NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS
Kirsty Irvine was thrilled to hear from Roberta Crouch that Ch Tapui Herja at Blackcombe(Hari) has become an Australian Ch (pending ANKC approval), so becoming the first UK bred Buhund to become a Ch in both countries. You may remember that last year Hari gained her crown at three consecutive shows ,Windsor under Celia Vines, National Working and Pastoral Breeds under Chris Chapman and Leeds under Frank Kane. Bred by Kirsy she was born on 13th May 2024, she travelled to Australia in August last year to join Roberta who bred her dam Ch Blackcombe Bodil At Tapui (Imp Aus ), she is by NUCH Kimura’s Harfagre. Interestingly when she gained her first CC her litter brother Cheryl and Paul Denham-Horton’s Tapui Haraldsson at Jjavacobe (Hogan), also gained his first CC and the day Kirsty heard Hari had gained her Australian title Hogan won his 2nd CC at SKC.
I said in last week’s notes that Jenny Shorer-Wheeler gained her 100CC for dogs owned /or bred by her at SKC. It all started in 2012 when the Malamute Koromandel Glamotous Indie won the first CC, with Malamutes Jenny bred gaining 13 over the following years. Then came the Buhunds with Ch Arnscroft Di Na Mo Farrah of Koromandel ShCM winning 12. Ch Maidof Copper For Koromandel JW VW (Imp Fin) 16. Ch Koromandel Best Served Cold At Knytshall 24, he also has the record of 4 BOBs at Crufts. Ch Koromandel Gild The Lily 4. Ch Sturtmoor’s Ffascination With Koromandel 3. Ch Koromandel Tusen Takk JW ShCEx OSW 24 and Ch Knytshall Thistle Ink It Up Koromandel JW 4, as Jenny says they are all beloved pets and happy show dogs. It is an impressive record, congratulations Jenny.
Because of Bank Holiday these notes have to go in on Thursday 21st so my report on Bath will be next week.
A few days ago, in the US it was National Purebred Dog Day and there was an article about Buhunds, which I thought might be of interest to those that are fairly new to the breed. ‘He was a historian, poet, author and politician. He was also a successful merchant farmer. He was elected twice to his country’s parliament, married an heiress, and had many children, although only 5 survived to adulthood. Sadly, he was assassinated, but his legacy endures. In his biography, only the word chieftain hints that he lived long ago. His name is Snorri Sturluson, and he died in 1241. Sturluson immortalised the kings of Norway in his writings, but our interest in him stems from his mention of a dog in his Viking sagas, in which he describes a dog for its role and abilities rather than its appearance. Many canine specialists believe Sturluson’s mention may well have been the first reference to the ancestors of the Norwegian Buhund. More than one source suggests that the term Buhund was not used till much later when it appeared in J. Ramus’s book called, ‘A Sample Of Words From Norderhov’ and was likely taken from the Norwegian word ‘Bu’ meaning homestead, farm or house and ‘Hund’ the word for dog. After Norway got its independence in 1905, the Norwegians embarked on building a strong country and celebrating all things Norwegian, which lead to an interest in native breeds including the Buhunds. In 1920s Jon Saeland, Norway’s state-council breed fancier came on the scene and started to promote the breed by taking part in exhibitions at livestock fairs, he documented a breeding programmes which helped establish the Buhund as a defined breed. He discouraged cross breeding and has been described as the person who saved the traditional Buhund and took it into modern times. Up until Saeland some of the dogs had been thought of as mongrels, he organised the first Buhund show held in Jaeren Norway which was followed by the first breed standard in 1926 .The Norsk Buhund club was founded in 1939 with Toralf Raanaas as the first President of the club, together with Saeland they selected the best dogs for breed type and working ability. With the establishment of the club the Norwegian Buhund became a viable purebred. Flink was the first registered Buhund which Saeland regarded as the finest specimen. He came from a farm in Gjesdal, Rogaland, Norway and though he was said to have a small portion of Scottish sheepdog in him, Saeland didn’t see this as a problem and felt Flink still represented more than enough of the best of the characteristics and qualities handed down through old stock. From 1938 there was a pedigree register’. If you look at photos of those early Buhunds, yes, the breed has changed a little over the years but thankfully very little compared with some breeds.
Margaret Deuchar margaretdeuchar@gmail.com