A Detailed Comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Buhund

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Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Norwegian Buhund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Curly-Coated Retriever and for the Norwegian Buhund. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Norwegian Buhund

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Buhund: Overview

Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund are similar in size. The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Curly-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Norwegian Buhund belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Buhund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever to the Norwegian Buhund based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Curly-Coated Retriever Norwegian Buhund
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 3/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 16 to 18 inches tall at the shoulder
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 3/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 65 to 100 pounds 26 to 40 pounds
Life Span 9 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 13.5 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Temperament Score 91.7 percent No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 162 168

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Curly-Coated Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Norwegian Buhund. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Norwegian Buhund is 81 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Norwegian Buhund is a better pet than the Curly-Coated Retriever. So, you should get the Norwegian Buhund!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund

    Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund are most different:

  • Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Norwegian Buhunds have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund

    The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund are most similar:

  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Buhund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund.

    Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Norwegian Buhunds weigh 26 to 40 pounds when fully grown. Norwegian Buhunds are 16 to 18 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    The Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Norwegian Buhund

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Curly-Coated Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Buhund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Curly-Coated Retriever is 162 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Buhund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Curly-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Norwegian Buhund

    Popularity of Norwegian Buhund

    Year Curly-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Norwegian Buhund Popularity Rank
    2013 163 166
    2014 163 172
    2015 151 165
    2016 164 174
    2017 171 170
    2018 162 165
    2019 163 169
    2020 159 168

    Health Problems of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Norwegian Buhund

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Curly-Coated Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Norwegian Buhund.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Curly-Coated Retriever than for the Norwegian Buhund.

    7 health tests are recommended for Curly-Coated Retriever while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Buhund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and in Norwegian Buhunds.

    Curly-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Curly-Coated Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Curly-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Curly-Coated Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Curly-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Curly-Coated Retrievers here.

    Norwegian Buhund Health Problems

    Norwegian Buhunds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Norwegian Buhund puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Norwegian Buhund puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Norwegian Buhund breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Norwegian Buhunds for:

  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Norwegian Buhunds here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Curly-Coated Retrievers and Norwegian Buhunds

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Curly-Coated Retriever Breed is Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

    This is because the Curly-Coated Retriever ranks 1 out of 6 dog breeds for Exercise Induced Collapse problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 145 Curly-Coated Retrievers, 12 of them had Exercise Induced Collapse problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Curly-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Curly-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Exercise Induced Collapse problems: Rank 1 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 10 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 24 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 73 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 84 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 136 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Norwegian Buhund Breed is Eyes problems.

    This is because the Norwegian Buhund ranks 35 out of 182 dog breeds for Eyes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 244 Norwegian Buhunds, 7 of them had Eyes problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Norwegian Buhunds, and how common these diseases are in Norwegian Buhunds relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Eyes problems: Rank 35 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 131 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Curly-Coated Retriever and in Norwegian Buhund and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund:

    Disease Curly-Coated Retriever Rank Norwegian Buhund Rank
    Exercise Induced Collapse problems 1 out of 6 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 10 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 24 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 73 out of 198 dog breeds 131 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 84 out of 182 dog breeds 35 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 136 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Buhund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Buhunds adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Norwegian Buhund

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Buhunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Norwegian Buhund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Norwegian Buhunds are OK for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Buhund

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Norwegian Buhunds can be left alone for some time without problems.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Norwegian Buhunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Norwegian Buhunds shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Norwegian Buhund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.

    Norwegian Buhunds require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Buhunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Norwegian Buhunds are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Buhunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Norwegian Buhunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Buhunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Norwegian Buhunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Norwegian Buhund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Buhunds get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Norwegian Buhund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Buhunds are very easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Norwegian Buhund

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Norwegian Buhunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Norwegian Buhunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Norwegian Buhunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Norwegian Buhunds?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Norwegian Buhunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Buhund?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Norwegian Buhunds have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Curly-Coated Retriever:

  • Airedale Terrier (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Buhund vs Airedale Terrier.
  • English Springer Spaniel (79 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Buhund vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Irish Setter (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Buhund vs Irish Setter.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Norwegian Buhund

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Norwegian Buhund that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Norwegian Buhund:

  • Pyredoodle (78 percent match with Norwegian Buhund). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Pyredoodle.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Curly-Coated Retriever and how the Norwegian Buhund compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and of the Norwegian Buhund to other breeds:

    Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Curly-Coated Retriever versus Mudi     Curly-Coated Retriever versus English Setter     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Kooikerhondje     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Catahoula Bulldog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Scottish Deerhound     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Whoodle     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Pomapoo     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Pomeranian     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Patterdale Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Miniature Pinscher     

    Norwegian Buhund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwegian Buhund versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Norwegian Buhund versus Cockapoo     Norwegian Buhund versus Skye Terrier     Norwegian Buhund versus English Springer Spaniel     Norwegian Buhund versus Black Mouth Cur     Norwegian Buhund versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Norwegian Buhund versus Azawakh     Norwegian Buhund versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Norwegian Buhund versus Norfolk Terrier     Norwegian Buhund versus Cocker Spaniel     

    Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Norwegian Buhund. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Norwegian Buhund better suits you and your family.