A faithful friend of the Vikings, a brave guardian of farms and farms, an attentive shepherd of sheep and a brave defender from bears and wolves, a passionate hunter and companion of fearless travelers - all this is a Norwegian Elkhound, a breed of dogs with a history of more than six thousand years. This is a friendly dog, infinitely devoted to man.
From the history of the breed
Despite a long history, the breed Norwegian Elkhound was officially registered in 1901. From this moment, the mass breeding of these animals began. Long before the beginning of the twentieth century, a moose husky (the so-called elkhound) was the national dog of Norway. She had an excellent scent, intuition, and individual tactics of pursuing the beast. These dogs have been successfully used for hunting moose. Fearless animals, endurance, hunting excitement allowed them to hunt and bear. Today they are ideal helpers in hunting for wolf, lynx and small game.
Breed description
Norwegian Elkhound - the dog is not very large, rather medium-sized. It is folded proportionally. She has a round head, medium size, wide forehead and a soft transition to the muzzle. Very mobile, triangular-shaped ears. The eyes are small, almond-shaped, usually brown.
Wool
The Norwegian Elkhound has a luxurious fur coat typical of northern dogs - a gray tough coat with a light silver soft undercoat. Such bad weather is not afraid of any inclement weather. On the neck of the animal is a lush woolen collar. On the muzzle, tip of the tail and ears, the color of the coat is almost black.
The color of this breed resembles a wolf's coat - gray wool with a light gray undercoat. The animal's fur requires special attention during molting, which occurs seasonally, it is very active. The Norwegian Elkhound needs to be cleaned and combed weekly with a special brush, which minimizes loose hair loss.
Since this dog self-cleanses naturally, it can only be bathed if absolutely necessary.
Health
Most often, the Norwegian Elkhound, whose photo can be seen in our review, is prone to atheroma of the skin and joint dysplasia. It is necessary to monitor the diet of the dog and in no case overfeed it, because these animals are gaining excess weight very quickly. The most comfortable elkhound feels in regions with a cool climate.
Character
Elkhound is an independent being. Like other huskies, these dogs are independent and quick-witted. But the most important thing is their quality - devotion to the owner. Elkhounds have another feature - they are extremely sensitive to affection and praise.
Norwegian Elkhound is a friendly animal. The dog is cheerful and cheerful, but having self-esteem. From a very young age, the puppy needs a demanding, firm, but gentle approach. He gets along well with kids and adults, but is completely intolerant of cats and other pets. I would like to emphasize the special attitude of Elkhound to children. When playing with them, the dog shows such touching caution and accuracy that there can be no doubt that it cannot even offend the child by accident. Such a dog is a great friend for children. She is wary of strangers, but does not show aggression.
It is worth noting that the Norwegian Elkhound dog is extremely hardy and mobile (the reviews of the owners confirm this). She loves to run over rough terrain. The elk husky will happily go with the owner for a bicycle, hiking or any outdoor event. Elkhound is a very smart dog. He instantly learns all the commands of the owner.
A dog living in a family is very active, it is very attached to the owner. Handle her gently but firmly. Do not pamper such a pet.
Training
Norwegian Elkhound requires early socialization and basic obedience training. This dog is smart, she will strive to earn the praise of the owner. But do not relax - she needs a dominant owner, who himself sets the rules.
Training should be firm, fair and consistent. Crude and tyrannical methods will not succeed.
Activity
Norwegian Elkhound is not a breed that is adapted for living in an apartment. She needs physical activity, a large space, so it is best if the animal has at its disposal a large yard fenced. Excellent dog will feel on the farm, where he has a lot of familiar work.
Elkhound is a great companion. Dogs of this breed have proven themselves in the guard, they are excellent watchmen, they very skillfully herd cattle, and harnessed to sledges, they can carry goods.
Due to the thick fleecy undercoat, the dog can hardly tolerate heat, and in frosty winter days and even in inclement and rainy weather she feels very comfortable. On summer days, the elkhound loves to swim, hiding in the shade from the sun .
Food
The daily diet of this dog should be more than half meat. The animal spends a lot of energy, which must be replenished with a full balanced feed. For this, meat of low-fat varieties is suitable - rabbit, turkey, veal and chicken. Do not forget about cereals - buckwheat, millet, rice. The dog should receive raw and boiled vegetables daily.
Using
In Norway, it is used for hunting moose, as a companion dog. The Norwegian Elkhound has a unique tactic - by tracking and then driving the beast, he evades his attacks and, barking at the moose, holds him until the hunter arrives. In addition, these dogs are used to hunt a large beast - a wolf, a lynx, a bear.
The unusually developed flair allows the dog to feel the beast at a distance of several kilometers. She uses a wide range of signals that are given by barking.
Elkhound is an excellent watchman. In addition, these dogs have proven themselves in agility, they are attentive and neat shepherd dogs.
In Europe, these dogs are often used in nursing homes, where they brighten up the leisure of elderly and not very healthy people.
Choose a puppy
Puppies of the Norwegian Elkhound are born completely black. Gradually, their coat acquires a lighter shade. Growing up, puppies change color several times.
They are playful, behave like wolves in a pack. By the time of the first hunting trip, they resemble charming plush cubs.
We recommend acquiring such a four-legged friend only from an experienced and well-established breeder. In our country, the breed Norwegian Elkhound is not very widespread. Nursery breeding these animals can not be found in every city. We can recommend you such institutions in Tambov, Orel, Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Chita.
Puppy selection
First contact the breeder and ask when you can come to the nursery to meet the kids. Arriving at the kennel, pay attention to the conditions of adult dogs and puppies. In a good nursery, they are in a dry, ventilated room without drafts. There is no unpleasant smell in it.
Puppies should be active, not afraid of harsh sounds, play with their brothers.
The breeder will present all the necessary documents, familiarize the buyer with the vaccination schedule and answer all his questions regarding the diet and maintenance of the dog. Today, such a puppy can be purchased for 60,000 rubles.
Norwegian Elkhound - Owner Reviews
As we managed to find out, all the owners who have this pet in their house are very pleased with this acquisition. This applies not only to hunters who are delighted with their assistants, but also to people for whom the elkhound is an attentive, loving and sensitive companion. Many owners note the cleanliness of the Elkhound.