Hello. I'm new to this forum and would like some advice if possible.

My partner and i are looking to buy a norwegian buhund puppy. We are located in Kent, England but are willing to travel a few hours to find our perfect pup as we are aware they are quite rare! We would like to get one in a few months but are starting to look now as there will probably be waiting lists!

Can anyone give me the names and e-mail addresses of some buhund breeders please?

Thanks so much.

The best information I can find on the KC site at the moment is:
NORWEGIAN BUHUND CLUB. Sec. Mrs Purves. Tel No: For further information contact the Kennel Club.

Yes June Purves would be your best bet. My mum used to breed them but no longer does as we are concentrating on our other breed now. Anwen might also be able to help you as she is still involved in the breed. Junes number is 01670 503420

Thanks for your replies.

I don't mean to sound daft but what do i say when i call? Will she give me a list of breeders local to me or is she a breeder herself? Where is she based? I've never bought a dog before so don't know the process!

Also, will she give me details of upcoming litters etc?

Yes she is a breeder herself has been for about 30 years, we sold her her first buhund. She is based in Northumberland but she will probably know of any litters that are around or any due in the near future. She will probably ask you if you will want to show or not. She might give you numbers of breeders done your neck of the woods. Have you actually met a buhund in body so to speak? What made you decide on the breed?

Thanks,

I will give her a call in the near future to see if she knows of any upcoming litters near to where i am.

Actually, we haven't met a buhund as yet. We would like to meet one first, obviously before we contact breeders etc but i have no idea where to 'visit' them as they are quite rare. Any ideas?

We bought a big book of dogs and went through very carefully. We decided on about ten and narrowed it down to a couple of dogs including the buhund. My partner is also very keen on the basenji which i note you have 2 don't you?!

I have done plenty of research on the buhund but am yet to meet one!

Yes I have 2 basenjis. You couldn't really get 2 different breeds, they do get on well together though. Are you able to go to Crufts to meet some, the pastoral day is the 9th March (thurs) as that is the best place to go.

No we won't be gettin two breeds - we just narrowed it down to two but i think we will go with the buhund. Have you got a buhun as well? I remember reading someone had a basenji and a norwegian buhund. Is there anything that you can tell me about buhund's that probably isn't on the net?!

Where and what is Crufts?

Hi yes I just meant that allthough they are different they get on well together. My mum still has 1 buhund who is 11 now so doesn't get shown anymore. Crufts is the largest dog show in the world and is held at the NEC in Birmingham.
Sorry if I say anything that you allready know.
Make sure that who ever you buy one from has done the relevant tests such as eyes and hips. They can be a noisy breed, so make brilliant watch dogs. They tend to get on well with other dogs if socialised from a young age. Most buhunds get on really well with kids again if socialised and children supervised. As they have a double coat they do tend to moult quite badly once or twice a year. Fell free to ask anything else that you need to know about.

Thanks for your reply - you are being very helpful!

What we are after is a watchdog so a buhund is ideal for us! We are out at work for a few hours a day and i'm quite worried about the buhund barking constantly when we are out and it driving the neighbours insane! Do they bark just at anything and everything and nothing (!) or just when they hear something i.e. someone at the door / outside the house? I've read about training them not to bark so much when they are a pup, do you think this is possible or is it just their nature to bark so much?!

Obviously we won't mind the barking for guard dog purposes but i wouldn't want it barking at everything and nothing all day! I hope that makes sense.

Unfortunately the NEC is about 5hours away from us each way so i don't think we'll be able to make that one. I'm not sure where in Kent we could go to see a buhund!

They tend to just bark when they see something or hear something. My mums house is on it's own so they tend to bark more because they don't see much activity, so when there is they tend to bark at it. If you have to leave it start off just leaving for a while and build it up to the lenght of time that you will have to leave it for, obviously not too long as it wouldn't be fair on the dog. June would be able to tell you if there is anyone not too far from you as I don't have any breeders lists. She could also tell you about any shows in your area that have buhund classes so you could go along and see some. The summer is the best time as there is alot of shows especially down south.

My friend with who I own a dog in partnership lives next door to her Mum who has/breeds/shows Buhunds.

Her affix is Fullani, and she is Mrs E Coleopy.

They live in Hereford and Elizabeth ahs 3 Buhund girls.

Theya re of course smaller cousins to the Norwegian Elkhounds that her daughter owns.

If you visited then you would have two Spitz breeds to compare, they have many similar character traits, but some different ones too.

I would see the breed before buying - I was drawn to one of the rare English breeds (now a Vulnerable Breed) after reading the Club web-site, various books and talking to the breeder and it was the worst mistake I ever made. I did not know if the problems I had with my dog were due to bad breeding or my training, and felt guilty after I returned him as I could not cope.

Six months later I read the breed notes in Dog World, which stated she had almost given up on the breed due to temperamaent. Basically, I would take all you read with a pinch of salt, and contact "pet" owners if possible - also if you have have any doubts when you visit do not buy the dog

Bec,

You could contact the breed club to find out breeders near you and then ring and ask them if they minded if you came to visit them and their dogs even if they don't have pups available.  A few peopl have contacted us asking about availability of pups and when we haven't had any we've invited them over anyway to meet the dogs and ask questions about them.

We welcome people to do this as it shows they're doing the research before jumping into buying a breed they know nothing about.  In fact one couple came and met the dogs and decide they weren't for them, but at least they found this out before they bought a pup.

Good for you on doing your research BTW

Anwen, who posts on the board is a very successful breeder of NB, so it would probably be worth contacting her.

And again it would give you a chance to compare two similar but different breeds.

Most owners and breeders of less common breeds are more than happy to have people come and meet the dogs. 

I have had lots of people visit here, especially when I do not have pups, as then they are able to make a proper evaluation of whether the nature of the breed would suit them, as lets face it once you see puppies you are lost to sensible decisions.

Morning, thanks for all your replies.

I rang June this morning and she gave me the number of a lady breeder near me. I rang her and she hasn't anyone upcoming litters but offered for me and my partner to go and see her father and daughter buhund's this weekend which was very nice of her! I think we will do that to get an idea of the dog and i can't wait!

Thats good news, I thought there would be someone down your neck of the woods. Who is it that you are going to see?

Her name is Maddie Norman.

I'm really looking forward to it. I guess this will make or break our decision. As we are only going by what we've read about buhund's and never seen one it will be nice to see their character in person.

Oh yes I know the person she got her dogs from. Hope you enjoy meeting them, I'm sure it will make your mind up one way or the other. Let me know how you get on.

Yes i will do. I won't post until Monday as i don't have internet access at home so have to wait until i'm at work!

Thanks for all your helpful info Jenny.

Hello,

Sorry i couldn't post yesterday - i logged in but then when i went to the page to reply to this thread it said i wasn't logged in!!!

Anyway, i went to see Maddie's buhund's on Saturday and they're lovely!!! We had never seen a buhund before and didn't know what to expect but they're gorgeous and so affectionate!

Our search has begun for a puppy!

If anyone has details of upcoming litters please let me know.

Hi Bec
I'm glad that you liked them and I hope that you find a puppy. I'll keep my ears open for you.
Jenny

I am sure if you keep checking with the club secretary they will let you know of any litters.

Thanks guys. Fingers crossed we will get one soon!

Something worth doing (I try to do it with anyone that comes to see my breed) if they are willing is to go for a walk with them and their dogs.

This will hopefully show you how they are out and about (bear in mind trainig will have a major influence here) and ow theya re when they meat other dogs and people.

If you go to a park you can see how they are off lead, are they the kind of breed that trots at your side and looks to you all the time (not likely with any spitz in my experience), or of a more independent bent and whether you feel you could cope with this.

You can lso gauge their energy levels etc.

Like Brainless says training will play a big part in that. All our Bu's have all been good off lead because they have been trained that way. Remember that they are a working dog not a hound like some of the spitz breeds (Basenji.Finnish Spitz,Elkhounds) so tend to be easier trained, though there will be the exception to the rule.

That is interesting because my frend having lived with both Elkhounds and Buhunds surprised me by saying she found the Elkhounds easier to train than the Buhunds.

Obviously having never lived with an Elkhound I don't know. We have allways found the Basenjis are deaf off lead but never had a problem with any of the Bu's. I take it your friend is Margaret Deucher!

Hello Jennybasenji, I've been away & only just caught up with this thread. I know who you are now!! :D
Can I send my Bu's to you for training then? They all suffer from convenient deafness off the lead!!

Hi Anwen wondered how long it would take you to twig. How's things going with you? I take it you will be going to Crufts. Mum and I are going on the hound day to show the bas.

It's me advanced years .... bit slow on the uptake these days. Hope to be at Crufts on Working Day, but she hasn't been to a show since WKC, so I may not make it! Make sure you know which day is Hound day - I know what your Mum's like (say no more ......) :D :D :D

Yeah tell me about it. Good luck if you decide to go. Just think you have all got her judging you next year!

Where?????????????????????

Don't know if you are joking or not but does crufts ring any bells!

Hope you're coming with her as a minder then - it's bound to snow ................. or there'll be an earthquake or something :D
Your Mum & the NEC don't have a good record together somehow ...... :D :D

I know the mind boggles. I'm hoping to depends if I'm in Germany cause we are posted in June.

Hello Anwen,

I heard that you breed Norwegian Buhund's? Can i ask where you are based? Do you know if there will be any litters in around May time?

click on anwens name & theres a link to her site were you can contact her direct.plus theres loads of info on buhunds on there :)

Thanks Mini Meg!

MD too, but I was thinking principally of Elizabeth Coleopy (Fullani Buhunds), and her daughter Treena Maun (Bowerhinton Elkhounds).

In fact Margaret's older Elkhound was bred with the Fullani affix by Elizabeth before Treena got her Grandmothers affix allowed.

Forgot about Elizabeth. I remember competing against her granddaughter in junior handling at the club shows. Oh it feels such a long time ago now.

You'll have to PM me with your details so I can l;et Georgie know.

The only Basenji person I see a lot of is Jane.  Have quite a collection of her personalised and congratulatory pens.

I was gobsmacked when she gave me one congratulating me on my first Champion on the day of the show I made her up.  She had it ready for me, expecting it to happen, hows that for confidence.

Hello,

Sorry i couldn't post yesterday - i logged in but then when i went to the page to reply to this thread it said i wasn't logged in!!!

Anyway, i went to see Maddie's buhund's on Saturday and they're lovely!!! We had never seen a buhund before and didn't know what to expect but they're gorgeous and so affectionate!

Our search has begun for a puppy!

If anyone has details of upcoming litters please let me know.