Norwegian Elkhound

 

Briefly about the breed:

• Norwegian Elkhound is a typical hunting dog
• The breed is not only suitable as a companion dog but also as a fantastic walking buddy
• It is specialized in moose hunting, mainly as a stray dog
• This is a brave and energetic breed

Characteristics and temperament

The Norwegian Elkhound is a robust, brave and energetic breed that is devoted to its owner and incredibly pleasant as a family dog. The gray Norwegian Elkhound has a strong hunting instinct and needs a lot of exercise.

Training of the Norwegian Elkhound

The gray moose dog is recognized for its intelligence and ability to learn quickly. Training this dog to handle everyday situations and even for hunting trials is a fairly straightforward task. These dogs do not allow themselves to be broken, so it is important to use positive reinforcement and be patient during training. Fortunately, they often show great joy in exercise, which makes it easy to get them in good shape.It’s worth remembering that their strong hunting instinct can occasionally surpass their obedience. It can be a challenge to achieve perfect obedience when you call them to you, especially if they’ve got a scent in their nose that catches their attention.Furthermore, it can be a challenge to limit their barking. This is a behavior that is deeply embedded in them, and it is not always possible to get them completely quiet. Nevertheless, start the training as early as when they are puppies, and be clear and consistent in setting boundaries for when and where barking is acceptable. With the right approach, positive reinforcement and a dose of patience, the gray moose dog will develop into a faithful companion who masters both everyday challenges and the excitement of the hunt.

Weight and size

The Norwegian elkhound has a typical spitz look. It is of medium size, and male dogs have a shoulder height of approx. 52 cm, while bitches should be approximately 49 cm. The fur should be grey. The ears are erect. The density and fullness of the fur must be good, without being bristly or too long. The tail is well rolled over the midline of the back. When it comes to the moose dog’s weight, a bitch is usually 20 – 22 kg, and a male dog closer to 25 kg.Fur care of gray Norwegian ElkhoundThe fur of the dog breed is very easy to care for and is bathed only when necessary. It molts regularly, about once or twice a year.

History

The Norwegian Elkhound was first shown at an exhibition in Kristiania (Oslo) in 1877, where the elkhound Grant won. However, the most famous gray moose dog is Bamse, or Gamle Bamse Gram as he was called. He belonged to consul Jens Gram from Ask estate in Ringerike. Bamse is considered the breed’s ancestor and is the oldest gray moose dog known in the breed’s pedigree. Bamse was born in 1865 and was present at the exhibition in 1877, but did not participate (Jens Gram was a judge at the exhibition). In 1913, the first dogs of the breed were exported to the United States, where it has achieved a certain popularity and full recognition from the American Kennel Club. Since then, the breed has been exported to several countries outside the Nordic countries.The gray Norwegian Elkhound dog was bred for hunting moose and other large game, but this breed also has many other great qualities as a working dog. Many have believed that this dog must be a direct descendant of the peat bog dog, which existed in the Nordics over 5,000 years ago, but that is probably not the case. Others have claimed that the roots go back to a time long before the Viking Age (800–1050 AD), but that is also a myth. The gray Norwegian Elkhound is a “modern” dog breed that was created through selective breeding in the 19th century . It is indeed reminiscent of the ancient spitz dog breeds, but genetically it belongs to the modern European dog breeds. In fact, the distance to the aforementioned ancient dog breeds is as great as to other modern European dog breeds.

Could you imagine a gray Norwegian Elkhound?

The breed club is strongly recommended to contact for more information about this breed or if you are interested in buying an elk dog puppy.