Alt Names: Norsk Elghund Country of Origin: Norway

History: Archaeological digs in Scandinavia suggest this breed existed and was domesticated in the Stone age. At the end of the 19th century the breed came to England and in 1901 the The Kennel Club officially recognised it.

For many years, the breed was considered one of the oldest dog breeds, going back more than six thousand years. Recent DNA analysis suggests, however, that this breed is actually a recent construction, bred to resemble an older form.

An ideal elkhound has a tightly curled tail, as the dog shown in the photograph on this page. The elkhound is a medium sized dog and extremely hardy. They are bred for hunting large game, such as bear and elk . The elkhound has a very strong drive and it is not unheard of for an elkhound to go through a plate glass window when motivated by its quarry. Although the breed is strong and hardy, the dogs typically have an inseparable bond with their masters and are quite loyal. The Norwegian elkhound was presented at a dog exhibition for the first time in 1877.

Appearance: The dog stands about 52 centimetres high and weighs up to 24 kilogrammes. Its grey coat is made of dense smooth lying hair ranging from black at the muzzle, ears and tip of its tail, to silvery grey on its legs, tail and underbody. Solid black elkhounds are rarer.

Temperament: Norwegian Elkhounds are loyal to their "pack" and make good family dogs. Although each dog is an individual, they generally like children (or at least tolerate them) and can be very protective of those they consider part of their pack or family. This, combined with their loud voice, makes them good guard dog. Norwegian Elkhounds can be challenging to train because of their intelligence and deep independent streak. However, they can make good obedience, agility, and particularly tracking dogs, and they are good natured in their disobedience (for example, failing to "come" because there is something of greater interest in the other direction).