Norwegian Elkhound

Even though they’re rugged, the Norwegian Elkhound breed has above average grooming needs. They don’t need to be regularly coiffed by a professional, but they do need to be brushed daily. Thankfully, just a few minutes a day will do wonders to offset any shedding woes for most of the year. You may find yourself brushing them more frequently in the spring and fall when they blow their coats—they shed it in chunks, instead of individual hairs. You can do your best to keep tumbleweeds at bay by back-brushing (brushing backwards from how their fur lays) with a slicker brush.

One of the unique characteristics of the Norwegian Elkhound is the way their harsh coats keep odors away. That said, they do need the occasional bath, though typically only two or three times annually (unless, of course, your hikes get particularly muddy); baths are especially helpful when your dog sheds their undercoat every six months or so. Note: This breed should never be shaved, even in the summer. That double coat of theirs works as insulation, which helps to keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and it protects them from sunburn.

Elkhounds should get the standard dog treatment when it comes to dental and nail care. Trim their nails as needed or every six months or so—if they’re getting long, you’ll hear the distinctive clickety-clack warning on hard surfaces. As for their pearly whites, brush them daily or at least a few times a week. Start teeth brushing when your Elkhound is a puppy. The task will be much easier if they are used to it. Don’t forget, an annual professional cleaning by your vet is vital for your doggy’s dental health.

Patience is a virtue, as they say, and you have it in spades. That’s good, as you’ll need to tap into that well when it comes to training your Norwegian Elkhound. Training this breed is important, but challenging (for both you and your pup), as these smart dogs sometimes like to think that they know what’s best. (Spoiler: They do not.) Without guidance, they’ll tend to make their own fun. (Spoiler: Hope you didn’t want to wear that pair of shoes again—ever.)

Start training your puppy with the basics, like sit, stay and come and how to walk nicely on a leash. Because Elkhounds are intelligent, they take to training eagerly, but not if you’re going to try and train them to perform tricks or only use a typical obedience routine. (Routine is so boooor-riiinnnng.)

The key is to keep your Elkhound mentally stimulated and make training fun. One way to do that is to use positive reinforcement training methods where you reward good behavior with treats, toys or praise. Pro tip: You may find the help of a certified trainer beneficial to keep things engaging and creative.

Socialization is important, too, even for this naturally friendly breed. Start socializing your dog while they’re a puppy and take them on walks to meet the neighbors (both two- and four-legged). You may also want to enroll them in puppy preschool, where they’ll learn to play nicely with other puppies and mix and mingle with adults all in one location.

Remember, consistency is key when training any dog, but especially when training a super smart doggo like the Elkhound breed. Work on training every day, use the same commands—don’t switch them up (i.e., using “sit” and “place” interchangeably)—and don’t give your pup a day where the rules don’t apply. Inexperienced pet parents may quickly find themselves being trained or manipulated by the dog rather than the other way around.

Norwegian Elkhounds, like most breeds, typically do well on a diet of high-quality commercial dog food. Always factor in your dog’s age and choose a food that fits their stage in life, whether they are a puppy, adult or senior dog. Your veterinarian can help you choose the best food for your dog’s lifestyle and provide you with a feeding chart or schedule to guide you on how much and how often to feed your dog.

Although Norwegian Elkhounds are active dogs, obesity is a concern for this breed. They love food and aren’t likely to miss a meal. Expect them to let you know it’s mealtime. Resist the urge to overfeed them or give them too many treats. Remember, treats equal calories. Always check with your vet for diet recommendations based on your pet’s individual needs.

Because Norwegian Elkhounds were bred to hunt in the cold, rugged Nordic climate, they are high-energy dogs who don’t need a lot of persuasion to exercise. Today’s Elkhounds and their pet parents aren’t likely to be tracking down moose, so it’s important to give these dogs the physical and mental stimulation they need. Lack of activity can cause them to become anxious, frustrated and destructive. These dogs are not suited to life as a couch potato.

When it comes to exercise styles, Norwegian Elkhounds aren’t really into lacing up their shoes and heading out for a run, and maybe you can relate. These medium-sized dogs are much better suited for exercise that feels like play—again, perhaps you relate—and their high exercise needs make them the ideal breed to enroll in a variety of dog sports, depending on your—and your dog’s—interests. Norwegian Elkhounds excel in activities like conformation trials (aka dog shows), agility, and bikejoring (it’s like sled-pulling without the snow and uses bicycles).

If competition’s not your thing, strenuous hikes will do the trick. Norwegian Elkhounds are known less for their speed and more for their stamina, so don’t be afraid to take a long trek. At a minimum, make sure they get 20 to 30 minutes of exercise twice a day. If you’re simply walking around the neighborhood, it may not be enough of a challenge for an Elkhound, so mix in tasks like scent work and opportunities for off-leash exercise in a well fenced-in area—without that fence, their natural hunting instincts will lead them to take off at first sight of a wandering critter, and no one needs to play chase around the neighborhood.

Big house, little house—Norwegian Elkhounds can adapt to a variety of living environments. However, they are physically active dogs and prone to barking and sometimes howling, so apartment living or small spaces can be a challenge if you prefer to keep the peace with neighbors and/or don’t have the time to ensure your Norwegian Elkhound is properly exercised. They are a northern breed, so they thrive in cold climates, but they can live in warm places, too. Just be sure to keep outdoor activity to the cooler parts of the day when it’s hot out, and always make sure they have access to plenty of fresh, cool water.

A fenced-in yard is ideal, although just leaving an Elkhound to roam in the backyard all day isn’t enough activity for them. They will get bored with what’s in their own space, potentially leading to mischief. Their activity level must go far beyond a yard and an occasional walk.

Norwegian Elkhounds are great with kids and would do best in an active family. They are loyal and protective, so although they may love your children if socialized with them from puppyhood, they may be suspicious of other children and strangers in general.

This breed is typically OK with another dog in the home, especially if they are raised with them from a puppy. Norwegian Elkhounds are known for not being particularly fond of other dog breeds and dogs of the same sex. Because of their strong prey drive, you can expect them to chase and corner animals of all kinds, including cats.