Norwegian Buhund Care

The Norwegian Buhund is a small- to medium-sized, energetic Spitz breed that originated as a herding dog. And true to their herding natures, these dogs are active, athletic, and protective. Overall Norwegian Buhund care won't require too much work, but will need to include lots of daily exercise.

Below you'll find details on caring for a Norwegian Buhund: puppy care and development, exercise needs, shedding/drooling tendencies, and more are covered here. To learn more about raising a Norwegian Buhund, keep reading!

As a herding breed, Norwegian Buhund exercise requirements are pretty high. These dogs, with their strong work ethics, will need to be kept busy--both physically (walking, fetch) and mentally (games, learning tricks, canine sports). They make good jogging and bicycling companions as well.

The typical adult Buhund, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need 60-90 minutes of proper exercise per day--and you can accomplish this with a couple of good walks, jogs, or bike rides and a moderate period of play. You can start exercising your Buhund puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short (5-minute) walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few things to consider when exercising your Buhund: first, puppies younger than eight months old shouldn't do too much jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as these can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, all Buhunds need to be leashed when in public. With their strong herding instincts, these dogs will automatically try to "control" moving objects--people, animals, or bicyclists, among other things--unless controlled by a leash. Buhunds are also good escape artists, so even when exercising in your own yard the area will need to be securely fenced to keep the dog from running away--and you'll still need to closely supervise to make sure the dog doesn't jump over or dig under it.

Precautions aside, you'll need to exercise your Buhund every single day. These dogs are intelligent and active--a combination that makes them disobedient, frustrated, and destructive if they're bored or restless. Consistent exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Two 30-minute walks (or 20-minute jogs or bike rides) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: Buhunds love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Hide-and-Seek: good indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Canine Sports: Buhunds can excel at obedience and agility trials, flyball, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors (which is where these dogs will want to live), give your Buhund access to balls or toys that will help the dog burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks, jogs, or bike rides after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs don't need a ton of care. Norwegian Buhund shedding is pretty light for most of the year, but heavier during shedding season; drooling isn't an issue.

Buhunds have the typical Spitz coat: thick, double-layered, and seasonally shedding. Owners will need to brush their Buhunds once or twice a week with a pin or bristle brush to minimize the shed, and hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will only be required now and again. (During the spring and fall shedding seasons, brushing and cleanup will obviously be needed more often.)

A Buhund almost never drools, though. If your Norwegian Buhund is drooling excessively, it might be due to a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.