Norwegian Buhund vs Longhaired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison

The Norwegian Buhund is a spitz type dog belonging to the herding group of dogs. The dog is related to the Icelandic Sheepdog and the Jämthund.

This dog breed dates back thousands of years to Nordic Viking times. For centuries these dogs have served working dogs, being herders as well as guardians of flock. Even today in remote parts of Norway, you’ll still find this dog doing farm work.

You may be used to the sleek, silver shorthaired Weimaraner, but did you know you get a beautiful long haired version too? Known also as the Long Coated Weimaraner or the ‘Gray Ghost’, with its mesmerising amber eyes, the less common long haired variety shares a similar history as the more familiar short haired version.

The dog originates in Germany and was developed to be a hunting dog. It is believed that the silver dog dates back to the early 1800’s, and in 1897 the first breed club in Germany was formed to protect the future of this dog.

The longhair coat is recognized in all countries except the American Kennel Club.

The Norwegian Buhund stands at 41 to 47cm in height both male and female. He is a medium sized dog and weighs between 12 and 18kg.

Known as a herding dog, he is described as being deep chested with a well built, compact body, erect ears and a tail which curves over the back. The head of the dog is wedge-shaped and he has a bright, intelligent look to him.

The coat is essentially a wheaten color but it can be other shades such as a pale cream color to bright orange and sometimes even black. The coat is short to medium in length and he sheds moderately with some seasonal shedding as well.

Temperament:

Fun loving, friendly and social, the Norwegian Buhund is also an active dog who will always be pleading with you for a game or walkies. His pleading brown eyes will hopefully soften your heart towards him so that you give him a ball game or a run in the park. It is why this dog breed gets on well with children – he loves to be playing games with them.

They are such lovable dogs, wanting to spend time with their human family and always ready with a doggy kiss. They want to protect the ones they love and this makes them good watchdogs too, being wary around strangers. He is highly intelligent and will go through training and socialization with ease.

The Longhair Weimaraner with its eye-catching grey coat is a large dog that stands between 58 and 70cm and weighs between 25 to 40kg.

These dogs, unlike the short haired version, have the tail traditionally long and the tail is feathered. The eyes are a blue-green, amber or grey color. The grey coat is soft and silky and even though it is quite long, a brush twice a week will keep it in tip-top condition.

Temperament:

The Longhaired Weimaraner’s temperament is the same as the short haired variety. He is also a superb field dog with excellent hunting skills.

They’re very active dogs, looking for plenty of mental and physical stimulation. For first-time dog owners, this might prove to be too demanding, so the long haired Weimaraner might not be the best first-choice dog to get.

They can be aggressive when meeting new people and he will certainly require training and socialization if you want him to be calm and obedient.

The Norwegian Buhund is a cheerful, social and active breed.

He will need exercise on a daily basis. They are lovable dogs and are affectionate towards children in the home. They form strong bonds with their human family.

He is a strong willed dog, and will require training and socialization. As a working and herding dog, he wants to be busy, and is perhaps best suited to life in the suburbs or countryside as opposed to living in the city.

He makes an awesome companion dog and he wants to please his human family and be an active part of their lives.

Your Long Haired Weimaraner is a friendly, alert dog that makes for an excellent companion and watchdog. The fact that he is also restless, confident, independent and strong-willed means that training and socialization will be necessary to make him pleasant and obedient.

You can’t always count on him to be amicable as he also has a bit of an aggressive side.

The way your Long Haired Weimaraner turns out will depend on heredity, the personality of the owner as well as training and socialization.

These dogs want to be with their human family and will follow the owner around and contentedly lie at their feet. Once he's trained, the Weimaraner is guaranteed to make you a fine family companion.

Provide your Norwegian Buhund with the right care and he can get to 15 years of age. Hip dysplasia is always an issue with dogs and you should be very wary of it as it can cause lameness and pain.

Cataracts is another illness that you want to be aware of. Although not painful, this eye aliment can lead to blindness.

Look out for other common dog illnesses such as bloat, skin allergies and cancer.

Hip Dysplasia is a medical threat to all dog breeds and fortunately the Weimaraner is a dog breed that has a low rate of dysplasia. When buying a Long Haired Weimaraner, try and get one from breeders who have had their breeding dogs hip-tested.

You’ll notice that the Weimaraner is a deep-chested dog and he is prone to bloating, which can turn out to be life threatening for your dog if not treated immediately.

The stomach twists and is swollen with no bowel movements. The dog is restless and in distress and needs immediate attention. To help, instead of giving one large meal which is gobbled up quickly, give him 2 smaller meals.

Skin allergies are also quite common in these dogs and you don’t want your silver dogs coat going off as it is his crowning glory.

If he is scratching, his skin is dry, red and itchy, get him to the vet as it can even be parasites at work, causing an allergic reaction.

Exercise:

You’re going to need to provide this dog of yours with activities that stimulate him physically and mentally. The Norwegian Buhund isn’t a couch-potato type of dog and he doesn’t do well with just lying around. Take him on walks and hikes, throw balls or frisbees for him and buy him some toys that can entertain him. You want to avoid him barking and digging from sheer boredom.

Grooming:

Like all other spitz-breed dogs, the Norwegian Buhund has a thick double coat, and because he sheds moderately, you will need to brush him at least twice a week. Check simultaneously for ticks and fleas.

Check your pets eye and ears for infection and check his teeth. A rotting tooth at the back of his mouth can be the cause of a lot of pain and problems throughout the body. Keep his nails clipped as well so as to prevent them hooking onto things.

Provide your pet with a nice warm, dry, comfortable place to sleep. If he goes outside, make sure he has a place to lie in the shade or in the sun.

Take your pet to the vet when he appears to be lethargic and sick. Remember to keep his vaccines up to date.

Diet:

Feed your pet food which is known for its nutritional value. Home made food is a real treat for your pet, but high quality commercially manufactured food can be good and convenient too.

Dogs love simple, consistent diets which don’t upset their stomachs. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, and some vegetables such as sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots chopped up into his food from time to time can be superbly nutritious for your pet. Try and also include a little bit of raw meat occasionally. Always have a bowl of fresh, cool water available to your pet.

Grooming:

When you bring a Long Haired Weimaraner home, you will need to invest in brush and comb for his long hair. They’re active dogs and love nothing more than running in a field, rolling in mud and being very active.

His coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it looking silvery and shimmering. Check the ears, eyes and teeth whenever you brush him and get used to cleaning his teeth regularly too.

If in doubt about how to keep your pet well groomed in terms of looks and health, speak to a dog expert, your vet or professional groomer.

Diet:

Your ‘Gray Ghost’ dog has been a very successful hunting dog, and they are high-energy gun dogs. As a large dog he will have particular nutritional needs to fuel his energetic lifestyle.The dog’s high activity levels need to be taken into account when looking at his diet.

Buy the best commercially manufactured food. Add to his kibble some cooked chicken, brown rice or pasta and cooked or raw vegetables from time to time as well as bits of raw meat. Your dog will thank you for keeping his meals simple but nutritious.