Norwegian Elkhound Dog Breed

About the Norwegian Elkhound

The Norwegian Elkhound, or simply Elkhound, stands among Europe’s oldest breeds of dog. This spitz-type canine is known for its rather wolf-like appearance and robust build. The breed’s name is somewhat of a misnomer, however, as the Elkhound was never intended to hunt elk. Even today, they are not considered a genuine hound. In Norwegian, “elg” means moose and “hund” means dog. So, the Elkhound is really a “moose dog.” Whatever its name, the breed can make for a wonderful watchdog and a beloved family companion.

AKC Group

Hound

Height

19.5 – 20.5 Inches

Weight

48 – 55 Pounds

Lifespan

12 – 15 Years

History of the Norwegian Elkhound

The beautiful and rocky regions of Norway are home to the Norwegian Elkhound. The breed dates from about a millennium ago to a time when the Vikings used a sizeable and comparable dog for hunting and protection. Archaeologists have discovered skeletons of dogs that closely resemble the Elkhound in size and shape among artifacts from a primitive culture, suggesting that the breed may date back as far as 5,000 BCE. Although its exact history is lost in time, there is no doubt that the breed is inextricably linked to the area’s early human civilizations.

Norwegian Elkhounds are categorized as hounds despite having a very different appearance from the scenthounds and sighthounds that originated in warmer climates. The Elkhound has been used to protect herds, flocks, and homes as well as for hunting large animals such as bears and moose. The breed’s usefulness as hunter was due to its ability to track down prey by following its scent and then keep it at bay by barking until the hunter arrived.

Following the first dog exhibition organized by the Norwegian Hunters Association in 1877, the Norwegian Elkhound gained popularity as a breed. Local breeders soon started working to establish a written Breed Standard, maintain breed data, and develop the Elkhound as a competitive contender in the Conformation arena. In addition to being an excellent family companion, the modern breed excels in a wide range of canine sports and occupations, including Tracking, Guarding, Herding, Sledding, Agility, Obedience, Flyball, and Canine Freestyle. Norwegian Elkhounds are still employed as hunting dogs too, just as they were in the past.

General Appearance

Height & Weight

Mature male Norwegian Elkhounds typically stand around 20.5 inches at the shoulder, while females usually measure around 19.5 inches.

Norwegian Elkhound males typically weigh around 55 pounds, with females averaging about 48 pounds in weight.

Proportion & Substance

The Norwegian Elkhound is a typical spitz breed that displays a square profile and compact build, medium in both size and substance. A muscular neck, straight topline, and short body contribute to the breed’s strength and are collectively considered essential characteristics of the breed. The Elkhound’s size allows the dog to do its job perfectly, and its construction allows for movement that is light and effortless.

Coat Texture, Colors & Markings

Texture: The undercoat is soft, dense, and wooly, while the outer coat is coarse and straight. The Norwegian Elkhound’s coat is typical of most Northern dog breeds, with thick, protective guard hairs and a soft, dense undercoat for insulation. This double coat is weather-resistant by virtue of it being thick, hard, and smooth-lying. On the head, ears, and fronts of the legs, the coat is short and even, but it is longer on the back of the neck, buttocks, and underside of the tail.

Markings: Variations Shadings

A Note About Color: Although generally gray in color, the Norwegian Elkhound’s coat displays variations in shade due to the length and quantity of the guard hair’s black tips. The body is darkest on the back (saddle) and lighter on the chest, mane, and from the shoulder to the elbow (harness). The muzzle, ears, and tip of the tail are black, and black hairs on the muzzle fade to lighter gray on the forehead and skull. “Sooty” coloration, irregular markings, white patches, and yellow or brown shading are not acceptable in the breed. Likewise, red, brown, white, solid black or any other solid color are unacceptable.

Head

• Skull: The skull of the Norwegian Elkhound, when viewed from the side, is slightly arched. The stop is not large, but it is clearly defined.
• Expression: The breed’s expression is keen and alert. The eyes are an essential feature of the breed and indicate a dog of great courage.
• Eyes: The Norwegian Elkhound has medium-sized eyes, oval in shape and very dark brown in color. Coupled with the breed’s high-set ears, the eyes display the breed’s characteristically alert expression.
• Ears: The ears of the breed are its most expressive feature and indicate how the dog is feeling. Set high, firm, and erect yet mobile, the tips of the ears are pointed and are slightly taller than their width at the base. When the Elkhound is alert, the orifices turn forward, with the outer edges vertical. When the dog is relaxed, the ears typically fold back.
• Muzzle: The muzzle is thickest at its base and tapers evenly without being pointed, whether viewed from the side or above. The bridge of the nose is straight, parallel to and around the same length as the skull.
• Nose: The Elkhound’s nose is black in color and is well defined.
• Bite: The Norwegian Elkhound has a full complement of strong, white teeth, meeting in a scissors bite, where the upper incisors closely overlap the lower incisors and are well-set in the jaws.

Tail

The Tail of a Norwegian Elkhound is always set high, tightly curled, and carried over the centerline of the back, making for a slightly different appearance than many of its Northern cousins. The tail is thick and closely haired, without the “brush” found on similar spitz breeds. The tail is always left natural and is never trimmed.

Owning a Norwegian Elkhound – What to Consider?

When considering a Norwegian Elkhound for the home, it’s important to understand the breed’s characteristics, needs, and temperament. By being highly adaptable and affectionate, this breed can be a great choice for both experienced pet owners and novices, the most important consideration is providing plenty of exercises to fulfill the breed’s high-energy needs. The Elkhound is an intelligent, bold, energetic, and protective breed and makes an ideal guardian. Before acquiring the breed, however, it’s essential to consider the fact that the Elkhound is known for barking and is not a great choice for apartment living.

Norwegian Elkhound Health

The Norwegian Elkhound is typically healthy, however, the breed is prone to some health issues, as are all breeds and mixed breeds. Of course, not all Elkhounds will get any or all of these diseases, but it is essential to be aware of them. And it is important to remember that regular veterinary check-ups and a balanced diet can go a long way toward ensuring the well-being and longevity of any dog.

Lifespan: The average lifespan of a Norwegian Elkhound ranges between 12 and 15 years, but with proper care, regular exercise, and a balanced diet, many can thrive beyond these years.

Potential Health Risks

While the Norwegian Elkhound is generally a healthy breed, it is not immune to certain health conditions. Some of the more common issues seen in the breed include:

• Fanconi Syndrome: This is a hereditary condition that affects the kidneys and the tubules responsible for reabsorption. It results in
  abnormal calcium, glucose, phosphate, sodium, and amino acid levels. If untreated, it can be fatal.
• Hypothyroidism: This is a thyroid condition that may be the cause of epilepsy, alopecia (hair loss), obesity, lethargy, hyperpigmentation, pyoderma, and other skin diseases. Medication and a special diet are used to treat it.
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA): This is a group of eye diseases characterized by the slow degradation of the retina. Affected dogs become night-blind early in the disease; as the condition develops, daytime vision is lost. As long as the affected dog’s surroundings do not change, a dog can adjust well to the reduced or lost vision.
• Sebaceous Cysts: These are follicular cysts that develop beneath the dog’s skin. They can grow to be as huge as a walnut in size and will, on occasion, burst open, ejecting a thick, white substance. The most common therapy is surgical removal.

Norwegian Elkhound Personality

The Norwegian Elkhound traces its roots back to ancient times when the dogs were shipmates of the Vikings. Today, this tough and tenacious breed can make a wonderful companion to people from all walks of life. It is a highly extroverted character and loves to be around the action. As is typical of active and independent breeds, it should be noted, this one can be a challenge to train.

Elkhounds are highly devoted to the family and are generally protective, and sometimes, even possessive. Yet, these characteristics make for a wonderful guardian. These dogs are loyal and devoted, but many have the need to be the center of attention most of the time.

Barking is one of the more notable characteristics of the Norwegian Elkhound. The breed can provide a level of security and is a natural watchdog, especially since it enjoy making vocalizations. It is not, however, an inherently aggressive dog. Any excessive barking can often be quieted through training, although it is best to avoid keeping this breed in an apartment.

The Elkhound loves to play a lot, but usually not with toys. Chasing balls (but not bringing them back) is one of its favorite activities. The breed is naturally adventurous and needs plenty of space to run around. So, all exercise should take place outdoors. Otherwise, most of the household belongings could get tossed and turned.

Overall, the Norwegian Elkhound is a loving dog that makes a fantastic family member in the right setting. These Nordic originals are naturally suspicious of strangers and make excellent watchdogs, but they thrive on attention and are typically great with kids. In fact, a more devoted canine companion might be pretty hard to find.

Norwegian Elkhound Feeding & Nutrition

The Norwegian Elkhound should thrive on high-quality food, whether purchased commercially or prepared at home with a veterinarian’s supervision. The diet should be high in protein, moderate in fat, and low in carbohydrates, and it can sometimes be best to feed a raw food diet. Elkhounds can be “food hounds,” so it is important to supervise what the dog eats.

The diet should be tailored to the age of the dog (puppy, adult, or senior), as well as its size, build, metabolism, and activity level. Highly active dogs will need more food than those that are less active.

When it comes to feeding an Elkhound puppy, a nutrient-rich diet that promotes steady growth and development is crucial. A pup’s dietary requirements will change as it reaches adulthood, when the recommended amount of food will be 2 to 2.5 cups per day.

Better quality food will nourish a dog best, so less food will be needed. Meals should be measured and split it into two servings per day rather than one. Also, it’s important to never leave food out all day and avoid feeding human food.

It is essential to monitor a Norwegian Elkhound’s weight to avoid overfeeding. The main indication that a dog is overweight is a rolling motion of its back or sides when the dog trots.

Another important consideration is to always have fresh water readily available for the Norwegian Elkhound. Hydration is just as crucial as nutrition, and this is especially so for such an active breed.

Norwegian Elkhound Training

The Norwegian Elkhound is an independent and stubborn breed that can occasionally make training a bit difficult. The journey of training one of these beautiful hounds requires patience, consistency, and an understanding of the breed’s true nature.

Elkhounds are intelligent, so they can easily pick up commands. On the other hand, they want something in return for the obedience work. Treats can be a good reward, but so is the owner’s praise. Once the Elkhound gets attached to its favorite person, the bond is inseparable.

This Elkhound is naturally dominant, so it needs a firm handler for training. Owners of this breed should represent the pack leader as it is the only way for the dog to follow commands and take the training seriously. Otherwise, training can be difficult and the Elkhound will want to take the lead.

The Norwegian Elkhound should be provided with plenty of outdoor space. With its hunting heritage, the breed is highly adventurous and enjoys running and chasing whatever it perceives as prey. Some have even been known to catch game on their own. Elkhounds prefer a winter climate with lots of snow, but if this is not possible, most can happily exercise in warmer environments provided there’s a change-up to their daily routine.

In general, a Norwegian Elkhound’s daily activity should be vigorous. This breed can become irritable if it does not get enough mental and/or physical exercise. And when walking this breed, it’s best to have the dog heel beside or behind the handler, never in front, to reaffirm the owner’s position of authority.

Norwegian Elkhound Grooming

The Norwegian Elkhound has a weather-resistant coat that provides insulation in all types of temperatures. However, the breed’s double coat  sheds two to three times a year and requires regular grooming to keep it looking its best.

The Norwegian Elkhound’s coat is short and thick, with an undercoat that’s dense, wooly, and soft. The breed is always found in its natural state, with no trimming needed. Many Elkhounds can be prone to skin problems when they are trimmed or even shaved, and a haircut typically damages the guard hairs and causes them to grow improperly.

Elkhounds are a naturally clean breed in terms of their coat, which tends to expel debris on its own. Weekly brushing is needed when the dog isn’t shedding its coat, but daily brushing is often required during shedding seasons.

Luckily, Norwegian Elkhounds don’t typically have a doggy odor, so bathing is not required too frequently. Instead, it should be necessary only when the dog has rolled in something stinky. In that case, bathing should be done with a high-quality shampoo to protect the skin and coat.

Beyond coat care, other grooming tasks include brushing the Elkhound’s teeth two to three times a week to remove tartar build-up and bacteria. To prevent gum disease and bad breath, it is better to do the daily brushing if possible. Trimming the nails should be done once or twice a month if the dog doesn’t wear them down naturally, and ears should be also checked and cleaned weekly.

Living with a Norwegian Elkhound

Living with a Norwegian Elkhound is a rewarding experience considering the breed’s protectiveness, adaptability, and most importantly, its wonderful sense of adventure. The breed is highly adaptable and enjoys accompanying its family on any kind of outdoor adventure. Elkhounds love cold weather and definitely enjoy playing in the snow; however, swimming can also be a good option for fulfilling their high-energy needs.

Training is essential for an Elkhound, although it can be a challenge due to the breed’s often stubborn and dominant nature. It is important, therefore, to be firm and consistent when training and to reinforce that the dog is not the one in charge. Conversely, the breed is highly affectionate towards its family members and usually makes an outgoing, if protective, companion.