Information on owning an Elkhound

[2BigKIdz]

I am very interested in this breed, looking to get a puppy within the next year or so. Not familiar with this breed at all except for the info found on the interent so any information from owners would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[princesspiglet]

I may not be the best expert, but we had a Norwegian Elkhound for over 12 years, his name was Odin. We loved him to death, but he was a big pain in the but!! He was very hyper and required constant supervision and entertainment. I am not sure if these are breed qualities or just Odin's personality. He ended up having hip problems and also had heart issues once he hit 10. He did not like to be indoors AT ALL, and we ended up having to fence in our 2 acres because he would continually venture away from our property. I swear he had ADD. He was as sweet as could be though and very loyal and protective of us.

We had to get him shaved every spring and throughout the summer. He would shed ALOT! Even after being shaved, we were constantly cleaning out hair everywhere. Big time drooler also!

Anyways, like I said, very sweet and very protective of us. We loved him alot even though he was alot of hard work. Good luck!

 

[2BigKIdz]

I may not be the best expert, but we had a Norwegian Elkhound for over 12 years, his name was Odin. We loved him to death, but he was a big pain in the but!! He was very hyper and required constant supervision and entertainment. I am not sure if these are breed qualities or just Odin's personality. He ended up having hip problems and also had heart issues once he hit 10. He did not like to be indoors AT ALL, and we ended up having to fence in our 2 acres because he would continually venture away from our property. I swear he had ADD. He was as sweet as could be though and very loyal and protective of us.

We had to get him shaved every spring and throughout the summer. He would shed ALOT! Even after being shaved, we were constantly cleaning out hair everywhere. Big time drooler also!

Anyways, like I said, very sweet and very protective of us. We loved him alot even though he was alot of hard work. Good luck!

Thanks!

 

[LindaR]

I had an Elkhound for many years. I loved him (Conan the Barbarian III)!

I hope I don't offend but.....you need to research the breed carefully. I think its awful to shave a dog because you don't want to mess with the fur and the mess! These dogs have a double coat. Lots of hair. If you can't stand hair, pick another breed.

They require training. Consistent training. They are best suited to climates that have alot of cold weather (that double coat!). When I first got mine, I was stationed in Florida. He ended up with frequent hot spots (from fleas) where his tail curled and touched his back.

They are not a submissive breed. They are strong (physically and mentally) and must have an owner who appreciates and understands and knows how to be alpha.

 

[lillielil]

I'm a fan of the breed but have never had one. You may want to check out DogBreedInfo for more about the breed.

And don't forget to use PetFinder instead of buying from a breeder! I typed in my own zipcode (DC-area) and found MANY Elkhounds around here, most of them puppies (and oh boy! are they cute!).

 

[Sandy V.]

We have a Norwegian Elkhound, a female named Tundra. She is the smartest and gentlest dog I have ever owned!! She's almost 9 now, and has been in great health all of that time.

Pros
-Very smart
-Very loving
-Good problem solvers
-Ours is very mellow (I know that there are exceptions; very important to find a good breeder!!)
-Very loyal to our family and "polite" to strangers
-Easy to housebreak

Cons
-Man, do they SHED! All year long. I'm another person who would never shave them, but you do brush out a LOT of hair, especially in the spring. I could have filled a small mattress with all of the hair I've combed out over the years.
-Very sensitive to noise - Tundra hates thunderstorms and fireworks. She has bolted through an electronic fence with her shock collar on because she was so frightened. We learned our lesson and make sure she's inside when those things occur from now on.
-They put on weight easily without regular exercise and they are tremendous beggars all of the time. And they have such beautiful brown eyes that are hard to resist.
-They can be pigheaded, which is why you need to establish who is "boss" from the start. We teasingly call my DH "Alpha" because that's how Tundra sees him.

I would buy another one in a heartbeat. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!!

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

Ditto to Sandy V.

We've got an Elkhound. Garth is 12. Yes, he's very mellow and can be really hard headed if he wants to be. DH can tell him to go outside. He'll just give DH the look of "yeah right". I can tell him in my Mom Voice to go outside and he gets right up and does what he's told.

They tend to pick one member of the family to be their #1, but they love the whole family. They seem to like most people.

They are really mellow and yes they beg. Poor Garth has gotten soooo fat since he's gotten old. I figure he's too old for a diet at this point.

Amen to the noise thing. We know 30 minutes before a thunderstorm will hit because he already has that look in his eyes and he's right next to my leg.

If you don't like to brush, get a different breed. I always think he looks like he's molting in the summertime. The undercoat comes out in pieces.

Love the breed. I wouldn't have a problem getting another one.