INTRODUCTION

The beautiful Norwegian Elkhound dog breed, with its wolf-like face, delights in life. They are very intelligent and have a great sense of humour. Although these are purebred dogs, some may end up in shelters or rescues. Bold, energetic and protective, the Norwegian Elkhound is an excellent watchdog and guard dog. Elkhounds are totally devoted to their families. When you are upset, this tender-hearted Viking will lay his head on your lap. Adaptable and affectionate, both experienced parents and novices will easily fall in love with these dogs. Just make sure he can get plenty of exercise to satisfy his high energy levels. AniMall24 recommends a dog bed to give your medium-sized Norwegian Elkhound a good night’s sleep. You should also pick up a dog de-shedder for your high shedding puppy!

HIGHLIGHTS

The Norwegian Elkhound is loyal and affectionate, and gets along very well with children and is generally friendly with strangers. However, it can be aggressive with other dogs and animals, so it is important to properly socialise your Elkhound from puppyhood to a variety of new experiences and dogs.The Elkhound can be dominant and difficult to train, but training can, however, be enjoyable and effective, as long as the approach is consistent and firm.Being a working breed, the Elkhound has a level of intelligence, independence and energy that can be overwhelming for shy or inconsistent owners. You should expect it to need at least 30 minutes of exercise twice a day, which will also combat this food-motivated dog’s tendency towards obesity. The Norwegian Elkhound does well in flats if properly exercised, but the ideal environment is a large, fenced yard. Despite its resistance to the outdoors, it needs to live indoors with its family; it can be a barker, which should be taken into account before bringing one home. Although some Elkhounds can be trained not to bark, this is not the norm.To get a healthy dog, never buy a puppy from an irresponsible breeder, puppy mill or pet shop. Look for a reputable breeder who tests their breeding dogs to make sure they are free of genetic diseases that can be passed on to puppies and that they have a sound temperament.

HISTORY

The Norwegian Alkhound originates from Norway, a stunningly beautiful and rugged country. Its origins go back about a thousand years, when the Vikings used a breed of dog of similar shape and size for guarding and hunting. It is possible that the breed dates back to 5000 BC, as archaeologists have found, along with other artefacts from an early culture, skeletons of dogs closely resembling the shape of the Norwegian Alkhound. Although its exact history is lost in time, there is little doubt that this breed is closely intertwined with human history. The Norwegian Alkhound has been a regular feature in the history not only of the Vikings, but of Norwegian culture in general. The breed has been used to guard herds, flocks and homes; and to hunt big game such as bear and elk. Its role in hunting was to first track its prey and then keep it at bay by barking until the hunter could arrive to kill the animal.The Norwegian Alkhound became a breed of interest after the Norwegian Hunters’ Association held its first dog show in 1877. Soon after, breeders began an effort to create a breed standard and records, as well as to make the Norwegian Alkhound a serious competitor in the conformation ring.Today, the Norwegian Alkhound is a wonderful family companion and performs well in a variety of dog sports and races, including conformation, agility, obedience, flyball, freestyle, tracking, guarding, herding, sledding, and search and rescue. Norwegian Alkhounds are still used in their original capacity as hunting dogs.