ELKHOUND (ELGHUND) DESCRIPTION

Since before 4000 B.C., the Norwegian Elkhound has faced icy weather, rugged terrain, dangerous animals... and still performed as a superior hunter, herder, guard and companion. Comrade to the Vikings, guardian of lonely farms and saeters, herder of flocks and defender from wolves and bear, a hunter always and roamer with hardy men, the Norwegian Elkhound comes down to us through more than six millennia with all his Nordic traits untainted, a fearless dog and friendly, devoted to man and the chase. A very rugged and robust dog built for endurance, bred and trained as a hunter and tracker, the Elkhound displays a keen and very acute sense of smell and hearing. Every physical characteristic is the expression of a need. His compactness, his muscled robustness, his square ness, his width and depth are true expressions of nature's requirements for a dog that would hunt day after day, all day long, in rugged country, where stamina rather than extreme speed is called for. The words brave, independent, dependable and determined describe their personalities. As pets, they are intelligent, friendly and reliable.

The Elkhound is a dog of medium size which 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 Elkhound'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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