Origin And History of Norwegian Elkhound Dog

The Norwegian Elkhound is an ancient breed of hunting dog that evolved in Norway around 5000 B.C. This breed was primarily bred to hunt elk, but it has also been used for police work and guarding.

The history of the Norwegian elkhound dates back thousands of years, maybe as far back as 5000 BC. Since that time, these tenacious canines have served their human partners as hunters of large game, including the elk from which the breed takes its name.

However, the Norwegian elkhound is not confined to hunting just elk; it will also track and trap other large game, including bear or moose. It is an agile, versatile dog that can hunt at a variety of different altitudes and temperatures, whether hot or cold.

The Norwegian elkhound dog breed has been well-known in Norway for many centuries. Many experts have conducted studies of the breed in order to determine its origin.

The breed’s ancestors most likely came from the same region as the Norwegian elk, which is a large Scandinavian deer. It is believed that the dog was bred in its country of origin as a hunter of elk.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Characteristics

The Norwegian Elkhound is a versatile and sturdy hunting dog that is also a loyal and loving companion. They are known for their ability to track and hunt down large game, including moose and bear, but are just as happy to go for a walk with their human family.

Elkhounds are intelligent and easy to train, and make great watchdogs. They are also one of the oldest dog breeds, with evidence of their existence dating back to 4000 BC.

Norwegian Elkhounds are medium-sized dogs, with males standing 19-21 inches tall at the shoulder and females 18-20 inches. They are muscular and compact, with a thick, double coat that is gray with black markings. The coat is waterproof and sheds heavily during warmer months.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Temperament

The Norwegian Elkhound is a joyful, playful dog that has a steady and dependable temperament. They are fiercely loyal to their family, and can be very protective of children. They are social dogs that enjoy being around other people, dogs and even pets in general.

Norwegian Elkhounds are very active dogs that need plenty of exercise each day. They enjoy running free outside with their families and exploring the great outdoors with them. They are very friendly with people they are familiar with, but can growl and even bite if they feel threatened or scared.

Norwegian Elkhounds are robust and tough dogs that are very easy to train. They have an easy-going disposition that makes them great family pets.

Once you have owned a Norwegian elkhound for a few weeks, you will discover that they love being in the company of their human families and will do just about anything for them.

Elkhounds are also very active indoors, and this breed can be prone to stress if left home alone for long periods of time. Norwegian elkhounds make great watchdogs, and will patrol their family’s property with interest.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Uses

The Norwegian Elkhound is a rugged dog that hunts big game, typically in the mountains. This breed originated in Norway and is still used to hunt animals including bears, foxes and elk. They are known for their endurance and stamina, making them perfect hunting dogs.

Norwegian Elkhounds will bark when someone is at the door, after hearing a strange noise, or to see if deer are nearby during hunting trips.

Norwegian Elkhounds are not usually aggressive with other dogs unless they feel threatened or the other dog attacks first. Elkhounds can sometimes be aggressive towards strange dogs if they pass each other on a walk.

Norwegian Elkhounds are friendly with people they are familiar with, but can growl and even bite if they feel threatened or scared.

If you own a Norwegian Elkhound that is being aggressive towards other dogs and/or people, do not attempt to train your dog in fear or punishment in order to make it respond as it should. This is called “dominance aggression” and can cause serious health problems for the dog if left untreated.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Grooming

The Norwegian Elkhound has a thick double coat that sheds in two seasons: spring and fall. Simple Shed Shampoo, which contains oat proteins to assist release the undercoat, is recommended.

They shed heavily during warmer months, so you should brush and vacuum your dog’s hair at least once a week to keep your home from becoming full of fur. The coat is waterproof and sheds heavily during warmer months.

You should brush your dog’s hair with a rubber curry comb at least once a week to keep your dog’s coat shiny and healthy.

To clean the dog’s ears, you should use an ear cleaner that is safe for dogs and suitable for your dog’s type of ear.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Care

The Norwegian Elkhound blows its coat and sheds a lot of hair twice a year; frequent brushing is suggested during this time. Norwegian Elkhounds have typically healthy teeth, which may be maintained by cleaning them at least twice a week.

Norwegian Elkhounds have short hair and do not need to be bathed often. If your dog gets dirty during hunting trips or adventures with your family, you can use an all natural dog shampoo that is gentle on the skin and eyes.

When you bathe your Norwegian Elkhound, use warm water and a dog shampoo that is pH friendly.

Norwegian Elkhounds are very active dogs that need plenty of exercise each day. You can take your dog for a walk, but they will also enjoy running free outside with their families and exploring the great outdoors with them.

Playtime is just as important as exercise time, and Norwegian Elkhounds love to romp around with other dogs or with their favorite humans. They are very friendly dogs that make great playmates.

The Norwegian Elkhound requires very little grooming. You need to bathe your dog once each season, but you should brush their hair regularly to keep the coat healthy and shiny. You should clip your dog’s nails every six to eight weeks.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Training

The Norwegian Elkhound is a highly intelligent breed that is easy to train. They are eager to please, and natural independent thinkers.

Norwegian Elkhounds should be trained in a calm and patient manner. They respond better with positive training methods, including treats and praise.

You should train your dog at least once every day, taking it through commands step-by-step and making sure they fully understand each one before moving on to the next one.

You should not train your dog with harsh methods, including punishment. This will only make your dog afraid of you and cause aggression.

Norwegian Elkhounds can be very stubborn and willful, so you should be consistent in training them.

If you are not consistent or dog training is causing stress to your Norwegian Elkhound, it’s best to work with a professional trainer who can introduce new methods that your dog will respond better to. Norwegian Elkhounds do well in obedience classes at least once a week.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Socialization

The Norwegian Elkhound is a very social breed that needs to be well-socialized from the moment it is born. Praise your Norwegian Elkhound when it performs good behaviors and ignore bad ones, because negative reinforcement will make them worse.

You should introduce your Norwegian Elkhound to other dogs as soon as possible. This helps its socialization process, and makes it more comfortable around strange dogs.

Socializing your dog with other pets and children will help it adjust to new environments naturally as an adult.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Activities

Norwegian Elkhounds need plenty of exercise, and are great fun to be around. They enjoy running free in the yard, playing with their favorite people or other dogs, and can even participate in dog sports such as agility.

Norwegian Elkhounds love to hike with their families and enjoy extended adventures outdoors.

A Norwegian Elkhound should not be left alone for long periods of time, because they are very active dogs that need plenty of mental stimulation to be happy and healthy.

Norwegian Elkhounds make excellent companions for children that love to play and be active up until bedtime. Norwegian Elkhounds can live mostly indoors, but will exercise well when outdoors.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Exercise

The Norwegian Elkhound is a highly energetic breed that needs a decent amount of exercise each day. They tend to do best when they have a yard or even just a good sized dog pen in which to run and play. Norwegian Elkhounds need at least an hour of exercise every day, and will be very happy when they get it.

This breed makes great hiking, jogging or walking companions, and can live well with families who enjoy spending time outdoors. The Norwegian Elkhound is also very active in their yard, playing with their family or chasing their toys. Norwegian Elkhounds will live well with other dogs in the home if they are socialized properly.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Nutrition And Diet

Norwegian Elkhounds need a high-quality, all natural diet to get them through their active lifestyle. To flourish, your Norwegian elkhound need a diet strong in protein, moderate in fat, and low in carbs (including fibers).

They are grain free, so you should feed your dog a food that contains no fillers or remnants of grains. This will help give them extra energy and keep their coats shiny.

Norwegian Elkhounds are a breed that will eat small amounts of food twice or three times a day, so you should feed your dog from 2 to 2.5 cups of food per meal. This can be as much or as little as you want to give them, but it all depends on their size and appetite.

This breed usually has very few health issues, and does not have many different medical needs that require attention.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Health Problems

The Elkhound has various health issues that might be a worry, particularly if you’re not vigilant about who you get it from. Among them are hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, autoimmune hypothyroidism, Fanconi syndrome, a kidney illness, and skin cysts.

You should have your Norwegian elkhound regularly checked by a veterinarian. In some cases, a blood test is needed to ensure the breed is healthy and free from any diseases.

Some Norwegian elkhounds that are used for breeding may not be up-to-date with their vaccinations and testing, so you should make sure you get it done.

Norwegian Elkhound Dog Lifespan

The Norwegian Elkhound dog breed has an average lifespan of 12-15 years. This translates to the dog living for a long and healthy life if you give it the right amount of care and attention it needs starting from its birth.

The Norwegian Elkhound is a very strong breed that lives a long time, especially when its health is cared for from an early age. It is a breed that can easily live into its late teens or early twenties in good health, with proper treatment and care.