Norwegian Elkhound



The Norwegian Elkhound are natural born large game hunters. These dogs remain loyal and obedient to their owners once trained. The dog is easily recognizable by its fluffly and usually black, grey, and tan coat. The Norwegian Elkhound is a member of the Hound Group.

Breed History
The Norwegian Elkhound was originally used to hunt moose and other big game. The name of this ancient breed is a complete misnomer; they were never meant to hunt elk, and arent actually hounds. In Norwegian, Norsk Elghund means "moose dog," and in German, elch means "moose". This leads to the confusion in the English translation.

Temperament
The Norwegian Elkhound is described as a very loyal, alert, and friendly animal. This dog shows a very high amout of enthusiasm, and is extremely entergetic around humans, making it a great childhood companion. Although the dog is very affectionate with its family, it is fairly independent. It is relatively clean compared to other arctic dogs. This dog needs firm, yet gentle disipline, and it is important to establish dominace and leadership between trainer and dog. Bred to be natural guard dogs and hunters, they tend to roam around and bark quite often. It is important to never leave the dog alone with small pets, such as hamsters, mice, guinea pigs, or other small animals until it is clear that the dog understands its boundries between itself and the other pets. Be sure to make the dog heel when on a walk beside or behind you, never in front, to reinforce the idea that the human is alpha over the dog.

Appearance
The Norwegian Elkhound is a mid-sized dog. With a short and squarely built body, the back is straight and strong. The face of the dog is easily recognizable by is broad brow and high set ears on the head. The bite of the Norwegian Elkhound is described as a scissor bite, with a thick muzzle base. in comparison to the rest of the body the chest is very wide, and deep. The usually grey and black coat of the dog is very thick and super weather-resistant. Norwegian Elkhound puppies are born black and turn gray when they are about a week old as their coat develops.