The Norwegian Buhund is a medium-sized dog of the spitz type, developed as a watchdog and all-purpose farm and herding dog, with a heritage that dates back to the Vikings.
They have a spitz-like appearance with a wedge-shaped head, foxy face, pointed ears, black ears and curled tail. They have a dense, weather-resistant coat with a short, hard topcoat and a thick and very soft undercoat. They come in a variety of coat colours from pale cream to bright orange, with or without dark tipped hairs, and some with a black mask. Norwegian Behinds are popular companions, with a cheerful disposition. They are very lovable and thrive on human contact, and are known to love children and other animals. They form strong bonds with their owners and as natural watchdogs, this can make them protective and wary of strangers. Although never aggressive, they will certainly bark to alert their owners of any dangers. These loving dogs make a wonderful addition to any family which is able to offer them lots of exercise and companionship.
History
The Norwegian Buhund is a spitz-type dog that can be traced back as far as 900 AD. The Vikings were known to have travelled with dogs of this type and skeletons of dogs with a strong resemblance to the Norwegian Buhund have been found buried in a Viking grave, suggesting that they were highly esteemed to be buried alongside their master. They were originally developed to guard livestock against wolves and bears, herd sheep and protect homes and farms. The Norwegian word Bu means homestead, a simple building or mountain hut and the word Hund means dog.
