Origin

The Norwegian Elkhound is called the ancient spitz and this is the national dog of Norway. This breed evolved in the 5000 BC. This is an intelligent breed and this breed was used for various puposes like hunting, tracking, looking after cattle etc. They were first introduced in 1877.

General Description

The Norwegian Elkhound looks like a wolf and many of its characteristics are like the wolf. It is a breed of the Arctic region. This breed is medium sized. They have a large head and a round long muzzle with a black nose at the tip. The Norwegian Elkhound has two black eyes which are almond shaped and set apart. They have a long muscular neck and straight boned limbs. Their tail is thick and totally curled. They have cat like paws and a wide chest which touches their equally wide shoulders. Their ears are triangular and stand straight on their head. They have a double coat which is thick and helps in protecting them in very cold weather. They have maximum fur around their neck and tail. The Norwegian Elkhound is mostly found in gray colour with black spots.

Character

The Norwegian Elkhound is a dog of really good nature. It is very cute and loving but sometimes they are a bit stubborn. They love human companionship a great deal and love to get attention from their family members. The Norwegian Elkhound do not mix well with the strangers. Generally they are good to other animals and pets as they love to work with them but sometimes they may be really aggressive to the dogs of same sex. This breed also is very good to small animals and are not ferocious as other breeds. This breed is sometimes so very independent and stubborn that they are really difficult to train but they can be trained properly if their master handles the total thing with a bit of rigidness. They have a bad habit. They sometimes bark too much and that is continuous.

Temperament

This breed is independent by nature. They are very lively, playful and also sometimes destructive. They love to play always and also love to work. If they are left alone for a long time they may behave in a destructive manner. The Elkhound bark a lot and they have a great hearing power. That makes they good watch dogs but more than being a great guard dog they are better at warning their masters about any unwanted situation. I must say that they are the sole companions and love human interaction to a great level. The Norwegian Elkhound love to stay with the family and they are also good to children and other dogs if properly socialized. In maximum cases they would not mix with strangers well.

Training

The Norwegian Elkhound is very independent and intelligent in nature. If they are forced while training they will be worse so training should be done with firm hands but at the same time the training methods should be gentle also. They are not fast matured so patience is the main tool which is required while training sessions.

Health

They can be affected by many problems like hip dysplasia, PRA, Fanconi syndrome etc. They should not be fed much as they have a tendency of growing fat. Their average life span is 12-15 years.