The Canadian Kennel Club Norwegian Buhund breed standard.
The breed standard outlines the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed, and
ensures that a dog can carry out its original purpose. Breeders and judges should be mindful to
prioritize dogs that are healthy and sound in both mind and body.
General Appearance
The Norwegian Buhund is a typical Spitz dog of under middle size, lightly built, with a short, compact
body, fairly smooth-lying coat, erect, pointed ears, tail carried curled over the back, and with a
courageous, energetic character.
Origin
Norway
Head
Size in proportion to the body, wedge-shaped, lean, not too heavy.
Skull almost flat; the stop is well defined but should not be too pronounced. Muzzle is rather short,
tapering evenly towards the nose, which is black; bridge is straight; lips tightly closed. The male and
female sex must be clearly defined. Eyes: Color as dark as possible, harmonizing with the color of
the coat. Ears: Pointed; size and shape in harmony with the head; height somewhat greater than width
at the base; carried strongly erect. Mouth: Scissors Bite.
Neck
Lean, comparatively short, good carriage.
Forelegs
Moderately angulated at the shoulder, harmonizing with type; well set elbows, legs are straight, lean
and with good bone, not coarse although this is preferred to too fine. Feet are oval in shape and
compact.
Body
Deep chest with well sprung ribs; strong, straight back and loins. Arch of coupling should harmonize
with type. Length of body equal to height at the withers.
Hindquarters
Moderate angulation; powerful; good muscle and bone; oval, compact feet; dewclaws may be removed.
Tail
Well furred, set high, tightly curled, not carried too much on one side.
Coat
Outer coat
Thick, rich and hard, but rather smooth-lying.
Undercoat
Soft, dense, woolly. On head and front of legs the coat is comparatively short, on neck and chest it is
longer.
Colors
Wheaten (Biscuit)
Ranging from light to yellowish red, with or without dark tipped hairs; mask permitted but should
otherwise be self colored.
Black
Preferably self colored, but white blaze, and white markings on chest, narrow ring on neck and white
on legs are permissible. The white markings should not, however, disturb the overall impression.
Size
Height at the withers: Males: 43-47 cm (17-18 ½ in); Bitches: 41-45 cm (16-17 ½ in)
Weight: Males: 14-18 kg (31-40 lb); Bitches: 12-16 kg (26.5-35 lb)
Faults
Any departure from the aforementioned ideals shall be considered faulty to the degree in which it
interferes with the health and well-being of the dog and the breed’s purpose.
- too fine
- too coarse
- nervous
- liver coloured nose
- light eyes
- not strongly erect ears
- anything but scissors bite
- poorly curled tail
- wavy or too long coat
- any colour but the ones mentioned above.
Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.