This photo comes from Hutchinson’s Dog Encyclopedia.
I don’t know what these Norwegian elkhounds are hunting. My guess is this photo was taken in England, but I have no idea exactly what the prey is. My guess is it is either otter or mink.
As you can tell from the photo, Norwegian elkhounds have a particular behavior whenever they corner prey– bark as if there is no tomorrow. These dogs have been selected for their clear, harsh barks.
If you don’t like a dog that loves to bark, don’t get a Norwegian elkhound of either breed or any of the two Swedish elkhounds.
I happen to have very fond memories of these dogs, but I can tell you that this breed isn’t exactly what most people want. In addition to their barking, they are very smart, but they are not always biddable. Yes, many of these dogs are very easy to train, but they all have at least a slight naughty streak.
I can’t imagine the British having much use for them, but when these dogs appeared in West Virginia, they became the ultimate hunting dog. They could do all the things that curs and feists do, and they very intelligent.
My grandpa liked to call his dogs “combination dogs,” which meant they could be used to run rabbits in the morning and then tree squirrels and flush grouse in the afternoon. If the raccoons and groundhogs were causing trouble, send that “ol’ Norwegian” over to take care of them.
As a very young child, I though Norwegian elkhounds were wolves, and I often confused them in my picture books. Little did I know that Norwegian and Swedish elkhounds actually do have some relatively recent wolf ancestry. I just thought it was cool that elkhounds looked like wolves.
I remember these dogs as very good sports. They are plucky and impish but also very gentle and comradely. I remember that my grandpa’s dog liked me better than the supposed “great kid dogs” that were my parents’ beagle and farm collie.
This is one breed I’m going to have to try again.
It is actually three Swedish elkhounds; Jämthund ,White Elkhound and Hälleforshund.
Those first two exist in North America. I had never heard of the third, so I googled it.
Believe it or not, but every once in a while, a reddish colored Norwegian gray elkhound is born. They aren’t standard, and breeders have worked hard to breed out the reddish color.
I remember our family having one when I was very young .She was a very affectionate and gentle house dog.
Thanks for sharing the photo. I didn’t know that they , too, were used to hunt otter or mink in the UK.
My parents owned a few apartment buildings in an area called Highland Square in Akron, Ohio. Across from the ballpark at the bottom of Highland avenue there lived a woman with a Norwegian Elkhound.
Lovely dog and very bright. He used to play with us kids during the day and accompany his owner to the shops up on Market Street in the afternoons.
When the weather was bad or she was ill, she would attach an envelope to the dogs’ collar and send him, alone, to the market.
He would return with a little bag of something in his mouth and disappear in the house to come out a little later looking for a kid with a ball.
He was all about duty too. If he was accosted on the route, he would growl and then run like hell, knowing that no-one could possibly catch him. By the time we did, he was already on his way back home.
When he finally passed of old age, I don’t think there was a better attended human funeral that year.
He was a remarkable dog.
Hmmmmm…it will be interesting if you get an Elkhound(and I for one would very much enjoy your inevitable posts on it if you did!) to see if you remain so unfavorable of yea olde “dominance theory”, or if you just don’t mind letting the Elkhound be in charge! They ARE VERY strong-willed dogs(one reason I have always liked them!). Elkhounds are yet another breed I, too, would one day like to experience–I’ve been around a few, but haven’t yet aquired one of my own(sigh–so many dogs; so little time…..). I remember seeing one hunting with a pack of scenthounds once deep in the Appalachians–the other hounds looked exhausted as they toiled up a steep, forested slope(they were trailing/chasing deer), but the glorious silver Elkhound was bounding up that mountainside and through the brush effortlessly–absolutely perfectly designed to traverse steep, mountain forest! I suppose it is because of some inane and senseless game laws written in the distant past for North America, but WHY Elkhounds have virtually never been utilized to hunt moose in Canada and Alaska is strange. Their use in Northern Europe for this is so mainstream, it seems like that would have rubbed off here, and in remote areas of Alaska and Canada, people who hunt moose for a living and who could really benefit from such a dog, and are unlikely to care much WHAT any “law” states, have not acquired and used Elkhounds. And they have THE BEST idea involving breeding and showing dogs in Norway regarding the Elkhounds….BEFORE one can be shown in conformation, they must FIRST prove themselves competent, physically robust dogs in the field, holding a moose at bay! Now THAT really is “preserving the breed”, and making sure they are still functional and healthy FIRST!!!!! Norweigans got their priorities straight!
I grew up around elkhounds.
Doesn’t change my views on what science says about the canine equivalent of drapetomania.
Using dominance theory on Elkhounds would be considered as animal-cruelty in Nordic countries. Only positive reinforcement is allowed.
That old photo showed elkhounds hunting otters. I have had 7 Norwegian Elkhounds and they have a strong desire to hunt raccoons, squirrels and even mice in lieu of moose.. Yes they are independent, but also quite smart and sensitive… it makes a challenge for those who are up to it! Not a breed for everyone, but I wouldnt change them for anything. The website listed is our club website where you can see many Norwegian Elkhounds.