buhund is the dog for you:

Most Norwegian Buhund information you come across will stress the importance of the breed being "people dogs". If you don't have the time to spend training and exercising them daily or are frequently away from home for long periods-- this is not the dog for you. Buhunds have a working-dog personality and will confidently find jobs to do if you do not assign them one. They will patrol the home and property or possibly find some critters to herd. They need at least an hour of outdoor time daily, preferrably more and love activities like hiking, running, fetching balls, long walks, agility training, etc.

Obedience training is also an excellent way to exercise your Buhunds body and mind. They are more easily trained than other Spitz type dogs. Norwegian Buhunds are very food oriented and the Norwegian Buhund Club of America recommends clicker training as well. Harsh tones and actions are not necessary for this gentle breed.

We understand parents will want the 101 on Norwegian Buhunds before bringing one into the home. They are cheerful, gentle, playful and protective. Although it's true that all dogs should be supervised around children, this breed makes for an excellent family companion-- especially when trained from puppy age. They will alert you to visitors and strangers but usually are quite friendly towards them. They should be cat friendly, too, but this will depend on your Buhund's level of interest with small furry animals; the best chance for a peaceful coexistence is to socialize them with other pets as early as possible.

The Norwegian Buhund temperament is often described as happy, playful, affectionate, gentle and smart. Let's not forget hard working! The herding dogs have worked alongside man for hundreds of years, so if you don't give them a job to do they'll find one for themselves. This means they must get enough daily exercise, at least an hour or two, to keep them happy and free from behaviors that you and your neighbors might not appreciate. Members of this breed will love to walk, hike, run and play games with you. Buhunds are very vocal and will sound a very loud alert for anything they deem necessary-- this makes them excellent watchdogs but probably not great choices for apartments.

Buhunds and gentle playmates for kids and, although they may bark at the approach of a visitor, are not unfriendly. In fact, the Norwegian Buhund Club of America refers to them as "people dogs" which is a very important characteristic for owners with frequent visitors. This breed will likely get along well with other dogs but may try to herd other types of pets; this is not a purposefully aggressive behavior but their keen interest may be to much for your cat to handle.

The Norwegian Buhund, compared to other dog breeds, is quite hardy. The only real preventative measure to take with this breed is to schedule regular veterinary check ups. They often live 12-15 years and the most common health concerns are below:

• Hip dysplasia is common in many breeds and results in reduced mobility.
• Eye disease is common to the Norwegian Buhund.
• Von Willebrand's Disease is a blood clotting disorder than can result in severe bleeding-- even from a minor wound.