Anybody have experience with this breed? I have heard they are headstrong and hard to keep from wandering. How hard are they to train and keep home?

The only other dog I have experience with was my chocolate lab and I lost him last week.

They are a big dog.

Had one yeas ago. Named her Lena. She was a good pet. Dumber than a post but never wondered and was good with kids. Killed every skunk within a quarter mile. No problems with her, just wasn't real smart. Died of old age.

Bruce,
The norwegian would be a little smaller than the lab, he was 74 lbs.

Sounds like a good pet Stewie. Hopefully mine is smarter if I get one. I know both of the parents, they are good tempered dogs, not sure how smart they are.

We had one when I was pretty young. It was a great dog but every once in awhile it would take off and be gone for a day or so, not very long but just enough for us to worry. I don't remember it happening very often but it was mostly an inside dog.

This is what I keep reading about. I'm hoping with proper training the desire to roam will be minimized. I want to be able to have the dog outside off leash.

I had one that you could coon hunt with all night and when the sun came up you could tree squirrels all day. One of the best tree dogs I ever had. She was pretty hard headed and didn't listen very well though.

if you want a outside dog off a leash don't get a hound , any hound

Hounds hunt.

Had one, ex wife had 4 more over time. the first one raised from a pup you could not trust and would run off. I still have blood stains in the house from it. (my blood)
the other elk hounds she had were good disposition but were constant barkers and you could not take them off leash and 2 of those could not be around other dogs. weight on her dogs ranged from 55 to 74lbs.

Get a Lab!!!!

They shed like crazy. Had a 3 legged one when I was a kid.
Friendly dog but was dumb as a post.
Can’t beat a black lab for what you’re wanting.

I read : Had one ex wife, had 4 more over time. Hahaha

I knew a guy who had one he ran with his bear hounds. Our dogs got together on a mean bear one day, and she would bay a bear all day. Can't tell you how she was around the house, but I wouldn't consider her a big dog, probably 45 lbs.

Labs might just be the best.
If you're looking for a smart dog, how about an Australian Cattle dog?

Not say the cattle dogs aren't smart, but very head strong. They HAVE to have a job. We have one and she s a good dog. But, I won't get another.

Not say the cattle dogs aren't smart, but very head strong. They HAVE to have a job. We have one and she s a good dog. But, I won't get another.[/quote

The same guy that has the norwegian also has an aussie. It is more bullheaded than the norwegian by far and not a good temperament with strangers. The aussie also got bred by the norwegian, those dogs will be some bullheaded wanderes for sure.

After reading these replies I think I will get another lab. Maybe a german shepherd mix pup from the local private shelter.

Thanks everyone for the information, I think it saved me from getting the wrong dog. I wouldn't mind more information on norwegians or gsd's, always willing to learn about different dogs.

Enjoy your new dog.

my daughter got a asustralian and a lab mix , its a great dog

I sold my lab.To hyper for me.

Labs hyper until 2 to 3