The Norwegian Elkhound looks like a mini wolf and is very beautiful. Originally bred to hunt Moose and big game animals, they are not hounds but not bred to hunt elk.
They are loyal, sweet and great guardians. They are very active, so if you are looking for a running companion or an addition to your busy family, you may have found your perfect breed.
Working dogs need a lot of exercise and this guy is no different. They need plenty of exercise and playtime. They could make the perfect jogging partner, this is not a breed for couch potatoes, and you will need to be able to commit to long walks and endless games to keep them happy. You could maybe have this dog in an apartment, but you would need to commit to being very active, and they would probably be happier with a garden to romp around in.
They are affectionate family dogs who love being with an active family. They are great with older kids but have limits to being pulled around, so this breed is best avoided if you have younger children.
They can be a little untrusting of strangers, so you will want to ensure they socialise early on to combat this. They make excellent watchdogs and guardians and will alert you to all incoming dangers and people at the door. They will protect you and your family to the bitter end, and they are barkers, not biters; you will need to be a confident trainer to get them to be silent on command.
They should be OK with other dogs, but they may be better as the only dog in the household. You might want to avoid two males together. Cats may be OK with it if brought up with them. They were bred to hunt, so they typically chase neighbourhood cats with delight. You need to make sure they can’t escape from your garden.
They are intelligent dogs but can be very headstrong; you will need to discover their motivation reward early on to get the best out of them. You will need to use consistency and assert yourself as the top dog early on to get them to listen to you, then you will have a lovely well-trained companion for life. They may be challenging to let off the lead as they are independent and will likely ignore you if there’s something to chase.
They have double coats and are heavy shedders. They will replace their coats (blowing) 2-3 times yearly. You will need to brush them at least weekly to keep the hairs under control.
Norwegian Elkhound Stats
In the middle of the 19th Century, a man known as ‘Doggy’ Lawrence was breeding small red terriers (about 4kg) that he sold mainly to Cambridge undergraduates. It is believed these dogs were the foundation of what is now known as Norwich and Norfolk Terriers.
- Weight -6kg –7kg
- Size – 25cm – 26cm
- They live for 13-15 years