A loyal family comrade and an eager outdoor playmate , reasoning Norse elkhounds are an ancient dog strain that fits well into an participating , advanced life style .
You might think a darling canine companion of the Vikings would n’t stoop to cavort with bare mortals like us . fortuitously , spunky Norwegian elkhound dogs are affectionate and dedicated to their mob . Ruggedly beautiful , they makeexceptional spouse for hiking , swimming , hunting , herding livestock , and other rough - and - quick natural process outdoor enthusiasts savour . When the work is done , they ’ll appreciate being indoors tightlipped to the flack with a full belly and within well-off reach of pats and wipe .
Sofiah Hoefer and her husband Skyler ownMontana Mountain Elkhounds , located near Missoula , Mont. She says " elkies , " as they ’re sometimes called , are a sheer , intelligent breedwith a lot of personality . " They starve risky venture , freedom , and purpose . They ’re also happy , become fast friends with everyone they meet , and arewonderful family dogswith very paternal instinct with children . "
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Appearance
imposing Norwegian elkhounds are built for action : satisfying , brave , and nimble , they habituate unassailable , compact legs to eagerly scale various character of terrain and keep agood running gait . For a dog weighing only 48–55 pound , that ’s a lot of oomph ! His wedge - shaped head wax light to a long fateful snout , and vivid dark brownish eyes are oval - shaped and keen . An elkie give tongue to a lot of emotion with his high pointed ears : face you , he ’s paying attending and quick for the next job ; moderate and tilted back somewhat , he ’s mellow and quick to loosen .
Like many Nordic breeds , elkhounds have anabundant double pelage of furyou just want to bury your face into . Coarse , weather - resistant top whisker enshroud a downy , insulate stratum underneath . This provides plenteous protection against rough winds and facilitate them dry quickly after a dip into cool waters .
Although " gray Norse Norwegian elkhound " are often how they ’re labeled , these dogs are never completely grey : They have swaths of sinister , white , and silver across their chests and back , sometimes extending to their hindquarters .
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Let ’s not forget an elkie ’s fabulous fundament ! Since manlike and distaff dogs only stand about 20 inch mellow at the shoulder , he wo n’t empty the coffee bean table with it , but it ’s hard to ignore that multi - coloured curly tuft high on his backside — this whole surface area wiggles when he ’s playful and emotional .
Temperament
A Norse Norwegian elkhound ’s disposition is a complex blend of loving attention and sharp mental agility .
He ’s loyal , patient with childrenand other wiener , has a playful common sense of witticism , and is a trusty shielder . He always want to be with you and the family : lean to livestock , sprint along a tramp track , riding on the sharpness of your kayak — whatever you do alfresco , your elkie will be right there ! " They ’re very people - oriented and regard themselves to be an equal member of the family whose idea should be prise , " Hoefer say . " You ’ll find intense eye contact with this strain . "
Norwegian elkhound are also independent thinker and call for to know you ’re the leader of the clique . " indue in grooming for these intelligent dogs , either by a professional ordo - it - yourself trainingto tone the loyal James Bond you have with your dog , " says Patrick Singletary , DVM , owner ofGood Dog Veterinary Carein Marietta , Ga. Proper confident strengthener traininghelps enrich your elkie ’s spirit and is the near way to teach wienerwurst young behaviors and change honest-to-goodness habit .
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Because Norwegian elkhounds are so smart , they also get drill easily , especially once they think they ’ve master something . Hoefer says they respond well toconsistent and bonny trainingwithplenty of treatsand ' atta boys . Forexperienced dog owner , make an elkhound means you may interact with him in elbow room that challenge both of you , such as throughnose work , dock diving(elkies love to swim ! ) , airfield trials , and other job - oriented business . variegate his acquisition set , and your Norse elkhound dog will be quite satisfied .
An elkie ’s always curious , so he ’s go to keep an eye on his itchy feet in an instant and explore all the scents he picks up . For this reason , it ’s bestnot to allow him off leashunless in an introduce area or , if you ’re truly tracking game , need his assistance and heresponds well to recall . Because an Norwegian elkhound is such an amazing hunter — sometimes overtake birds in mid - air!—he has a highprey drivefor smaller puppet , sointroduce him to the home catsand other small PET when he ’s a whelp to insure good relationships .
Living Needs
While a Norwegian elkhound isapartment - well-disposed , he also ask all-encompassing natural action and engagement to be sincerely happy . He was the primary hunting hot dog of Vikings , lifting his gun muzzle to the wind from a ship ’s bow and racing forward through rocky terrain on the scent of bombastic game . These instinctive desire do n’t go aside easily .
Hoefer enunciate Norwegian Norwegian elkhound are athletic heel breed to work out and are able to jog and boost for hour . " While having an acreage for an elkhound to range and research is idealistic , it ’s not a requirement , " she summate . " Elkies do just as well with afenced yard . But anactive lifestyleand an ample amount of attention and genial stimulation is a must ! A world-weary elkhound will belike become destructive anddevelop a bark problem . " Daily visit to adog parkwhere they can romp with other medium- to tumid - sized dogs are undecomposed forsocialization , along with industrious andfocused natural action such as flyball , Frisbee , or barn Hunt .
Singletary also send word prospective proprietor to be cognisant of an elkie ’s pelage and the clime you live in . " Temperate climates introduce an issue for this breed because they’reprone to overheating in the summertime . But keep them cooped up in the easy air conditioning is n’t an option either , as they can have some behaviour challenge . " To keep your elkie nerveless in the heat , create a space that ’s dog - friendly with plenty of protection , tad , and a fun water feature to sprinkle in .
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Care
If you ’re establish a tilt of Norwegian elkhounds pros and con , put a big immature check mark forgroomingon the positive side . They ’re one of the few breeds without a doggy smell and will onlyneed a bathtwo to three time a year , Hoefer says . expend a few minute of arc each daybrushing his coatin the polar direction to hit loose hairsbreadth , and he ’ll count spiffy . Trim his nailsandcheck his earsweekly , too , andremember to brush his teeth(‘cause he ’s not going to cue you ) .
A Norse elkhound’sshedding , known as " flub coat , " is quite a good deal — in the leap and fall , the pelt really flies ! His plentiful threefold coat has weather - repellent hairs on top , and a thick , wooly-haired bed underneath . The undercoat releases seemingly endless amounts of downy frivolity , which require you to sweep , lint cast , and vacuum much more than usual to keep it under control condition during shedding season .
Though desquamation can be intense , under no circumstances should you plane an Norwegian elkhound . " Their undercoat keeps them insulate and their consistence temperature regulated , keeping them warm in the winter and cool in the summer , " Hoefer tell . " Once shaved , their hair does n’t regrow properly . "
Health
" It ’s important to do plenteousness of pedigreed inquiry if you ’re acquiring one of these dog from a stock breeder , " Singletary suppose . " Norwegian elkhounds have a predisposition forprogressive retinal atrophy ( PRA ) , which is an untreatable eye condition that result in blindness . They can be affected as soon as 6 week sometime and have complete loss of vision by 12–18 month of geezerhood . " TheAmerican College of Veterinary Ophthalmologistsstates that since many animal have an amazing power to adapt to vision loss , some do n’t exhibit PRA symptoms until they ’re receiving cataract OR or an proprietor notices problems with their mobility after rearranging furniture in the menage .
Hoefer says Elkhounds are also prostrate tohip dysplasia , which could lead to painfulosteoarthritis . Hip dysplasia is a genetic skeletal condition that induce displacement of the ball and socket in the hip joint . If this condition is diagnose in young dogs , surgery might be an option . Hoefer says Norse elkhounds sometimes developsebaceous cystsas well , which are often surgically removed successfully as long as the rudimentary cause is name to forbid succeeding development .
As active as they are , elkies also love to rust , and they ’re not fussy ! In fact , Singletary says theycan rapidly gain weight , so you have to be sure tofeed them fittingly . you could severalize if your blackguard is catch a bit chonky if you see his sides or back rippling as he runs . Singletary cautions that an overweight dog with degenerative arthritis could have his life shortened by as much as two years .
Overall , Hoefer say elkies are ahealthy breed with few problems . You ’ll have a long and loving relationship with them , as a Norwegian elkhound ’s lifespan is 12–15 years .
History
Norse elkhounds come down from the northerly spitz class group of dogs throughout Russia and Scandinavia that are 4,000–6,000 years old , making them one of the oldest domesticated breeds in the humans .
These Nordic wonders developed their sense of adventure travel the open seas and mountainous terrainwith fierce Viking warriors . Valued companions and guardians , they were also essential for cover large game such as Alces alces , bear , wolf , and lynx . archaeologist have bring out elkhound remains in their Viking owners ' graves alongside shields and swords , evidence of their important roles in the Scandinavian style of life , consort to the American Kennel Club(AKC ) .
The name Norwegian Elkhound — or " Norsk Elghund"—is a bit of a misnomer , the AKC write . Elk in Norway are technically moose , a different metal money than American European elk . In Norwegian , " elg " means " European elk " and " hund " means " weenie " . So this is why , and accurately so by right translation , he ’s sometimes referred to as the Norse Alces alces dog .
The AKC classifies Norwegian elkhound dogs in its divers hound radical because of their superior ability to trail and hold secret plan , and they ’re post in this family fordog shows and other competitions , too . The Norwegian Elkhound Association started in the United States in 1930 , and the AKC acknowledged the breed in 1953 .
