People usually start looking into the Norwegian Buhund when they want a medium-sized dog that can keep up: long walks, busy households, dog sport, or farm-style life. It’s a bright, brisk spitz with a strong voice and a working-dog engine, and those traits can be a gift or a headache depending on your routine.
Below you’ll find the essentials—what a Buhund is built like, what it tends to be like to live with, how much exercise it really needs, and the health checks worth prioritising—grounded in recognised breed standards and veterinary sources.
Size: Medium-sized
Weight: Roughly 14–18 kg (dogs often heavier than bitches)
Height: About 41–47 cm at the shoulder (sex-dependent)
Coat: Thick, weather-resistant double coat
Colour: Wheaten and black are common; red and wolf-sable are also recognised in some standards
Life span: Often around 12–15 years
Temperament: Alert, energetic, generally friendly; can be independent-minded
Exercise needs: High—plan on at least an hour most days, plus mental work
Training: Quick to learn; does best with steady, positive training and early socialisation
History and origin
The Norwegian Buhund is a Nordic spitz developed as a versatile farm dog—herding livestock, sounding the alarm, and coping with rough weather. That heritage still shows: it’s attentive, mobile, and built to work for long stretches rather than potter for ten minutes and call it done.1, 2
Physical characteristics and appearance
The Buhund is square and athletic, with pricked ears, a wedge-shaped head, and a tail carried tightly curled over the back—classic spitz outlines, but lighter on its feet than many people expect.1
The coat is double: a soft, woolly undercoat with a harsher outer coat that lies fairly close to the body. It sheds year-round and tends to “blow” coat seasonally, when the undercoat releases in volume.1
Typical size
- Height: males commonly sit around 43–47 cm; females around 41–45 cm (standards and breed information vary slightly by kennel club).1, 2, 3
- Weight: often about 14–18 kg for males, with females frequently lighter.2, 3
Colours
Commonly seen colours include wheaten and black. Some breed standards also recognise red (not too dark) and wolf-sable, with limited white markings permitted in specific places.1
Temperament and personality
In motion, a Buhund tends to look like it has an opinion about everything it sees. It’s alert and responsive, and many owners notice a strong “watchdog” tendency—quick to announce movement, visitors, or odd noises. That can be useful in a house with space and routine, and difficult in close-quarters living if barking isn’t managed early.2
With family, the breed is generally social and affectionate, but it isn’t usually a dog that thrives on long idle days. Without enough activity and training, it may invent its own jobs: patrolling fences, chasing movement, or rehearsing its voice.2
Training and exercise requirements
The Norwegian Buhund is intelligent and typically willing, but not mechanical. Training lands best when it’s calm, consistent, and rewarding, with plenty of practice in real-life settings rather than only in the lounge room.2
What “enough exercise” usually looks like
Most Buhunds need more than a single short walk. Aim for daily movement plus mental work—sniffing, problem-solving, obedience games, or structured play. Many enjoy activities like agility, obedience, tracking, and herding-style games when introduced carefully.2
Early socialisation matters
Steady exposure to people, dogs, surfaces, noises, and handling helps this naturally alert breed stay composed. Keep sessions short, positive, and frequent, especially during puppyhood.2
Health issues and concerns
Norwegian Buhunds are generally robust, but like many medium-to-large active breeds, they can be affected by orthopaedic and endocrine conditions. The most useful approach is practical: choose breeders who health-test, keep your dog lean, and treat early signs as worth a vet visit rather than something to “wait out”.2
Hip dysplasia
Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition where the hip joint forms poorly, leading to joint laxity and, over time, osteoarthritis. Signs can include stiffness, reluctance to jump, reduced exercise tolerance, or hindlimb lameness that’s often worse after activity. Diagnosis is typically confirmed with radiographs (X-rays), and management ranges from weight control and medication to surgery in more severe cases.4, 5
Skin and coat problems
Any dog with a dense double coat can hide skin trouble until it’s advanced. If you notice persistent itch, redness, recurrent ear issues, or hot spots, have your vet check for parasites, infection, and allergy triggers rather than cycling through shampoos at home.6
Grooming and day-to-day care
The Buhund’s coat is designed to handle weather, not to be sculpted. Routine brushing helps remove loose undercoat, keeps the skin visible for quick checks, and reduces shedding indoors. During seasonal shedding, brushing needs to be more frequent to stay ahead of matting and packed undercoat.1
Bathing is occasional rather than constant. Use a dog-appropriate shampoo, rinse thoroughly, and dry properly—dense undercoat that stays damp can irritate skin.6
Basic upkeep still applies: nails trimmed before they click, ears checked regularly, and teeth brushed often enough that tartar doesn’t quietly build up.7
Living with a Norwegian Buhund
A Buhund fits best where daily movement is normal and training is part of the household rhythm. It’s the sort of dog that watches patterns: when the gate opens, where the kids run, which neighbour walks past at dusk. If you provide structure, it tends to settle into that structure.
Quick suitability check
- Good match if: you enjoy active days, you like training, and you can tolerate (and manage) a vocal watchdog.2
- Think twice if: you need a very quiet breed, you’re away for long hours most days, or you prefer a low-exercise companion.2
Rescue and adoption
Norwegian Buhunds are comparatively uncommon, so rescue availability can be patchy. If you’re set on adoption, widen your net: spitz and herding-breed rescue groups sometimes see Buhunds or close mixes, and reputable breed clubs may be able to point you towards rehoming contacts when dogs need new homes.2
Final thoughts
The Norwegian Buhund is a capable, energetic farm dog in companion-dog packaging: alert, agile, and usually sociable, with a coat built for weather and a mind built for work. When exercise, training, and calm boundaries are part of daily life, it can be a steady, engaging companion. When those pieces are missing, the same qualities tend to spill out as noise, restlessness, and fence-line patrols.1, 2
References
- The Kennel Club (UK) – Norwegian Buhund breed standard
- Purina UK – Norwegian Buhund breed information
- United Kennel Club (UKC) – Norwegian Buhund breed standard
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version) – Hip dysplasia in dogs
- American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) – Canine hip dysplasia overview
- RSPCA Australia – Caring for your dog’s skin and coat
- RSPCA Australia – Dental care for dogs
- Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) – Hip dysplasia in dogs
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom