Norwegian Buhund
The Norwegian Buhund takes its name from the bu, the Norwegian farmstead or mountain summer hut, and it worked as an all-round farm dog, herding sheep and cattle, guarding the…
About the Norwegian Buhund
The Norwegian Buhund takes its name from the bu, the Norwegian farmstead or mountain summer hut, and it worked as an all-round farm dog, herding sheep and cattle, guarding the holding and going out with the family. Dogs of the type were buried in Viking graves, and the modern breed was organised in the 1920s in western Norway.
Dogs stand 43 to 47 cm, square, with prick ears, a tightly curled tail and a harsh close-lying double coat in wheaten or black. It is a clean, compact breed to keep and an energetic one to own, quick to bark and quick to learn. A stud should be confident and friendly, with the light, easy movement the breed is known for.
Hereditary eye disease is the Buhund's chief screening concern, cataract in particular, so ask for a current eye certificate under the BVA/KC scheme. Hip scores belong on the list as well. Ask whether epilepsy has appeared anywhere in the pedigree, since it is reported in the breed and nothing will test for it, and ask what the coefficient of inbreeding for the mating would be, as British numbers are modest.
Health & breeding
We check every hip, elbow, eye and DNA result you give us against the Royal Kennel Club’s public records by hand, and we record who checked it and when. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Breed Right’s summary — under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard
Health tests for the Norwegian Buhund
This panel is Breed Right’s summary of the testing that matters for the breed under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard. The Health Standard is the Royal Kennel Club’s guidance for breeders, not a registration rule. It describes tests to ask about — it is not a report on any individual dog. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Best Practice — further tests it recommends
Completing these as well as the Good Practice tests is what the Royal Kennel Club calls Best Practice.
| Test | Type | Scheme | What’s involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNA test — HCA (Hereditary Cerebellar Ataxia) | DNA test | Laboratory | The result printed on the laboratory certificate. |
| Hip score (BVA/KC) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC | Total of both hips, 0–106. Lower is better. |
| Eye testing (BVA/KC/ISDS) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC/ISDS | Result printed on the eye certificate. |
Breed hip median
Breed median 12 (BVA Hip Dysplasia Scheme breed statistics 2025 — 5 years, 22 dogs scored — indicative only, from a small sample). Lower is better. Source · How hip scores work
At stud now
Norwegian Buhund stud dogs
No Norwegian Buhund studs are listed right now
When a Norwegian Buhund on the Royal Kennel Club Breed Register is listed at stud, it will appear here.
Also available
Norwegian Buhund litters
No Norwegian Buhund litters are listed right now
Litters appear here as breeders list them. Check back soon, or browse other breeds.
