Breed of dogs Norwegian Elkhound: character, nutrition, color and responses of dog breeders

A faithful Viking friend, a brave watchman of farms and farms, an attentive shepherd shepherd and a brave defender of bears and wolves, a passionate hunter and a companion of fearless travelers are all Norwegian Elkhound, a breed of dogs whose history is more than six thousand years old. It is a friendly dog, endlessly devoted to man.

From the history of the breed

Despite the centuries-old history, the Norwegian Elkhound breed was officially registered in 1901. From this moment the mass breeding of these animals began. Long before the beginning of the twentieth century, elk-like (as used to be called elkhaund) was the national dog of Norway. She had an excellent scent, intuition, and individual tactics of pursuing the beast. These dogs were successfully used for hunting moose. Fearlessness of animals, endurance, hunting excitement allowed them to hunt and bear. Today, these are ideal assistants in the hunt for the wolf, lynx and small game.

Description of the breed

The Norwegian Elkhound is not a very large, medium-sized dog. It is composed proportionally. She has a round head, medium size, a broad forehead and a soft transition to the muzzle. Very mobile, triangular ears. Eyes small, almond-shaped, usually brown.

Wool

Norwegian Elkhound has a luxurious fur coat, typical for northern dogs - gray hard wool with a light silvery soft undercoat. This kind of protection is not terrible for any bad weather. On the neck of the animal is a magnificent woolen collar. On the muzzle, the tip of the tail and the ears, the color of the coat is almost black.

The color of this breed resembles the coat of a wolf - gray wool with a light gray undercoat. Special attention is paid to the animal's fur during moulting, which occurs seasonally, it is very active. The Norwegian Elkhound needs a weekly brushing and combing with a special brush, which minimizes loose hair loss.

Since this dog is self-cleaning in a natural way, it can be bathed only in case of acute necessity.

Health

Most often, the Norwegian Elkhound, whose photo can be seen in our review, is subject to skin athere and joint dysplasia. It is necessary to monitor the diet of the dog and in no case to overfeed it, because these animals very quickly gain excessive weight. Comfortably Elkhound feels in regions with a cool climate.

Character

Elkhaund is an independent being. Like other huskies, these dogs are independent and smart. But the most important thing is their quality - devotion to the owner. Elkhuunds have one more feature - they are extremely sensitive to affection and praise.

The Norwegian Elkhound is a friendly animal. The dog is cheerful and cheerful, but self-respecting. From the earliest age the puppy needs a demanding, firm but affectionate approach. He gets on well with kids and older people, but is completely intolerant of cats and other pets. I would like to emphasize the special attitude of elkhound to children. Playing with them, the dog shows such touching caution and accuracy that there can be no doubt that she can not even offend the child by accident. Such a dog is a great friend for children. To strangers is wary, but does not show aggression.

It is worth noting that the Norwegian Elkhound is extremely hardy and mobile (the owners' reviews confirm this). She is very fond of running on rough terrain. Elk laika is happy to go with the owner to a bike, hiking or any outdoor activity. Elkhaound is a very clever dog. He immediately absorbs all the commands of the owner.

The dog living in the family is very active, it is very attached to the owner. Handle it gently, but firmly. Do not spoil such a pet.

Training

The Norwegian Elkhound requires early socialization and instruction in the basics of obedience. This dog is clever, she will strive to deserve the praise of the master. But do not relax - she needs a dominant owner, who himself sets the rules.

Training should be firm, fair and consistent. Rough and despotic methods will not succeed.

Activity

The Norwegian Elkhound is not a breed that is adapted for living in an apartment. It requires physical activity, a large space, so it is best if the animal has a large fenced courtyard. Excellent dog will feel himself on the farm, where he will find a lot of customary work.

Elkhound is a great companion. Dogs of this breed have well proven themselves in the guard, they are excellent watchmen, they very skillfully graze livestock, and harnessed to sledges, they can carry loads.

Because of thick hairy undercoat, the dog can hardly tolerate heat, and on cold winter days and even in rainy and rainy weather, it feels very comfortable. In the summer days the elkhound loves to swim, from the sun rays it hides in a shady place.

Food

The daily diet of this dog should be more than half of the meat. The animal spends a lot of energy, which must be filled with a full balanced feed. For this meat of low-fat varieties - rabbit meat, turkey meat, veal and chicken meat, is suitable. Do not forget about the groats - buckwheat, wheat, rice. The dog should receive vegetables daily in raw and boiled form.

Using

In Norway it is used for hunting for moose, as a companion dog. The Norwegian Elkhound has a unique tactic - hunted down, and then driving the beast, he shies away from his attacks and, barking out the moose, keeps him until the hunter comes. In addition, these dogs are used to hunt for a large beast - a wolf, a lynx, a bear.

An unusually developed flair allows the dog to feel the beast at distances of several kilometers. It applies a wide range of signals that are barked.

Elkhound is an excellent watchman. In addition, these dogs have well proven themselves in agility, they are attentive and accurate shepherd dogs.

In Europe, these dogs are often used in nursing homes, where they brighten up the leisure time of elderly and not very healthy people.

Choose a puppy

Puppies from the Norwegian Elkhound are born completely black. Gradually, their wool acquires a lighter shade. Growing up, the puppies change their color several times.

They are playful, behave like wolves in a pack. By the time of the first departure for hunting, they resemble charming plush cubs.

We recommend purchasing this four-legged friend only from an experienced and well-proven breeder. The Norwegian Elkhound breed is not very common in our country. The nursery that breeds these animals can not be found in every city. We can recommend to you such institutions in Tambov, Orel, Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Chita.

Choosing a puppy

First, contact the breeder and ask when you can come to the nursery to get acquainted with the kids. Arriving at the nursery, 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, do not be afraid of sharp sounds, play with their brothers.

The breeder will present all the necessary documents, familiarize the buyer with the schedule of vaccinations and answer all his questions concerning the diet and contents 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 home are very happy with this acquisition. This applies not only to hunters who are delighted with their assistants, but also people for whom the elkhound is an attentive, loving and sensitive companion. Many owners note the cleanliness of the elkhound.