Meet the Norwegian Buhund

Several weeks ago, three dog breeds debuted at the 134^th annual Westminster Kennel Club dog show. One of these breeds is the Norwegian Buhund, a herding dog. The American Kennel Club fully recognized the Norwegian Buhund in January 2009.

History of the Norwegian Buhund

The Norwegian Buhund is a black or cream-colored farm dog with a curly tail from Scandinavia, mostly unknown outside of Norway until the past decades. This dog originated with the Vikings and was used to herd livestock and act as a watchdog. Vikings valued their Norwegian Buhund dogs highly, as their skeletons were found in many Viking graves.

The Norwegian Buhund Club was founded in Norway in 1939 and the Norwegian Buhund Club of America was started in 1983. The Buhund was first brought to England after World War II and then to North America. This breed is gaining popularity as a pet in the U.S.

Description and Care

The Norwegian Buhund ranges from 25 to 40 pound and is no more than 18 inches tall. The dog can be black, sable or wheaten in color. This Spitz breed has a thick and dense double coat with a wooly undercoat for warmth and an outer coat to protect from wet weather. Its coat is easy to care for and doesn't tangle easily. Weekly brushings should keep its coat shiny and smooth. The Norwegian Buhund sheds the most during the spring and fall.

The breed is very intelligent and full of energy, therefore needs a lot of physical activity and mental stimulation. It won't do well in a cramped environment and needs a lot of space and a big yard to get its exercise. Daily walks, jogs and games of Frisbee are perfect activities for this cheerful dog.

The Norwegian Buhund is a friendly dog and gets along very well with children and other dogs and pets. Because it is a herding dog, it may try to herd children and animals such as cats. This breed can get very upset when its owner is away and this may result in some destructive behavior, due to its separation anxiety. This can be solved by adding to your dog family.

The Norwegian Buhund Club of America

The Norwegian Buhund Club of America has a great website with all the information you may need about the breed. You can also find NBCA approved breeders and available puppies. While there, make sure to take a look at their photo album and see all the adorable photos of this sweet breed.

Norwegian Buhund Rescue

Also, please take a look at the Norwegian Buhund Rescue website and fill out the adoption application if you are interested in taking in a rescued Buhund.

Sources:

http://www.ianimals.com/articles/norwegianbuhund.html

http://www.buhund.org/