Norwegian Elkhound Dog Breed Information

General Information:

Height: 19½ to 20½ inches tall at the shoulder
Weight: 48 to 55 pounds
Life Span: 12 – 14 years
Coloring: Black and white coloring, often noted as grey or silver
Area of Origin: Norway
Similar Breeds: Spitz, Tahltan Bear Dog

History and Origin:

The Norwegian Elkhound is an old, old breed coming down through the centuries to the current day with very little change in makeup and characteristics. The Norwegian Elkhound is a hunter of bear, elk and other large animals.

They were guard dogs and hunters with the Vikings. They have been with humans for over 6000 years as they lived and hunted with Scandinavians. One of the oldest canine breeds in the world, there was a time when they were considered to be the oldest. Recently however it has been shown that some of these ancient breeds have been rebred back into existence through combing of many breeds. It has now been established that the Elkhound goes back to the time of the early Scandinavians.

Archeologists have discovered the bones of a canine very much like the elkhound in grave sites that are dated 4000-5000 BC. Archeologists believe that the Norwegian Elkhound was domesticated sometime in the Stone Age. They were brought to England in the late 1800’s and the English Kennel Club recognized them in 1901. Recent DNA research has shown the breed to be closely related to wolves that lived in Greece, France, Romania, and Italy.

During the medieval times in Europe, the breed was known as the dyrehund which means animal-dog in Norwegian. The breed was almost non-existent outside of Norway. The Elkhound is independent, holds himself with dignity and for the most part is friendly to everyone. In addition to hunting and herding the Norwegian Elkhound is also known for its stamina and ability to handle the world’s most rugged terrain. He would track then herd the bear or moose long enough for the hunter to arrive and take the prey.

It was not until 1877 that the breed was first shown at an exhibition/dog show. This show was put on by the Norwegian Hunters Association. The dogs are bred for hunting first so that they would be independent enough to track and hold a moose on their own. In fact the name Norwegian Elkhound actually means Norwegian Moose dog”.

Even though the exact origin and history of the Norwegian Elkhound is not known, clearly this is a canine breed that has walked alongside its people throughout human history. The Elkhound develops an inseparable bond with its people. The Norwegian Elkhound Is as loyal as it is independent. Their bark is loud and sharp to scare predators away. The Elkhound ranks #36 in the Stanley Conren’s The Intelligence of Dogs.

Today’s Norwegian Elkhound is a great family dog, show dog and athletic competitor. They excel at conformation, agility, fly ball, tracking, guarding and herding. They still excel at hunting but most of all they exceed at love.

Personality and Temperament:

The Norwegian Elkhound has a complex and people oriented personality. They are playful yet bred to work and in need of a job. They are stubborn and strong willed yet can excel at obedience training. They are loyal, fearless and energetic. They make excellent family dogs and they handle children well. They are guard dogs yet friendly to strangers.

Before you get a Norwegian Elkhound think about all these contradictory characteristics and in particular, know that this breed likes to bark. The Elkhound has a reputation as a barker so keep that in mind. If you can deal with this aspect of his personality, the Elkhound will make a great family companion. They are devoted to their families and they love attention.

However don’t expect a doting dog who obeys your every command because that is not the Norwegian Elkhounds strong point. Basic obedience class will suit him fine but don’t expect him to go beyond that. He does not believe his role is to please you. If you do not display firm but compassionate leadership, he is likely to decide that he is a better leader than you. You can only control a Norwegian Elkhound by showing it that you are the alpha and you are a fair and consistent leader.

They love to run and they love to play chase. He is not interested in any toys except to chase balls. They get along well with other pets.

The Norwegian Elkhound is as independent as any canine and he will work for you if he gets something in return. Praise is not what he is looking for either. Rather you Elkhound will work for treats. They need to be in charge and they love to dominate the family. In order to avoid this you must socialize them and train them when they are young. In the end he will be devoted to the family even as he sees himself as your equal.

This watchdog is also a softy when it comes to his family. Elkhounds are known to hold complete devotion for their people and other pets in their household. They know when any member of their tribe is upset or hurt and they will go out of their way to comfort them.

The Norwegian Elkhound is also a clown with a great sense of play. The Elkhound has been known to chase family members around the house, howl for the fun of it, and mimic all of your movements. If you are lucky enough to have a Norwegian Elkhound befriend you, be prepared for hours of comedic activities along with his strong work ethic.

Exercise & Training:

The Norwegian Elkhound is hard to train because they have such an independent streak. When training the Elkhound you must be consistent and firm but not aggressive. The Elkhound is best motivated by treats but if you do that you will have to increase his exercise.

Remember that the Norwegian Elkhound puppy needs to be socialized very early in life. Socialize him to people, children, dogs, cats, and any other small animals you have in your family. Then enroll you pup in a puppy obedience class.

When it comes to exercise this dog breed needs a lot of it. Unless you have a large fenced in back yard, you will need to take him to a dog park where he can run and/or take him on long walks every day. If you don’t allow your Elkhound to get the exercise he needs you could end up with an overweight dog and other possible behavior issues.

The Norwegian Elkhound has more energy that he can spend and it is up to you to make sure he gets as much as possible every day. He will greatly enjoy and benefit from something like agility training. He is not the dog for the first time dog owner or for an inconsistent owner.

Grooming:

As a Northern, cold weather breed the Norwegian Elkhound has the traditional double coat found in most animals of this region. Their coat sheds dirt easily and is waterproof. The under coat is dense but woolly and it covers the dog from ears and muzzle to the tip of the tail. The outer coat is a protective guard coat, short and smooth.

Because the Norwegian Elkhound doesn’t shed much year round their grooming needs are not elaborate. However two to three times a year the Elkhound blows his coat and sheds profusely. During this time you need to brush him almost daily to keep the shedding down. When not blowing their coats you should groom them at least once a week.

You should bath your Norwegian Elkhound only when it is absolutely essential, but you should really brush their teeth regularly – maybe three times per week. The Elkhound tends not to smell doggy. You will want to clip the nails a couple times a month.

You should check your dog’s ears at least once a week. When you do this you should look to see if the ears are red or if they smell bad. If so check with your vet. If they are not red or odorous, then wipe them with a cotton ball. Don’t go beyond the outer ear as you could injury the ear drum.

Health and Wellness:

Although like many of the Northern breeds, the Norwegian Elkhound is a hearty breed, they do carry a genetic predisposition for several conditions and they are susceptible to a few others. They normally live for 12-16years. The conditions you might run into with an Elkhound include:

Progressive Retinal Atrophy: This eye disease is actually a family of diseases. In this disease the retina is gradually deteriorating. Dogs can become night blind and then fully blind.
Hip Dysplasia, elbow dysplasia
Cysts: Follicular cysts under the dog’s skin. They are usually removed surgically.
Hypothyroidism: Disorder of the thyroid gland treated with diet and medication. This can cause obesity, lethargy, epilepsy.
Von Willebrand’s Disease
Thrombopathia
Fanconi Syndrome: This is an inherited disease and it is very serious. It affects the kidneys and tubules and leads to kidney failure and death. Prior to death medication, diet and fresh water are controlled.

Interesting Facts About the Norwegian Elkhound

President Herbert Hoover had a Norwegian Elkhound named Weejie.
When the Elkhound is outside, he might run off after any prey animal he sees and ignore any signals or calls to come back. They have a remarkably strong prey drive. They have been known to run through plate glass after a prey animal.
One of the oldest, if not the oldest domesticated dogs.
The Norwegian Elkhound hunted in addition to elk, bear, wolves, lynx and mountain lions.
In Norway today the Elkhound is a sled dog, on military reserve and can be called by the government to active duty as well as companions to many Nordic families.
The Norwegian Elkhound can hunt for several days in a row without becoming exhausted.
Remains of a dog very similar to the Norwegian Elkhound were discovered that date back almost 6000 years.
All puppies are born black and turn grey within a few

Organizations Dedicated to the Norwegian Elkhound

Conclusion

The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the oldest canine breeds and one of the first to share its life walking by our side. It is possible that this breed has existed for over 6000 years. The Norwegian Elkhound is an energetic, independent and remarkable agile dog that loves to be with people.

The Norwegian Elkhound is a working dog, bred to hunt and protect. He excels at guarding, herding, and tracking. They excel in the sporting events as well as in confirmation in the show ring. They do not however display any tendency toward obedience. The owner of a Norwegian Elkhound must be strong enough and consistent enough to satisfy the Elkhound that you are really in charge. If they don’t believe you are in charge they will attempt to take over and be in charge themselves.

Finally, if you don’t like barking don’t get a Norwegian Elkhound. These dogs are neither huge like the mastiffs nor intimidating like the shepherd dogs. Yet they have been for centuries guardians of the flocks of wandering Nordics. They accomplished this through barking loudly and endlessly. This behavior can be sparked now by anything around his home that he thinks is threatening his property or people.