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Norwegian Elkhound Puppies for Sale
Norwegian Elkhound
(Norsk
Elghund Grĺ) (Norsk
Elghund Sort)
Tia the Norwegian Elkhound rescue at 4 years old.
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Pronunciation |
Norwegian
Elkhound |
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Description |
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 stand-off double coat has a distinctive gray color
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 scissors
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
odor. (There is also a black Elkhound that is recognized as a separate breed,
but little is known about this dog outside of its native Norway.) |
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Temperament |
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, showing good pack leadership. Puppies
need firm but gentle discipline. Be fair when training this breed, and understand it is a canine, not a human and treat the dog accordingly. They have been bred to hold prey at bay, barking constantly until the
hunter arrives. Some Norwegian Elkhounds bark a great deal and must be taught enough is enough after they alert you once, it's time to quiet down. 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 if they are not 100% sure of their follower place in the world. They may also
be aggressive with same sex dogs in the household, if owners are not showing strong pack leadership skills with the dog, 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. Without enough mental and or physical exercise they can become high strung. Be sure to make the dog heel when on a walk beside or behind you, never in front, to reinforce the human is alpha over the dog. (Pack leader goes first) |
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Height, Weight |
Height: Dogs 19-21 inches (48-53 cm.) Bitches
18-20 inches (46-51 cm.)
Weight: Dogs 50-60 pounds (23-27 kg.) Bitches 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg.) |
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Health Problems |
Prone to hip dysphasia, pyotraumatic dermatitis
and PRA. Occasionally seen is Fanconi syndrome. Do not over feed this breed as
it tends to gain weight quickly. |
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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 climates. |
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Exercise |
The Norwegian Elkhound is a very energetic dog
that thrives on strenuous activity. They need to be taken on a daily,
long, brisk walk or jog.
While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as in a dog's mind the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human. It should have at least an hour of exercise
a day. It will enjoy a running 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. |
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Life Expectancy |
About 12-15 years. |
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Grooming |
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. |
| Origin |
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 Kilometers. 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 Defense Minister has the power to mobilize
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. In 1923, the Elkhound Club was formed
and the breed was officially recognized by the British Kennel Club. The
Norwegian Elkhound Association of America was recognized by the AKC in about
1930. Some of the Elkhound's talents include: hunting, tracking, herding,
watchdog, guarding, sledding, and agility. |
| Group |
Northern, AKC Hound |
| Recognition |
CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, KCGB, CKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC,
APRI, ACR |
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CKC = Continental
Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération
Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American
Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel
Club
KCGB = Kennel
Club of Great Britain
CKC = Canadian
Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian
National Kennel Club
NKC = National
Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand
Kennel Club
APRI = American Pet Registry
Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry |
"This is Apollo, our 2-year-old pure bred Norwegian Elkhound. Apollo comes from a champion bloodline. He is a loyal, affectionate dog, and thoroughly enjoys his non-canine family members (cats & ferrets). He has many of the typical traits of his breed, including a fierce squirrel hunter and incessant barker when an unknown animal or human is on his territory. He is a fantastic watch dog, yet would never cause harm to anyone. He loves the snow, and runs around like a puppy dragging his open mouth in the snow during storms. He also loves to play in lakes and streams during the warmer months. He resides with us in central Massachusetts."
Apollo, the pure bred Norwegian Elkhound in the snow.
Apollo, the pure bred Norwegian Elkhound enjoying the water.
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"Tia the Norwegian Elkhound out on a walk wearing her new Illusion collar. While the collar is not a magic tool, it sure did help. When Tia wears her normal collar and she reacts to something she sees, for example another dog or tries to suddenly pull off to the side, correcting her took a lot of effort. So much so that my shoulder would hurt by the end of the walk and Tia would often make choaking sounds from suddenly trying to pull when she spotted something. She is a hunting dog after all, however there is nothing safe for her to hunt when you are walking down the sidewalks of a busy little town. I noticed a differnce in the collar right away. Now when Tia starts to react to another barking dog it only takes a small little tug to correct her and she keeps on walking ignoring the other dog much quicker. She's not trying to pull so persistently like she would, because when she does just a very short quick tug sends the message and reminds her to heel. I still need to correct her but it's so much easier on her and me, she responds so much quicker. With the Illusion collar Tia concentrates on walking rather then pulling excitedly and this gives her mind a chance to calm down and relax. Walks are so much more enjoyable for both of us! She's no longer choaking herself. Tia's temperament has improved 100 fold from the day we adopted her from the pound. She's calm in the house and listens so well. We just love this dog."
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This Beautiful Norwegian Elkhound is named Gustav.
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Buddy at 8-9 months old.
Buddy at 3 months old.
Buddy at 3 months old.
Buddy at 3 months old.
Norwegian Elkhound
Pictures
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Squirrel Dogs
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