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The Norwegian Elkhound

When people tell their friends that they intend to buy a Norwegian Elkhound pup, they are often asked, "What kind of breed is that?"
 
The original name of our dog is ELGHUND and the English name we use today is really a mis-translation. The Norse word "Elg" equals the English "Moose" and a "hund" is simply a "dog. The Elghund is not a hound - doesn't look like a hound, doesn't run like a hound, doesn't hunt like a hound, doesn't bay like a hound, and does not only hunt elk. The Elghund has been used and may be used as a general farm dog and to hunt all kinds of game, including moose, bear, bobcat, puma, and even small animals and birds.

The Elghund is the National Dog of Norway and has been associated with humans for a long time. Its ancestors sailed with the Vikings and its roots go back to between 4000 and 5000 BC; its skeletal remains have been found in burial sites dating back to that period. The Elghund is credited with saving the inhabitants of the Norderhove Valley from the predations of wolves during what is known as the wolf period.

The Elghund is of a medium size and presents a square profile. The females are ideally between 18.5 and 19.5 inches high; the males are some 2 inches taller. The dog is as long as tall, and the height is about half leg and half body. The Elghund's muzzle is wider at the base than at the nose, giving the head a wedge shape. the pointed ears are very mobile when erect, and the tail is curled tightly over the back.

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