Havanese versus Norwegian Buhund. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Havanese Versus Norwegian Buhund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Havanese 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 Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Havanese 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 Havanese 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Havanese 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 Havanese or the Norwegian Buhund.

Havanese versus Norwegian Buhund

Havanese versus Norwegian Buhund: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Havanese 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.

Havanese versus Norwegian Buhund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Havanese 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund

Factor Havanese Norwegian Buhund
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 2/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 5/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 7 to 13 pounds 26 to 40 pounds
Height 8 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 16 to 18 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2180 No Data
Price Range $1700 – $2750 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 23 168

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Havanese 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 the Havanese is 91 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Norwegian Buhund is 81 out of 125.

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

    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 Havanese 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 Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund

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

  • Havaneses do not like to be left alone. However, Norwegian Buhunds can be left alone for some time without problems.
  • The Similarities Between the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund

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

  • Both the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Havanese versus Norwegian Buhund

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

    Havaneses weigh 7 to 13 pounds when fully grown. Havaneses are 8 to 11 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.

    Lifespan of Havanese versus Norwegian Buhund

    The lifespan of Havaneses is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Havaneses is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Norwegian Buhunds is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Norwegian Buhunds is 13.5 years.

    Adopting the Havanese versus Adopting the Norwegian Buhund

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Havaneses 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 Havanese named Cody that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Havaneses like Cody on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Havaneses, 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 Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Bert is the name of another Havanese (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

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

    The Popularity of Havanese 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 Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Havanese is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Buhund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Havanese is 23 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Buhund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Havanese

    Popularity of Havanese

    Popularity of Norwegian Buhund

    Popularity of Norwegian Buhund

    Year Havanese Popularity Rank Norwegian Buhund Popularity Rank
    2013 25 166
    2014 25 172
    2015 24 165
    2016 23 174
    2017 23 170
    2018 24 165
    2019 22 169
    2020 24 168

    Health Problems of Havanese versus Health Problems of Norwegian Buhund

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

    Both the Havanese 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 Havanese is prone to more genetic health problems than the Norwegian Buhund.

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

    4 health tests are recommended for Havanese while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Buhund.

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

    Havanese Health Problems

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

  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Havaneses 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 Havaneses 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 Havanese Breed is Dentition Database problems.

    This is because the Havanese ranks 3 out of 49 dog breeds for Dentition Database problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 371 Havaneses, 106 of them had Dentition Database problems.

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

  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 3 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 18 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 20 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 38 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 55 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 59 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 70 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 111 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 123 out of 198 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 Havanese and in Norwegian Buhund and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Havanese and the Norwegian Buhund:

    Disease Havanese Rank Norwegian Buhund Rank
    Dentition Database problems 3 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Baer Hearing Test problems 18 out of 21 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 20 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 38 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 55 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 59 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 70 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 111 out of 182 dog breeds 35 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 123 out of 198 dog breeds 131 out of 198 dog breeds

    *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: Havanese versus Norwegian Buhund

    Havaneses do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Havaneses shed more than Norwegian Buhunds?

    Havaneses do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Norwegian Buhunds shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Havanese or the Norwegian Buhund

    Havaneses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Buhunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Havanese or the Norwegian Buhund?

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

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

    Does the Havanese Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Buhund?

    Havaneses 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.

    Do Havaneses Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Buhunds?

    Havaneses are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Can Havaneses Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Buhunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Havaneses can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Norwegian Buhunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Havanese vs. Norwegian Buhund

    Havaneses 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.

    Can Havaneses Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Buhunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Havaneses 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 Havanese or the Norwegian Buhund?

    Havaneses get along very well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Buhunds get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Havaneses good family dogs? What about Norwegian Buhunds?

    Havaneses 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 Havaneses and Norwegian Buhunds?

    Havaneses get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Havanese Easier to Train than the Norwegian Buhund?

    Havaneses are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Buhunds are very easy to train.

    Is the Havanese Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Buhund?

    Havaneses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Buhunds adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Havaneses are very good for new dog owners.

    Norwegian Buhunds are OK for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Havanese

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

  • Bichon Frise (86 percent match with Havanese). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Buhund vs Bichon Frise.
  • Cavachon (84 percent match with Havanese). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Buhund vs Cavachon.
  • Bich Poo (85 percent match with Havanese). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Buhund vs Bich Poo.
  • 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 Havanese vs Pyredoodle.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Havanese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Havanese versus Doberman Pinscher     Havanese versus Yorkipoo     Havanese versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Havanese versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Havanese versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Havanese versus Kuvasz     Havanese versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Havanese versus Saint Berdoodle     Havanese versus Norfolk Terrier     Havanese versus Australian Shepherd     Havanese versus Carolina Dog     Havanese versus Labradoodle     Havanese versus Basset Hound     Havanese versus Redbone Coonhound     Havanese versus Standard Poodle     Havanese versus Bloodhound     Havanese versus Sloughi     Havanese versus French Spaniel     Havanese versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Havanese versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Havanese versus Saint Berdoodle     Havanese versus Puggle     Havanese versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Havanese versus Manchester Terrier     Havanese versus Xoloitzcuintli     

    Norwegian Buhund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwegian Buhund versus Siberian Husky     Norwegian Buhund versus German Longhaired Pointer     Norwegian Buhund versus Norwich Terrier     Norwegian Buhund versus Bearded Collie     Norwegian Buhund versus Maltipoo     Norwegian Buhund versus Irish Water Spaniel     Norwegian Buhund versus Bloodhound     Norwegian Buhund versus Greyhound     Norwegian Buhund versus Westiepoo     Norwegian Buhund versus Gordon Setter     Norwegian Buhund versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Norwegian Buhund versus Bolognese     Norwegian Buhund versus Gordon Setter     Norwegian Buhund versus Affenpinscher     Norwegian Buhund versus Toy Fox Terrier     Norwegian Buhund versus Belgian Tervuren     Norwegian Buhund versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Norwegian Buhund versus Miniature Poodle     Norwegian Buhund versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Norwegian Buhund versus Bichon Frise     Norwegian Buhund versus Pekingese     Norwegian Buhund versus Spanish Mastiff     Norwegian Buhund versus Miniature Poodle     Norwegian Buhund versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Norwegian Buhund versus Chinook     

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