Norwegian Elkhound

It takes a brave dog to track a moose, and that's what Norwegian Elkhounds did for thousands of years. Over the thousands of years it has existed, the Norwegian Elkhound has looked just as it does now. Nature made him strong and clever, so he could be a good hunter. His thick, soft, gray coat can stand the cold and snow of Norway. And his noble, playful ways have made him a beloved friend

Elkhound breed facts

The Norwegian Elkhound is a hunting dog that originated in Norway as early as 5000 B.C.

The Norwegian Elkhound is used to hunt elk, bear, and other wild animals.

Information you should know before owning an Elkhound

The Norwegian Elkhound's coat needs a good brushing once a week and a periodic bath.

The Norwegian Elkhound is bold and energetic.

The Norwegian Elkhound thrives on companionship and will prove to be a lifelong loyal friend.

Comrade to the Vikings, guardian of lonely farms, herder of flocks and defender from wolves and bear, a hunter always and roamer with hardy men, The Norwegian Elkhound comes down to us through more than six millennia with all his Nordic traits untainted, a fearless dog and friendly, devoted to man and the chase.

Selected and bred for his ability to accomplish a definite purpose, the Elkhound achieved his distinctive type by natural methods. No form was imposed upon him; he was not squeezed into a preconceived standard; his structure and rare beauty, like those of the thoroughbred horse, were evolved from the tests of performance. Every physical characteristic is the expression of a need. His compactness, his muscled robustness, his squareness, his width and depth are true expression of nature’s requirements for a dog that would hunt day after day, all day long, in rugged country, where stamina rather than extreme speed is called for. It should never be forgotten that from the first to last he has been at all times the peerless hunter of big game.

The Elkhound is an exceedingly versatile dog developed through constant contact with man in the pursuit of game. It was not until 1877 that he began to be considered from an exhibition point of view. In that year the Norwegian Hunters’ Association held its first show. Shortly thereafter, pedigrees, which had been handed down, were checked and traced as far back as feasible, a stud book (Norsk Hundestambak) was published and a standard drawn up.

When the Norwegian Kennel Club (Norsk Kennelklub) inaugurated its annual shows at Oslo, the Elkhound came into his own as Norway’s great contribution to dogdom. Since then he has been exported in ever-increasing numbers and has gained in popularity based on his comradely character rather than on his unsurpassed abilities as a hunting dog.

Is this a vulnerable breed? Yes, No	No
What size is this dog? Small, Medium, Large	Large
How much excercise is required? 30 mins a day, 1 hour a day, Over 2 hours a day	Over 2 hours a day
How long is this dog's coat? Short, Medium, Long	Medium
How much grooming is required? Once a week, More than once a week, Every day	More than once a week
Does this dog shed? Does shed, Does not shed	Does shed
What area is this dog best suited to? Town, Country, Either	Either
What size house is required for this breed? Flat/Apartment, Small House, Large House	Small House
What size of garden is required? Small Garden, Large Garden, No Garden	Large garden

	General Appearance Powerful; compact body; square outline and proud carriage; coat close and abundant but not open; upstanding pointed ears; tail tightly curled over back.
	Characteristics A hardy hunting Spitz with a bold energetic disposition.
	Temperament Friendly, intelligent and independent without any sign of nervousness.
	Eyes Not prominent, slightly oval, medium size, dark brown, giving frank, fearless and friendly expression.
	Mouth Jaws strong with perfect, regular scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
	Neck Medium length, powerful, carrying the head high; a rich ruff on close- fitting skin but no dewlap.
	Forequarters Legs straight with good, not coarse, bone and strong pasterns; shoulders sloping; elbows closely set in.
	Body Powerful; short, strong back; loin short and wide with very little tuck-up; chest deep and broad; well curved ribs; topline straight and level; distance from brisket to ground not less than half the height at withers.
	Hindquarters Legs firm, strong and powerful; little but definite bend at stifle and hock; straight when viewed from behind.
	Feet Comparatively small, slightly oval; tightly closed, well arched toes with protective hair between thick pads; turning neither in nor out. Nails firm and strong.
	Tail Strong, set on high; thickly coated without plume; tightly curled, preferably over the centre line of back.
	Gait / Movement Powerful; compact body; square outline and proud carriage; coat close and abundant but not open; upstanding pointed ears; tail tightly curled over back.
	Coat Close, abundant, weather resistant; soft, dense, woolly undercoat and coarse, straight outer coat; short and smooth on head and front of legs, slightly longer on back of front legs, longest on neck, back of thighs and tail; not trimmed.
	Colour Grey of various shades, with black tips to outer coat; lighter on chest, stomach, legs, underside of tail, buttocks and in a harness mark; ears and foreface dark; a dark line from eye to ear desirable; undercoat pure pale grey. Any pronounced variation from the grey colour, sooty colour on lower legs, spectacles or white markings undesirable.
	Size Ideal height at shoulder: dogs: 52 cms (201/2 ins); bitches: 49 cms (191/2 ins). Weight approximately 23 kgs (51 lbs) and 20 kgs (44 lbs) respectively.