Finnish Spitz vs Norwegian Buhund

A Finnish Spitz
Photo: Pleple2000
A Norwegian Buhund
Photo: Svenska Mässan from Sweden

Side by side

Finnish Spitz
Norwegian Buhund
Adult weight
14–16 kg (31–35 lb)1
Males 14–18 kg (31–40 lb); females 12–16 kg (26–35 lb)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 43–47 cm; females 41–45 cm2
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes3
Group
Spitz & primitive4
Spitz & primitive2
Coat
Long coat4
Double coat2
Shedding
Moults most as the seasons change
Grooming
Daily brushing
A brush once a week
Exercise
Plenty
A moderate amount
Class
Field
Sport

Which suits you

Grooming
The Finnish Spitz needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Norwegian Buhund needs a brush once a week.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the Finnish Spitz, and a moderate amount with the Norwegian Buhund.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Finnish Spitz: decides for itself; Norwegian Buhund: cooperative, with its own ideas) and on intelligence (Finnish Spitz: learns readily, likes games; Norwegian Buhund: needs daily brain work).
Alike
The Finnish Spitz and the Norwegian Buhund are much the same size as adults, both about 15 kg (33 lb).
Alike
Both are rated the same on voice: very vocal.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Finnish Spitz
Spitz & primitive · Medium

It is lively, friendly and alert, independent in outlook, vocal, and can be reserved with strangers.

Norwegian Buhund
Spitz & primitive · Medium

Buhunds are alert, energetic and quick to learn, with a strong urge to work and a ready voice. They are generally friendly and form close bonds with their household.

The Finnish Spitz page →The Norwegian Buhund page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Finnish Spitz
Norwegian Buhund
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Finnish Spitz
Norwegian Buhund
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Bonded to its family
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Decides for itself
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Finnish Spitz
Norwegian Buhund
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Very vocal
Very vocal
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour5. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home6,7.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 15 kg.
Finnish Spitz
Norwegian Buhund
051015202m4m6m9m12m18m
051015202m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Finnish Spitz with
Icelandic Sheepdog vs Norwegian BuhundNorwegian Buhund vs Shiba InuAkita vs Norwegian BuhundFinnish Spitz vs Shiba InuAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·