History

Norwegian origin, originated in the 11th century. Norwegian breeder William Dunkel bred the Russian Harlequin Hound with a variety of olfactory hounds and succeeded in producing hounds capable of hunting rabbits by smell rather than sight. Hence, they are popularized. The fossil remains of the Paleolithic period excavated in Norway are of the same species as the modern Norwegian minnow, and the source is very ancient. It has long been used to hunt with Scandinavian hunters, and later to cross the sea with Vikings to the mainland. Arrived in England after the First World War and was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1935.

Character

The Norwegian Elkhound is a square-proportioned, athletic northern dog. His unique color, weather-resistant coat, and stable body structure make him an excellent all-purpose dog that performs well at work and at play.

FCI Standard  

Building:

Height at withers: Males are approximately 20.5 inches tall; females are approximately 19.5 inches tall. Weight: Males weigh about 55 pounds; females about 48 pounds. Square profile with tight engagement. The distance from the ground to the bottom of the chest is half the height at the withers, and the distance from the chest to the buttocks is equal to the height at the withers. Bones are strong, but not rough.

Head:

Head: Broad between the ears, wedge-shaped, firm and dry (no loose skin).

Expression: Eager, alert, showing great courage. Eyes: Very dark brown, medium in size, oval, not prominent. Ears: Set high, stable and erect, but very flexible. Rather small, slightly larger in height than the width at the root, and pointed (not rounded) at the end. When he is alert, the ears are turned forward and the outer edges are vertical. The ears are turned back when relaxed or friendly, so this is not a fault when checked by the referee.

Brain: Viewed from the side, the forehead and the back of the head are very slightly domed. Stop: Not big, but very clear. Muzzle: Viewed from above, thick at the base, smoothly tapered, not pointed. Bridge of Nose: Straight, parallel and the same length as the skull. Mouth: Closed tightly. Teeth: Scissor bite.

Neck, Topline, Body:

Neck: Medium length, well muscled, well positioned, slightly arched, no loose skin on throat . Topline: The back is straight and strong from the withers to the root of the tail. BODY: Short and tightly joined, with ribs extending well back. Chest: Deep, of medium breadth; the base of the chest extends to the elbows, the ribs well supported. Loin: Short and broad, raised very slightly. Tail: Set high, curled tightly over the back, over the centerline of the back. The tail is covered with thick, tightly packed hair that cannot be brushed and is natural and untrimmed.

Forequarters:

Shoulders sloping, elbows close to body. Legs: Set below the body, of medium length; strong; but not coarsely boned. Viewed from the front, the legs are straight and parallel to each other. Usually has a dewclaws. Feet: The paws are rather small, slightly oval in shape, with close toes and thick pads. The flanks are strong and slightly sloping. Feet are neither turned in nor out.

Hindquarters:

Moderately sloping at the knees and hocks. Thighs: Broad and muscular, when viewed from behind, the legs are straight and strong, without dewclaws. Feet: Same as forelimbs.

Coat:

Thick, hard, resistant to harsh weather conditions, lying flat on the body; consists of a dense, soft, wool-like undercoat It consists of a rough, straight outer coat; short on the head, ears, and front of the legs; long on the back of the neck, rump, and under the tail. Hair cannot be trimmed, groomed, or artificially altered. When competing, it is important to have a trimmed beard, a natural shape, and an unretouched look.

Color:

Grey, medium depth is preferred, varying shades due to number of coats and black tips. The undercoat is a clear bright silver, as on the legs, stomach, buttocks, under the tail, etc. The saddle-shaped parts of the body are darker in gray, and the chest, mane, and special "armor" (a long coat of hair from the shoulder blades to the elbows) are lighter in color. The muzzle, ears and tip of the tail are black. Black muzzle, transitioning to light grey forehead and head.

Yellow, brown shades, white patches, fuzzy or irregular markings, "smoky grey" under legs or light surrounds around eyes are not ideal. Colors other than gray, such as red, brown, solid black, white, or other colors are disqualified.

Gait:

In general, an active dog will appear agile and stamina. When trotting, the stride is smooth and easy; the back is level. As the speed increases, the front and rear legs converge towards the bottom of the center of the body, so the landing of the soles of the feet appears to be the same (single trajectory). The angles of the fore and hind limbs are coordinated and the muscles are strong.

Disqualification:

Any color other than grey.