Norwegian Buhund vs Newfoundland Dog - 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.

The Newfoundland dog is a large working dog. They were bred and used as a working dog for fishermen in the Dominion of Newfoundland, an eastern province of Canada. With their web feet they were also used for water rescue.

The history of the Newfoundland Dog is unsure, but the breed as we know it today originated from dogs which were brought from Newfoundland to England in the early 1800's.

The Newfoundland Club was founded in 1886 so as to promote the breed.

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 Newfoundland is a large dog standing at between 63cm to 74cm, both male and female. Weight can vary from 45kg to 80kg.

He has a double coat of medium-length straight hair and the hair can be black, brown or gray. Although it is common for the Newfoundland to have a solid-colored coats, you will sometimes find small patches of white on their chest, toes, or at the tip of the tail. Then again you get the less common Newfoundlands where the coat is white with some black markings and these are known as Landseers.

The outer coat is coarse, oily and water-resistant quality, suited to a dog that loves to spend time in the water. The head is broad and large with small ears that he keeps lying close to his head. The tail is long and plumed and the feet are wide with webbing between the toes which aids him with swimming.

Temperament:

As with many large dogs, the Newfoundland is docile and his sheer size makes it that he is best suited to life in the countryside as opposed to living in the city. This is also because this particular dog wants to be close to water where he can swim.

He is a trustworthy, loyal dog and will get on well with children and pets in the home. Training and socialization is always recommended for any dog, but a big dog can often ‘get in the way’ indoors and you want him to lie down or sit when you tell him to. He is an intelligent dog so will respond well to training.

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 beautiful, cuddly puppy will soon become a giant dog with a big appetite. Don’t just buy a cute puppy if you can’t afford to feed him properly and you can’t give him lots of attention.

Your dog will also be shedding, so be aware of these aspects before you bring a large Newfoundland into your home. He is a gentle dog, but his size could be worrisome if he isn’t trained, socialized and supervised.

Newfoundlands are amicable dogs, and while he may like to spend times indoors with you relaxing, he is a working dog and will require exercise and activities for mind and body.

Give this giant of a dog a loving home, and you will have a special, devoted friend like no other.

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.

The Newfoundland can be prone to serious health conditions such as hip dysplasia and gastric torsion. Deep chested dog breeds like the New Foundland are susceptible to bloat, a life threatening condition where the stomach swells, it can twist and the dog can die if help isn’t available. He will be salivating, restless and whining while also trying to vomit.

Giant breeds are also prone to elbow and hip dysplasia, a genetic problem which can ultimately affect your dog’s mobility.

When in any doubt about your pet’s health, get him to the vet.

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:

Your dog’s coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week as he is a heavy shedder.

Do the nails of your dog as soon as they start getting long. Long nails can hook on things and cause injury to the dog’s paw area.

This is a dog with floppy ears so check inside the ears to prevent ear infections, more so because this is a water-loving dog. The dampness inside the ears can cause bacteria.

Diet:

This is a giant breed and sadly, they have the shortest lifespans. You want to make sure that you keep your giant breed as healthy as possible to ensure he reaches the 10 or so years allotted to him and to also prevent health problems.

Make sure your giant breed puppy and adult has the very highest quality commercially manufactured food to ensure he gets the right balance of nutrients in. This food also makes sure that your puppy rather grows at a slower rate and stronger as opposed to growing too quickly. Rapid growth comes with joint problems.

All dogs, large and small, don’t want exotic, strange food that upsets their stomachs. They want consistency and simplicity and they want tasty food. Give him some homemade food such as cooked chicken, brown rice or pasta and some vegetables such as sweet potato, carrots and spinach. You can add this occasionally to his dry kibble.

Add in some raw meat from time to time too. Your pet will be strong, healthy, happy and content.