Breed library

Norwegian Elkhound

Norwegian Elkhound photograph.
Elkhound2020 (cropped).jpg - HawkNightingale175. CC BY 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elkhound2020_(cropped).jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0. License: CC BY 4.0.

Breed overview

The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the Northern Spitz-type breeds of dog and is the National Dog of Norway. The Elkhound has served as a hunter, guardian, herder, and defender. It is known for its courage in tracking and hunting elk and other large game, such as bears or wolves. The Norwegian Elkhound was first presented at a dog exhibition in Norway in 1877. The Norwegian name of the breed is Norsk elghund grå. The breed's object in the hunt is to independently track down and hold the elk at bay, jumping in and out toward the elk, distracting its attention, while signaling to the hunters by barking very loudly, until the hunter who follows the sound can arrive to shoot it. The dog will only bark while the elk is stationary, but it can also slowly drive the elk towards shooters lying in wait. The Norwegian Elkhound is also used on a leash. In this mode of hunting, the dog leads the hunter in the direction of the elk while keeping quiet.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: NorwayBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • The breed is popular in Sweden where it has always been highly prized as a hunting dog.
  • The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the Northern Spitz-type breeds of dog and is the National Dog of Norway.
  • The Elkhound has served as a hunter, guardian, herder, and defender.
  • The Norwegian Elkhound was first presented at a dog exhibition in Norway in 1877.
  • The breed's object in the hunt is to independently track down and hold the elk at bay, jumping in and out toward the elk, distracting its attention, while signaling to the hunters by barking very loudly, until the hunter who follows the sound can arrive to shoot it.

Size and appearance

According to The Kennel Club breed standard ideally the dog stands about 19.5 - 20.5 in high and weighs up to 23 kg. Its grey, white, and black coat is made up of two layers: an underlying dense smooth coat ranging from black at the muzzle, ears, and tip of its tail to silvery grey on its legs, tail, and underbody and an overlying black-tipped protective guard coat. An ideal Elkhound has a tightly curled tail. The Elkhound is a medium-sized dog and extremely hardy.

  • Height reference: 49 cmBreed reference height. female.
  • Height reference: 52 cmBreed reference height. male.
  • Coat texture: smooth
  • Height category: medium

Personality and behavior

Norwegian Elkhounds are bred for hunting large game, such as wolf, bear and elk. Although the breed is strong and hardy, the dogs typically have an inseparable bond with their masters and are quite loyal. All Elkhounds have a sharp loud bark which makes them suitable as watchdogs. Norwegian Elkhounds are loyal to their "pack" and make excellent family dogs given proper attention. They are bold, playful, independent, alert, extremely intelligent, and, at times, a bit boisterous.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat texture: smooth

Health and lifespan

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 12.9 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Breed history

The breed is popular in Sweden where it has always been highly prized as a hunting dog. It is 98% genetically identical to the Jämthund. It was rarely seen or bred outside of Norway until its appearance in England in the 19th century. It was officially recognized by The Kennel Club in 1901.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  2. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  3. File:Elkhound2020 (cropped).jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Elkhound2020 (cropped).jpg - HawkNightingale175. CC BY 4.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elkhound2020_(cropped).jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.
  4. Norwegian Elkhound - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Norwegian Elkhound, revision 1368886127. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Norwegian_Elkhound&action=history
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.