Norwegian Elkhound - the Moose Dog

The Norwegian Elkhound is the national dog of Norway, and is used to hunt large game, such as wolf, bear and moose. The meaning of the direct translation of the Norwegian name "Elghund", means Moose Dog, and the term Elkhound is actually a mistranslation because it does not hunt like a hound dog (as of American terms), but it's goal is to hold the moose at bay while the hunters go into position to shoot it.



The dog is of ancient origin, and has been actively used in hunting since the beginning of the stone-age. The Elkhounds are very loyal to its masters, and has a very loud bark that also makes it suitable as a guard-dog. As they are bred for hunting, they have a very strong drive and are particularly good tracking dogs.

Norwegian Elkhound has a thick coat which makes it very suitable for the cold climate in Scandinavia and keep them warm in very low temperatures.