A Detailed Comparison of the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund.

French Bulldog versus Norwegian Buhund

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French Bulldog Versus Norwegian Buhund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog or the Norwegian Buhund

French Bulldog versus Norwegian Buhund: Overview

A very important difference between the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The French Bulldog is a small-sized dog while the Norwegian Buhund is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the French Bulldog belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

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.

French Bulldog versus Norwegian Buhund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog Norwegian Buhund
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 11 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 16 to 18 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 11 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Weight 16 to 28 pounds 26 to 40 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 12.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $4610 No Data
Price Range $3100 – $5000 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune Thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Annual recertification recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 5 168

    *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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog is 86 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Norwegian Buhund is 81 out of 125.

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

    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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund

    Below is a list of where the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund are most different:

  • French Bulldogs do not like to be left alone. However, Norwegian Buhunds can be left alone for some time without problems.
  • French Bulldogs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Norwegian Buhunds can tolerate cold weather.
  • French Bulldogs have low exercise needs. However, Norwegian Buhunds require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • French Bulldogs are very easy to groom. However, Norwegian Buhunds require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund

    The French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund are most similar:

  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund are very easy to train.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of French Bulldog versus Norwegian Buhund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund.

    French Bulldogs weigh 16 to 28 pounds when fully grown. French Bulldogs are 11 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 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.

    Adopting the French Bulldog versus Adopting the Norwegian Buhund

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many French Bulldogs and many Norwegian Buhunds are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male French Bulldog named Floyd that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable French Bulldogs like Floyd on pefinder.com.

    Also, like French Bulldogs, Norwegian Buhunds are also available for adoption. For example, Odie is a Male Norwegian Buhund that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Norwegian Buhunds like Odie that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Emerson is the name of another French Bulldog (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more French Bulldogs and Norwegian Buhunds that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Popularity of French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the French Bulldog is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Buhund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the French Bulldog is 5 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Buhund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of French Bulldog

    Popularity of French Bulldog

    Popularity of Norwegian Buhund

    Popularity of Norwegian Buhund

    Year French Bulldog Popularity Rank Norwegian Buhund Popularity Rank
    2013 11 166
    2014 9 172
    2015 6 165
    2016 6 174
    2017 4 170
    2018 4 165
    2019 4 169
    2020 2 168

    Health Problems of French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Norwegian Buhund.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the French Bulldog than for the Norwegian Buhund.

    7 health tests are recommended for French Bulldog while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Buhund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in French Bulldogs and in Norwegian Buhunds.

    French Bulldog Health Problems

    French Bulldogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your French Bulldog 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 French Bulldogs for:

  • Autoimmune Thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- Annual recertification recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for French Bulldogs 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 French Bulldogs 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 French Bulldog Breed is Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems.

    This is because the French Bulldog ranks 1 out of 5 dog breeds for Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 55 French Bulldogs, 33 of them had Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems.

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

  • Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems: Rank 1 out of 5 Dog Breeds
  • Cystinuria problems: Rank 2 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Tracheal Hypoplasia problems: Rank 3 out of 4 Dog Breeds
  • Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems: Rank 4 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 9 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 15 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 16 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 22 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 25 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 34 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 63 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 77 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 107 out of 115 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 French Bulldog and in Norwegian Buhund and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund:

    Disease French Bulldog Rank Norwegian Buhund Rank
    Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems 1 out of 5 dog breeds Not Common
    Cystinuria problems 2 out of 6 dog breeds Not Common
    Tracheal Hypoplasia problems 3 out of 4 dog breeds Not Common
    Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems 4 out of 6 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 9 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems 15 out of 40 dog breeds Not Common
    Baer Hearing Test problems 16 out of 21 dog breeds Not Common
    Hips problems 22 out of 198 dog breeds 131 out of 198 dog breeds
    Patella problems 25 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 34 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 63 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 77 out of 182 dog breeds 35 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 107 out of 115 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: French Bulldog versus Norwegian Buhund

    French Bulldogs do not like to be left alone.

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

    Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Buhunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    French Bulldogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Which one drools more, the French Bulldog or the Norwegian Buhund

    French Bulldogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Buhunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Buhunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    French Bulldogs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Norwegian Buhunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Does the French Bulldog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Buhund?

    French Bulldogs 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.

    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.

    Wanderlust Potential: French Bulldog vs. Norwegian Buhund

    French Bulldogs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

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

    Do French Bulldogs shed more than Norwegian Buhunds?

    French Bulldogs shed moderately.

    Norwegian Buhunds shed moderately.

    Do French Bulldogs Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Buhunds?

    French Bulldogs bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    How Kid-friendly are French Bulldogs and Norwegian Buhunds?

    French Bulldogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the French Bulldog or the Norwegian Buhund?

    French Bulldogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Buhunds get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Is the French Bulldog Easier to Train than the Norwegian Buhund?

    French Bulldogs are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Buhunds are very easy to train.

    Is the French Bulldog Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Buhund?

    French Bulldogs adapt very well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Buhunds adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the French Bulldog or the Norwegian Buhund?

    French Bulldogs are very good for new dog owners.

    Norwegian Buhunds are OK for new dog owners.

    Are French Bulldogs good family dogs? What about Norwegian Buhunds?

    French Bulldogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the French Bulldog or the Norwegian Buhund?

    French Bulldogs are very easy to groom.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the French Bulldog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog:

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (75 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Buhund vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Beaglier (74 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Buhund vs Beaglier.
  • Chihuahua (74 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Buhund vs Chihuahua.
  • Pug (83 percent match with French Bulldog). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Buhund vs Pug.
  • 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 French Bulldog vs Pyredoodle.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the French Bulldog and how the Norwegian Buhund compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the French Bulldog and of the Norwegian Buhund to other breeds:

    French Bulldog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    French Bulldog versus Cairn Terrier     French Bulldog versus Bearded Collie     French Bulldog versus Chinese Shar-Pei     French Bulldog versus Peek A Poo     French Bulldog versus Shetland Sheepdog     French Bulldog versus Akita Chow     French Bulldog versus Miniature Poodle     French Bulldog versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     French Bulldog versus Norwegian Buhund     French Bulldog versus Field Spaniel     

    Norwegian Buhund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwegian Buhund versus Harrier     Norwegian Buhund versus Shihpoo     Norwegian Buhund versus Maltipoo     Norwegian Buhund versus Japanese Chin     Norwegian Buhund versus Mudi     Norwegian Buhund versus German Pinscher     Norwegian Buhund versus Whippet     Norwegian Buhund versus Goldador     Norwegian Buhund versus Catahoula Bulldog     Norwegian Buhund versus Goldador     

    Conclusion: French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog and the Norwegian Buhund better suits you and your family.