How to Identify a Norwegian Buhund

By John Albers

Instructions

Step 1:
Begin by estimating the dog’s size and weight, as well as paying attention to any physical features. It should stand about 17 inches high at the shoulders and weigh somewhere in the area of 35 lbs. It should be lightly built with a compact body equal in length to its height. It should be short-limbed and have small, round paws with webbing between the toes. The body itself should be wide, thick and rectangular in shape. The tail should be less than half the dog’s length, heavily feathered and curled inward over the top of the dog’s back.
Step 2:
Examine the dog’s fur. It should have a long outer layer and a short dense layer of down for protection against snow and ice. The outer coat should be smooth and harsh, while the undercoat should be soft and woolly. The skin should be loose and very thick beneath the fur. This is an adaptation to both the cold of its habitat and the attacks of predators. It should have a minor ruff of fur on the chest and base of the throat. Color ranges from pale cream and wheat tan to reddish yellow, though sometimes the breed may have the black and silver markings of a wolf. Typically, there’s a little black on the base of the chin beneath the muzzle as well.
Step 3:
Conclude by examining the dog’s head. The neck should be short and thick, the point where the back of the dog’s head begins and the neck ends should be indistinguishable beneath the fur. The ears should be set widely to the sides of the dog’s head and stand at attention at all times, though a puppy’s ears will be flopped over until it has matured. The top of the skull should have a very deep slope as the muzzle narrows, leading to a wide, chisel-edged nose. The eyes should be black and almond-shaped, with heavy lids.

Resources

Listing for the only accredited Norwegian Buhund breeder in the United States.

Photo/Video Credit

www.dkimages.com

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