With its wolf-like visage, the attractive Norwegian Elkhound dog breed enjoys life. They're not just smart, but they also have a great sense of humour. They'll race you around the kitchen island, then reverse directions and roar for laughs.

Despite the fact that these are purebred canines, some may wind up in shelters or rescues. If you think this is the breed for you, consider adopting one.

The Norwegian Elkhound is a watchdog and guardian that is bold, active, and protective. Elkhounds are dedicated to their family to the point of death. This tenderhearted Viking will plonk their head on your lap when you're distressed. These dogs are adaptable and loving, making them simple to fall in love with for both seasoned and rookie pet owners. Just make sure you can keep up with their high activity levels by giving them lots of exercise. Oh, and expect a significant amount of shedding.

This dog bed is recommended by DogTime for your medium-sized Norwegian Elkhound to have a good night's sleep. For your high-shedding dog, you should also get this dog de-shedder!

Black Norwegian Elkhound Highlights
Breed Size	Medium
Nature	Gentle, Friendly, Playful, Outgoing, Willful
Energy Level	Active
Intelligence	High
Barking Level	Frequent
Coat Length	Short, Medium, carly
Breed Group	Hound
Droll Amount	Low
Good with	Familes, Children, Dog
Feed Level	Medium, High
Colour Type	Gray, Black, White
Other Facts	Good hiking companion,easy to train,easy to groom,high prey drive,cold weather tolerant,high potential for weight gain.

Dog History

The Norwegian Elkhound is a breed that developed in Norway's stunningly gorgeous and mountainous landscape. He may be traced back over a thousand years, when the Vikings utilised a dog breed that was similar in shape and size to defend and hunt.

Archaeologists have discovered remains of dogs that closely resemble the form of the Norwegian Elkhound among other artefacts from a prehistoric civilisation, suggesting that the breed may date back as far as 5000 BCE. Despite the fact that its exact history has been lost to time, there is no doubt that this breed is deeply entwined with humanity's past.

Not just in the history of the Vikings, but also in the history of Norwegian culture in general, the Norwegian Elkhound has played an important role. The breed has traditionally been employed to protect herds, flocks, and residences, as well as to hunt huge wildlife like as bears and moose. In hunting, his job was to locate down his victim and then keep it at bay by barking until the hunter arrived to do the job.

After the Norwegian Hunters Association hosted its first dog show in 1877, the Norwegian Elkhound became a popular breed. Soon after, breeders began working to establish a breed standard and records, as well as to develop the Norwegian Elkhound into a major conformation contender.

The Norwegian Elkhound is a great family dog that excels in a number of canine sports and occupations, including conformation, agility, obedience, flyball, freestyle, tracking, guarding, herding, sledding, and search and rescue. Norwegian Elkhounds are still employed as hunting dogs in their native Norway.

Health and Care

Elkhounds are typically healthy, however they are susceptible to some health issues, as are other breeds. Although not all Elkhounds may contract one or more of these diseases, it's vital to be aware of them if you're thinking about getting one.

Find a reliable breeder who will show you health clearances for both your dog's parents if you're buying a puppy. Health clearances demonstrate that a dog has been checked for and cleared of a certain disease.

You can expect to see health clearances from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for hip dysplasia (with a score of fair or better), elbow dysplasia, hypothyroidism, and von Willebrand's disease in Elkhounds; thrombopathia from Auburn University; and normal eyes from the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) in Elkhounds.

• Fanconi Syndrome
• Hypothyroidism
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Sebaceous Cysts

Care

Not only does the Norwegian Elkhound need regular exercise (breeders recommend 30 minutes twice a day), but it also helps him maintain a healthy weight. He can grow fat (watch out for those enormous, deep brown eyes pointed at your supper), and adequate feeding and exercise are essential throughout his life since he is so food-motivated.

He gets along OK in apartments, but he is a barker, so keep that in mind. It is preferable to live in a house with a fenced yard. Because he's so tough, he could live outside, but he'd much prefer be with you inside.

Every dog benefits from crate training, and it's a gentle method to make sure your Elkhound doesn't have accidents in the house or get into things he shouldn't. A crate is also a good area for him to take a snooze. If your Elkhound is crate trained from a young age, he will be more accepting of confinement if he ever needs to be boarded or hospitalised.

However, never leave your Elkhound in a crate all day. There's not a jail, and he shouldn't stay in it for more than a few hours at a time unless he's sleeping at night (in which case, he'll prefer to sleep in your bed with you). Elkhounds are people dogs, and they aren't supposed to live their entire lives in a cage.

Dog Breed Care Tips and Important Instructions

On the bright side, place a huge green check mark for grooming if you're constructing a list of Norwegian elkhound advantages and disadvantages. They're one of the few breeds that don't have a doggy odour and only need to be bathed two to three times a year, according to Hoefer. Brush his coat in the other way for a few minutes each day to remove stray hair, and he'll look great. Trim his nails and check his ears once a week, and don't forget to wash his teeth (he won't remind you).

The shedding of a Norwegian elkhound, known as "blown coat," is truly a sight—the fur actually flies in the spring and fall! His thick, woolly coat features weather-resistant hairs on top and a thick, weather-resistant layer below. During shedding season, the undercoat emits apparently limitless amounts of downy fluff, requiring you to brush, lint roll, and vacuum considerably more than normal to keep it under control.

Despite the fact that elkhounds shed a lot, they should never be shaved. "Their undercoat keeps them warm in the winter and cool in the summer by keeping them insulated and regulating their body temperature," Hoefer explains. "Their hair doesn't regenerate correctly once it's been shaved."

Feeding

2 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food each day, split into two meals, is the recommended daily quantity.The amount of food your adult dog consumes is determined by his size, age, build, metabolism, and degree of activity. Dogs, like people, are unique individuals that require different amounts of food. It practically goes without saying that a dog that is very active will require more than a dog who is sedentary. The type of dog food you buy makes a difference as well; the better the dog food, the more it will nourish your dog and the less you'll have to shake into his bowl.

Keep in mind that Elkhounds are strongly driven by food and can become skilled beggars. So, if you can't stop yourself from slipping him scraps off the table, and you can't give him the amount of activity he needs, you can end up with an obese dog.

Rather than putting food out all the time, measure his food and feed him twice a day to keep your Elkhound in excellent form. Give him the eye and hands-on tests if you're not sure if he's overweight.

Look down at him first. There should be a waist visible. Then, with your thumbs down his spine and fingers stretched downward, place your hands on his back. Without pressing too much, you should be able to feel but not see his ribs. If you can't, he'll need to eat less and exercise more.

Fun Facts

• Norway's national dog is the Norwegian elkhound.
• According to legend, an old elkhound named Bram braved the mountains with his owner Tore, but his tail became bogged down by ice. Bram's tail was bent over his back and tied with a piece of leather, which explains why Norwegian elkhound dogs have high, curly tails.
• Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, adored pet elk called Weegie. In 1932, Hoover was so fond of him that he featured him in the presidential Christmas letter.

Home Training Tips and General Information

Potty training a Black Norwegian Elkhound may begin at any age, but the optimal time is between the ages of eight and twelve weeks. If you start a housebreaking programme as soon as you bring your Black Norwegian Elkhound puppy home, he'll figure out where to do his business in no time. When it comes to toilet training a Black Norwegian Elkhound puppy, a cage is an excellent option. When there is no monitoring, it keeps him contained, and many pet Black Norwegian Elkhounds quickly learn that if they go into their cage, they must stay in there. The majority of pets are quite hygienic, and they will not enjoy sitting in dog doody or urine.

Make sure there's enough room in the crate for your dog to turn around, but not so much that he can get out and lie down far away from it. Many Black Norwegian Elkhound owners consider a box to be a jail cell or a punishment, but your Black Norwegian Elkhound will appreciate having his own space where he can get away from the family's tension for some quiet time. Don't use your Black Norwegian Elkhound's kennel for punishment; instead, make it a fun location for him. You may feed your Black Norwegian Elkhound in his dog cage or offer him goodies while he's in there. Include a favourite chewy or toy, as well as blankets, and he'll have a nice refuge to go to anytime he feels the need. Your Black Norwegian Elkhound may be kept out of mischief by using a crate, which is useful for more than just housebreaking.

Keeping a close check on your Black Norwegian Elkhound puppy is crucial to successfully housetraining him. Take him outdoors to the spot where you want him to go and check if he uses it whenever you notice him sniffing, circling, or preparing to squat. If he does, heap praise on him. A fantastic idea is to give your Black Norwegian Elkhound puppy a cue, such as "hurry," so that he understands what you want him to do. Repeat the tip when he goes to the potty, and then lavish praise on your Black Norwegian Elkhound for a job well done. It's preferable to take the Black Norwegian Elkhound out and have nothing happen than to risk an accident.

FAQS

Black Norwegian Elkhound Unique Name

Male Name	Female Name
Barkley	Bean
Brady	Carly
Bruno	Cleo
Carter	Dakota
Damien	Delia
Dane	Gigi
v	Khloe
Hank	Koko
Leo	Lena
Norm	Maggie
Petey	Minnie
Rosco	Muffin
Smoky	Paisley
Snoopy	Pepper
Sparky	Rose
Spencer	Rosie
Titus	Roxy
Wally	Shadow
Wyatt	Kelly
Thunder	Vava