ABOUT NORWEGIAN ELKHOUNDS

The Norwegian Elkhound is a hardy, medium-sized Spitz-type dog, sturdy and squarely built with the stamina to hunt all day long for days at a time. The standoff double coat has a distinctive grey colour with a lighter undercoat and undersides. The muzzle, ears and tail tip are black. The head is broad and wedge shaped with a defined stop. It has strong jaws. The pointed prick ears are very mobile. The eyes are dark brown and friendly with a keen, friendly expression. The teeth should meet in a scissor bite. The tail is rolled tightly over its back. The body is relatively short and most of the length should be in the ribcage. The chest should be deep and relatively wide. The forelegs are straight and parallel to each other. The paws are small and tight with thick pads. The Norwegian Elkhound has no doggie odour. (There is also a black Elkhound that is recognised as a separate breed, but little is known about this dog outside of its native Norway.)

The Norwegian Elkhound is fearless and friendly. Although some may be somewhat reserved with strangers, it will greet family and friends it knows with enthusiasm. They are reliable, energetic and alert companions for children and make sensible guard dogs. It is clean and docile with an outstanding character. They are affectionate and loyal, engaging and sensitive. Like other Arctic dogs, the Norwegian Elkhound has a mind of its own and is fairly independent. It may be somewhat resistant to obedience training. It is important to be firm with this dog but show affection as well. Puppies need firm but gentle discipline. Be fair when training this breed. You can upset the dog for a long time by punishing it unfairly, and it will let you know how it feels. They have been bred to hold prey at bay, barking constantly until the hunter arrives. Some Norwegian Elkhounds bark a great deal. They also have a tendency to roam. It is best to pair sled dogs in teams of one male and one female, as males have a tendency to fight if harnessed together. They may also be aggressive with same sex dogs in the household, but this tends to be the exception rather then the rule. Some sources say Elkhounds are usually good with non-canine pets, others say they shouldn't be trusted so use caution.

Height: Dogs 19-21 inches (48-53 cm.) Bitches 18-20 inches (46-51cm.)
Weight: Dogs 50-60 pounds (23-27 kg.) Bitches 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg.)


Living Conditions

The Norwegian Elkhound will be okay in an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. It is fairly active indoors and does best with at least a large yard. Elkhounds prefer cool climate but can easily tolerate the conditions in Australia.

The Norwegian Elkhound is a very energetic dog that thrives on strenuous activity. It should have at least an hour of exercise a day. It will enjoy a run beside your bike or a really good run in the woods, but remember that these dogs like to roam. If it picks up an interesting scent, it may ignore you when you call it.

About 12-15 years.

The hard, coarse, weatherproof coat is easy to groom. It should be brushed regularly, with extra care given while the dog is shedding its dense undercoat. When the dog is shedding, the dead hair clings to the new hair. The dead hair should be removed with a rubber brush or a wooden comb with a double row of metal teeth. Brushes and combs just for this purpose are sold in pet stores. Bathe only when necessary, as it removes the natural oils in the skin. Like other Arctic dogs, they do not have the usual smell of dog hair. The coat is both water and dirt resistant. This breed is a seasonally heavy shedder.

One of the most ancient breeds, it is thousands of years old. These dogs have been by man's side since the time he hunted with slingshots. A skeleton similar to today's Norwegian Elkhound has been found dating from 4000 to 5000 BC. Historically, the dog was used in Scandinavia as a hunter of big game, especially moose ("Elg" in Norwegian) and elk. The dog can scent game from a distance of several Kilometres. He tracks the quarry and attracts its attention by barking. Then he holds the animal at bay until the hunter arrives to make the kill. Over the centuries, Elkhounds have also successfully hunted badger, lynx, mountain lion, bear, wolf, reindeer, elk and even rabbit. The Elkhounds is particularly well suited to badger hunting since he works better at night than in the daytime. It is also highly prized as a sled dog. In case of war, the Norwegian Defence Minister has the power to mobilise all privately owned Elkhounds. In more recent times, the friendly and reliable character of the Elkhound has helped win him a place in many homes as a cherished family pet. The breed was first exhibited in 1877 when the Norwegian Hunters Association began holding shows.

History

The Norwegian Elkhound dates back over 6000years. The Norwegian Elkhound evolved over a period of time into a type of dog which, through a combination of physical and mental endowment, was able to perform as an efficient hunter in the rugged environment of the Scandinavian peninsula. The progenitors of the Norwegian Elkhound that we know today were spitz type dogs, with prick ears, curled tail, thick double coat, bold disposition, strong agile body and wolf-like independence. It was found by mankind that this type of dog, which it is believed to have originated in the area of Denmark, and was known as the Torvemosehunden or Swamp Dog was the best hunter and they became the forerunners of the Northern breeds, which included the Norwegian Elkhound.

These Swamp Dogs migrated northward into Scandinavia, where they gradually evolved into big-game hunters and came to be known as Dyrehund, or large game dogs. The Dyrehund was capable of hunting moose, bear, elk, wolves, and large game birds. They were also defenders of the homestead against marauders. These dogs were used extensively for breeding, which allowed them to perpetuate their qualities.

In the late seventeenth century, severe famine brought about by early winter, which killed many crops before they could be harvested, forced thousands of Finns to migrate westward into Sweden and Norway. They brought with them a strain of Spitz type dog that was used for hunting large upland game birds. This ability was passed down through the generations and many of today's Elkhounds exhibit an aptitude for hunting large birds.

As time progressed, a number of different, but related Elkhound breeds developed throughout the various regions of Scandinavia. These included the Bjornhund, or "Bear Dog", similar to today's Black Elkhound; the red-coated Finnish Spitz, also called the "Barking Bird Dog", which most likely is a descendant of the bird hunting dogs owned by the Finns; the black and white Karelian Bear Dog, considered to be a true moose hunting dog and the Jamthund, a taller and rangier type of dog which evolved in dense forrests of Sweden. Some of these breeds were originally shown together as one breed when dog shows began. One by one, they became individual breeds. In 1937, the Jamthund (the Swedish version of the Gray Elkhound) was separated from the Norwegian Gray that we know today and that is recognized by the American Kennel Club.

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