Black Norwegian Elkhound

The Black Norwegian Elkhound is a dog similar to the Spitz type and is medium in size. These dogs have great stamina and can hunt all day long for many days at a stretch. They have double coats with lighter colored undercoats. The ears, muzzle and tip of the tail are black. The head is wedge shaped, broad and has a well defined structure. These dogs have strong jaws and pointed ears. They have dark brown eyes and the expression is typically curious and friendly. The tail is usually rolled over the hind part of the dog’s body. The body is relatively short. The chest is typically deep and pretty wide. Forelegs are usually straight. The paws are small and tight, and have thick pads.

The thick, rough coat of the Elkhound requires proper care and grooming. The coat is, however, easy to groom. The coat should be brushed often, especially when the dog is shedding its dense undercoat. This is because during shedding, the dead hair tends to cling to the new hair. This dead hair should be removed carefully with a rubber brush or a metal comb with a double row of metal teeth. These dogs should be bathed only when necessary, to preserve natural oils in the skin. These dogs do not have any odor and their coats are both water and dirt resistant.

The average life span of these dogs is about 12-15 years. They can grow up to a height of about 19-21 inches and weight anywhere between 50-60 pounds.

These dogs are rarely found outside the Norwegian regions of Scandinavia. These dogs were bred for hunting and their specialty lies in hunting big animals like elk, bear and moose. These dogs are good trackers and also make very good guard dogs. They may be somewhat reserved with strangers but will greet known people with affection and enthusiasm. They could be somewhat competitive towards other dogs. These dogs are independent by nature like most other Arctic dogs, and their resistance to obedience training should be overcome with patience, gentleness and firmness. These dogs tend to bark a lot and owners should learn to control and discourage this behavior from an early age.

About the origin of these dogs, it is commonly believed that they have been around for thousands of years. A skeleton similar to the present day Norwegian Elkhound has been found dating from nearly 5000 BC. Even historically, these dogs were used to assist humans in hunting, going back to the days when humans would hunt using slingshots. These dogs have also been used to hunt mountain lions, wolves, bears, reindeers, rabbits and other animals. They are also highly acclaimed for their skills as sled dogs. They were first exhibited in 1877 when the Norwegian Hunters’ Association began holding shows. In 1923, the first official club for the breed was formed and the breed was also recognized by the British Kennel Club. In America, the breed was recognized in 1930.