Scandinavia’s challenging environment required a dog that could stand up to the climate while still performing the job for which it was created. Meet the Norwegian’s answer: The Norwegian Buhund.

They created a dog with a heavy double coat that included a soft and dense undercoat that kept the dog extra warm in the cold, and a thick and hard water resistant outer coat that helped keep him dry, so much so that he could roll around in the snow and simply shake it off when he gets up. His thickly-furred tail curled over his back which he could wrap around his body to stay warm when sleeping, even covering his nose with it. Meanwhile, his fur covered prick ears were “built” to be medium sized which prevented heat loss, but with a shape that afforded the dog the ability to swivel his ears when listening to sounds off in the distance. The dogs are a high energy breed which they needed for their many roles as all purpose farm dog, herder and watch dog, all in demanding climate. These days, you’ll find Buhunds doing search and rescue work, acting as assistance dogs, and performing sentry work. They can still be found on Norwegian homesteads.

The Buhund. A stellar example of a purpose built dog.

Norwegian Buhund in Pastel by Sally Logue is available here.