Norwegian Elkhounds: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em

The AKC Standard says, "Bold and energetic, an effective guardian yet normally friendly, with great dignity and independence of character."

Definitely this is a capable, confident dog with a strong presence, whose self-reliance requires supervision and leadership.

The Norwegian Elkhound is a bundle of energy just waiting for the signal to go. This rugged breed plays hard and enjoys vigorous exercise – leashed or in a safe enclosed area, for many Elkhounds have strong hunting and chasing instincts.

Most Norwegian Elkhounds are friendly with strangers and must be taught not to jump up into their faces. Others are more restrained with strangers. But even the friendly ones are great watchdogs, meaning they are keenly alert for anything out of the ordinary. When they see or hear anything unusual, they bark.

And bark. And bark. Elkhounds are very vocal dogs. They hunt by cornering their prey and feinting to and fro to hold it in position, all the while barking nonstop to signal their location to the hunter. Couple that with their high-pitched, piercing voice, and.... well, let's just say you will upset your neighbors if you leave this breed outside unsupervised.

Norwegian Elkhounds usually get along well with other family pets if raised with them. But some individuals can be aggressive with other dogs of the same sex, and some are confirmed cat chasers. Remember, this is a hunting breed.

Training can be a challenge, as the Elkhound is dominant and headstrong and may use his intelligence in clever ways that suit his own purposes. Yet owners who know how to lead will find him eminently trainable.

If you want a dog who...

Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training.

• You can avoid some negative traits by choosing an ADULT dog from an animal shelter or rescue group. With an adult dog, you can easily see what you're getting, and plenty of adult Norwegian Elkhounds have already proven themselves not to have negative characteristics.
• If you want a puppy, you can avoid some negative traits by choosing the right breeder and the right puppy. Unfortunately, you usually can't tell whether a puppy has inherited temperament or health problems until he grows up.
• Finally, you can avoid some negative traits by training your Norwegian Elkhound to respect you and by following the 11-step care program in my book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy.

More traits and characteristics of the Norwegian Elkhound

If I was considering a Norwegian Elkhound, I would be most concerned about...

1. Providing enough exercise and mental stimulation. Young Norwegian Elkhounds (up to about two years old) romp and jump with great vigor, and things can go flying, including toddlers and infirm people. Elkhounds don't need miles of running exercise, but they must have daily opportunities to vent their energy in a large, safely-enclosed area. Elkhounds who don't get enough exercise or companionship throughout the day are quickly bored – and bored Elkhounds are prone to destructive chewing.
2. Barking. I've repeated this several times, because it's important. I've owned this breed and experienced the barking first-hand! Norwegian Elkhounds are vocal dogs, quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. But you can only do this if you have established the right relationship with your dog, where you are the leader and he is the follower. That's what respect training is all about.
3. Heavy shedding. Another hallmark of the Norwegian Elkhounds is shedding. Hair and fur everywhere. Just so you know!
4. Mind of their own. Norwegian Elkhounds are not eager-to-please Golden Retrievers. They are capable of learning a great deal, but they have an independent mind of their own and are not pushovers to raise and train. They are often manipulative, and some are willful and dominant (they want to be the boss). You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

   To teach your Elkhound to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Norwegian Elkhound Training page discusses the program you need.