Which is Better between the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund? A Very Detailed Review.

Last Updated: Mar 22, 2022

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Chihuahua Versus Norwegian Buhund: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua or the Norwegian Buhund.

Read on.

Chihuahua versus Norwegian Buhund

Chihuahua versus Norwegian Buhund: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Chihuahua 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.

Chihuahua versus Norwegian Buhund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund

FactorChihuahuaNorwegian Buhund
Tolerates Being Alone1/54/5
Tolerates Cold Weather1/55/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Minimal Exercise Needs5/51/5
Life Span10 to 18 years12 to 15 years
Tolerates Hot Weather2/52/5
Dog Friendly2/53/5
Friendly Toward Strangers2/53/5
Does NOT Shed4/53/5
General Health2/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/52/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/53/5
Does NOT chew on things3/53/5
Low Prey Drive3/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/52/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Weight3 to 6 pounds26 to 40 pounds
Good For Novice Owners4/53/5
Easy To Train4/54/5
Intelligence4/53/5
Potential For Playfulness4/55/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/53/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/52/5
Height6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder16 to 18 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan14.0 years13.5 years
Average Price$1820No Data
Price Range$850 – $2500No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds30168

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chihuahua 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 Chihuahua is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Norwegian Buhund is 81 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund

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

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

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

  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund are very playful.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chihuahua and the Norwegian Buhund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus Norwegian Buhund

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

    Chihuahuas weigh 3 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Chihuahuas are 6 inches to 9 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 Chihuahua versus Norwegian Buhund

    The lifespan of Chihuahuas is between 10 to 18 years. The average lifespan of Chihuahuas is 14.0 years.

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

    Chihuahuas live longer than Norwegian Buhunds.

    Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua lifespan and how long Chihuahua live.

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

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chihuahua is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Buhund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chihuahua is 30 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Buhund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chihuahua

    Popularity of Chihuahua

    Popularity of Norwegian Buhund

    Popularity of Norwegian Buhund

    `
    Year Chihuahua Popularity Rank Norwegian Buhund Popularity Rank
    2013 22 166
    2014 24 172
    2015 28 165
    2016 30 174
    2017 32 170
    2018 33 165
    2019 35 169
    2020 34 168
    2021 37 170

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus Norwegian Buhund

    Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Chihuahuas shed more than Norwegian Buhunds?

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

    Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Chihuahuas, and on how to groom a Chihuahua

    Norwegian Buhunds shed moderately.

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

    Chihuahuas are very easy to groom.

    To learn more about how to properly groom a Chihuahua, check out our article on how to groom a Chihuahua.

    Learn more on how to take care of a Chihuahua here.

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

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

    Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Buhunds get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about Norwegian Buhunds?

    Chihuahuas are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Chihuahua make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.

    Learn about Chihuahua temperament here.

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

    Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the Norwegian Buhund?

    Chihuahuas are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Buhunds are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the Norwegian Buhund

    Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Norwegian Buhunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and Norwegian Buhunds?

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

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

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

    Chihuahuas have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Buhunds?

    Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.

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

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

    Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Norwegian Buhunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. Norwegian Buhund

    Chihuahuas 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 Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Buhunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chihuahuas cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

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

    Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Buhunds adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.

    Norwegian Buhunds are OK for new dog owners.

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