Norwegian Buhund

The Norwegian Buhund originated with the Vikings in what is now western Norway. This breed is a small but powerful dog of the ancient Spitz type. The name “buhund” comes from “bu”, a Norwegian word meaning homestead or stock, and “hund” meaning “hound”. These little dogs were used as a general all-around farm dog: to herd livestock and to act as watchdog over the farm, purposes for which they are still used. They also participated in the hunting of bear and wolves. As do all the breeds of the Spitz type, this breed has prick ears and a tail which is held high and curled over its back. Its double coat is thick and dense, with a woolly undercoat for warmth and an outer coat to repel wet weather. In its homeland, some people spin the shed fur into yarn. It occurs in black, or in wheaten – which displays varying degrees of hue and darkened points. Historians suggest that the lighter coat was preferred for easier visibility along the rainy, foggy Norwegian coastland, while the black coat was preferred in the inland mountainous areas where a dark dog was easier to spot in the abundant snow. The Norwegian Buhund stands an average 17 to 18 inches high, and has an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years. The Norwegian Buhund became fully recognized by the American Kennel Club in January of 2009. It is categorized as a member of herding group. Documentation as early as 870 AD attests to the existence of the predecessor to the Norwegian Buhund. Additionally, early Viking graves, most notably the well-known Gokstad ship burial in Norway (dated to ca. 900 AD), held skeletons of the dogs who accompanied their Viking masters over land and sea. Vikings believed that death was merely a door on the journey to Valhalla – a kind of warrior heaven – and that all brave warriors would live forever there. They were sent on their way to Valhalla with all their prized possessions and things that they had needed most in the earthly life: weapons, ships, horses, coin and jewelry, and dogs. That these dogs are present in several of the graves of powerful Vikings is evidence of their value in the culture. The Norwegian Buhund Club was founded in Norway in 1939 to preserve and publicize the breed. Great care was taken by the founders to establish guidelines to encourage breeding for both physical and temperamental qualities, and also for ability to work in its traditional capacity. The breed was first brought to England after the second world war, and then to North America. The Norwegian Buhund Club of America was formed in 1983. The Norwegian Buhund, like most herding dogs, is very intelligent and needs plenty of mental stimulation as well as an enormous amount of physical activity. It will do best in an active family. Life in a small house or apartment will be difficult without the owner’s making a special effort to provide adequate daily exercise outdoors. The Norwegian Buhund does not have much hunting drive, although some individuals do well at tracking. It enjoys retrieving and will make a great Frisbee dog. Brisk daily walks are recommended for the Norwegian Buhund. This breed can make an excellent jogging partner. It is helpful and cheerfully obedient as a farm worker. As a stock dog it shows an upright and loose-eyed style, and can be given to frequent barking as it works. It will also show a desire to protect the herd from predators. The coat of the Norwegian Buhund is easy to care for and is not prone to tangling. It should be brushed a least once weekly to remove dead hairs and debris, keep skin healthy, and discourage matting. The male Norwegian Buhund generally has a longer coat than does the female. This breed sheds heavily in spring and fall; with diligent brushing shedding can be minimal at other times of the year. The Norwegian Buhund is often born with double dewclaws; the owner should take particular care to keep these trimmed so they do not grow long enough to dig into the dog’s leg. This breed tends to be hardy and healthy; typical herding breed issues rarely plague it. The Norwegian Buhund may exhibit hip dysplasia and inherited eye disorders such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), where the breeder is not careful to work to eliminate such tendencies in the bloodline.This breed is friendly with people, loves children, and gets along well with other dogs and other household pets. However, it may occasionally try to herd children and smaller animals such as the household cats. The Norwegian Buhund is generally cheerful, active, fearless, and possesses self-assurance and some independence, while at the same time being extremely affectionate with its owners.The Norwegian Buhund bonds very closely with its human pack, and needs adequate playtime and attention or it can develop behavioral problems. This breed can also be predisposed to separation anxiety when its owner is away; in its extreme form this can result in destructive acts, or even self-destruction such as for example chewing on the crate until it bleeds, or self-grooming to developing painful “hot spots”. Most often in an individual prone to separation anxiety, the issue can be solved with the addition of a canine companion.This dog is considered by many dog trainers to be the easiest of the Spitz breeds to train, given its high intelligence, cheerful disposition and innate eagerness to please. Besides being used as a herding dog and watchdog, the Norwegian Buhund is today successful in agility and obedience competitions, and is sometimes used as a therapy dog and for police work such as tracking.

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