Norwegian Buhund
挪威布哈德犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Norwegian Buhund is the Viking farm dog — a mid-sized wheaten or black spitz with a tightly curled tail whose name means 'homestead dog', a herder, flock guardian and all-purpose farmhand that sailed with the Norsemen but is at heart a homebody. Buhunds are confident, smart and perceptive: affectionate, gentle, cheery and eager to please, friendly with people and other dogs, self-appointed watchdogs with a strong bark that carries — and independent thinkers who tire of repetition and invent their own games if not given a job. Bred to work for hours, they need vigorous exercise twice a day, food-motivated positive training, and brushing two or three times a week that doubles when they blow their undercoat.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 41–47cm |
| Weight | 12–18kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15years |
| Breed group | AKC: herding FCI: 5 |
| Role | Herding |
| Coat | Double coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–120min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 3/ 5 |
| Barking | 4/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 2/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 5/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Von Willebrand disease
An inherited bleeding disorder reported in the breed; a DNA test is available. Ask your breeder about testing and tell your vet before any surgery.
Behaviour
Easier than most spitz — but still a spitz
The AKC says Buhunds are easier to train than other spitz and Northern breeds but keep their independent character — the desire to please is there, but independence is often stronger, making it a challenge to hold their focus; fortunately most are highly food-motivated, so clicker training works well, and they are extremely sensitive to their surroundings. The CKC calls the Buhund friendly and fun-loving, getting on well with people and other dogs, easily trained, agile and alert, and praised as a watchdog.
Bred to work for hours
The AKC says Buhunds were bred to work and herd for hours at a time, which can make for very energetic dogs that need vigorous exercise allowing them to run fast twice a day — running beside a bicycle, retrieving balls, all-day hikes, obedience, tracking and agility. The CKC says the Buhund has a fair amount of energy, welcomes the chance to work and adapts to city or country living given regular outdoor exercise; the Royal Kennel Club suggests up to 1 hour a day.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 3/5, barking level 4/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Norwegian Buhund
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Norwegian Buhund (Herding Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Norwegian Buhund
Breed characteristics (size medium, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 12 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Norwegian Buhund (standard no. 237, group 5)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's 'Is a Buhund the dog for me?' page describes a dog full of character and highly intelligent — a real 'people dog' that enjoys any activity with the family, very affectionate and naturally gentle, with an even, cheery temperament and eager to please — and asks whether you have the time and energy to train, play with and exercise it. It says the Buhund is a vocal dog whose strong, intense bark carries a long way and is triggered by motion — people, cars, birds — though it will not bark senselessly; that it was bred to work for hours and loves to run, play frisbee, retrieve balls, go on long hikes and do agility and rally; that initial training is easy because it is motivated and eager to please, but Buhunds are independent thinkers who become bored with repetition and need a job or they will make up their own games and puzzles, with clicker training and food working well; and that the easy-care coat neither mats nor tangles, sheds minimally year round and blows undercoat once or twice a year.”
— Norwegian Buhund Club of America — Is a Buhund the Dog for Me? via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Norwegian Buhund — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Norwegian Buhund — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Norwegian Buhund — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Norwegian Buhund — FCI standard no. 237 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Is a Buhund the Dog for Me? — Norwegian Buhund Club of America — Norwegian Buhund Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.