Considered by enthusiasts as the best all-around athlete of the canine world, Norwegian Elkhounds are among the most energetic, powerful, independent of all dogs with nearly unrivaled endurance. These qualities make for a playful, adventurous dog, that needs both mental and physical stimulation– at least half an hour of vigorous exercise twice a day. Norwegian Elkhounds are highly intelligent and have one of the most complex personalities and physical versatility of all breeds. They are boisterous and fairly active indoors with a strong need to be with their family. Bred to work closely with people, Norwegian Elkhounds thrive on love, affection, and praise. They are friendly and good-natured with children, provided they are given careful and consistent socialization and training. They can be aggressive with other pets and are normally friendly with strangers, especially once introduced. A Norwegian Elkhound can be an incessant barker as they were bred to hold prey at bay with constant barking until a hunter arrived. Some dogs have a voice that is shrill and piercing. When evaluating puppies it is worth listening to each bark before making a choice. However, this trait has a positive side– they make excellent watchdogs and most are above average guard dogs.

The Norwegian Elkhound is a medium sized breed, with an average height of 19 to 21 inches, and an average weight between 40 and 55 pounds. Their coats are almost any shade of grey with a black tip on the end of most of their hair. With their thick heavy coat, they do well in cold or even arctic temperatures. But they suffer in warm or humid climates. With their thick coat also comes profuse shedding so they are not for anyone obsessed with a nice neat home.

They need only an average socialization effort. But with a fascinating mix of traits that make this a breed like no other, training them is a complex but rewarding task. They are independent and intelligent with a short attention span but a long memory. A stubborn streak makes some resistant to obedience training. All find repetition boring. To be happy, they need a mental challenge. With their intelligence, a Norwegian Elkhound can fairly easily outwit an inexperienced trainer. But any anger or frustration displayed by their trainer will be met with certain defiance. Patience and praise are key to obtaining this breed’s obedience. Because of the challenging nature of training a well-behaved Norwegian Elkhound, this is not a breed recommended for the novice dog owner.