Description

Norwegian Buhund is a type of Spitz dog. He is a medium sized dog with a square, short body. He has a wedge shaped head, pointy ears and long muzzle. His tail has a slight curve to it. The dog is energetic and smart, and can be used in a variety of jobs, from police work to aids for the deaf. The dogs need consistent raining from a young age, and if trained properly they will learn quickly and will be eager to please their masters. The breed is quite affectionate, but they are vocal and need to be taught manners so they do not bark at unnecessary times. Even though the breed is a working breed, Norwegian Buhunds are loyal and will bond with their families.

Coat Description

Norwegian Buhunds have a double coat. The outer coat is thick but lies smoothly against the dog's body. The under coat is quite wooly and is shed in the spring and fall. The fur is longer on the dog's chest and short on the head and legs. Males tend to have longer fur than females, but both are fairly clean animals.

There are two basic colors of Norwegian Buhund. The Wheaton Norwegian Buhund is light red or yellow-red; he can have dark markings on his face. The black Norwegian Buhund often has a white mark or blaze on his face, chest, neck and legs.

History

The Norwegian Buhund gets his name from the Norwegian word "bu" which means "farm". These dogs literally were named for their purpose: protecting and herding the animals on a farm, particularly the sheep. Viking used these dogs and worked very closely with them. In fact, the dogs were so important to them that they were often buried with their dogs. Some Vikings may have taken the breed with them on long sea voyages. Today's Norwegian Buhund was bred and raised on the Norwegian coast, where they continued their legacy of shepherding and guarding farms.

Temperament

The breed is very loving and really enjoys family attention. They have a lot of energy and need a lot of exercise to use up that energy. If they are not exercised enough, they can become destructive. They are naturally wary of strangers and as this is true, they are good watchdogs. They are not known to bite or attack, but some individuals can be nervous, as is true with almost all breeds. The Norwegian Buhund is are good around children, but their energy level can be problematic for small children, so supervision is necessary.

Health Problems

The Norwegian Buhund is prone to many of the most common problems seen among purebred dogs. They can develop hip dysplasia, an abnormality in the hip joint that is a genetic defect. The breed can have eye problems as well. In general, however, the Norwegian Buhund is quite a healthy breed, even in spite of these health problems.

Grooming

During the shedding season – usually spring and fall – the Norwegian Buhund needs more attention paid to his coat that he does during the other seasons. He should be brushed at least twice a week for the main portion of the year, and more frequently during a shedding season. The Norwegian Buhund needs to be bathed once every month. It is important to keep the nails of the Norwegian Buhund trimmed appropriately.

Exercise

He is a working dog, and as such the Norwegian Buhund needs a lot of exercise and time outdoors. They are terrific participants at sports and enjoy long walks with their families. Using games in the dog's daily exercise regimen will also help exercise the dog's mind so he doesn’t get bored. He can be allowed in dog parks off his leash if he is properly socialized and trained. The absolute minimum amount of exercise needed for the Norwegian Buhund is one hour each day, though more is better for the dog.

Training

From the time the Norwegian Buhund is a puppy, he should be involved in a regular training session with his master. These training sessions need to continue throughout his life to make sure he is a properly trained and behaved dog. The first training sessions can be started when the dog is between 8 and 12 weeks old. The breed responds well to crate training, and this method can help him learn to be calm and patient when he is not experiencing human interaction. The Norwegian Buhund also responds well to positive reinforcement training methods. The dog can easily learn to sit, come, lay down, and stay with these training methods. The dog can also learn games like fetch. Leash training is a must for this dog since he needs a lot of exercise and will be on a leash often for walks around the park.

Keep the training sessions mixed up. The dog has a short attention span and because he is so smart, he can learn a new trick quickly and will get bored easily. He should be socialized with other people and other dogs from the time he is a puppy. This will help prevent any shyness or nervousness in the dog when he meets new people. It will also help lessen his desire to bark at strangers.