Black Norwegian Elkhound

The Black Norwegian Elkhound (Norsk Elghund Sort) is a modern variant of the Grey Norwegian Elkhound. It is a small Spitz dog breed and is very rare outside the Nordic countries of Scandinavia. It is bred for the same purpose as the Grey Norwegian Elkhound but is smaller, more agile, and easier to recognize in the snow. Historically, it is a much "younger" breed, first bred in Norway during the early 1800s.

The AKC breed name "Elkhound," is a direct translation from its original Norwegian name "Elghund," meaning "moose dog". In Norwegian, "elg" means "moose", and "hund" means "dog".

Black Norwegian Elkhound Appearance

The Black Norwegian Elkhound is a typical Spitz dog breed with a short compact body, dark eyes, ears standing straight up, and a curly tail carried over the back. It has a rich coat that does not stand out from the body. This is an all-weather hunting dog and the coat is very important. It must be able to keep out the heavy autumn rain in Scandinavia and endure the cold weather, which it does very well.

It has a dense, short, thick, course, double coat and is solid black. The dog stands about 46-51 centimeters (18"-20") - 47 cm (+3/-4) for males and 44 cm (+3/-4) for females - and weighs about 18 kilograms (40 lbs).

Black Norwegian Elkhound Temperament

The Black Norwegian Elkhound is a very robust and hardy dog: very alert and full of power and pride. It is more strong-minded than the Grey Elkhound, and consequently needs a firm master as its leader. It is easy to train, but always needs something to do to be happy. It needs continuous exercise and activity in concert with its superb intelligence to do well. It is an excellent hunting dog and loves to be in the forest.

Black Norwegian Elkhound Hunting

The Black Elhound is used in all types of hunts but excels best in hunting large game such as elk, moose and bear. It is very good at tracking and makes an excellent guard dog. It is a good family dog but can sometimes be a bit contentious in relations with other dogs. The Elkhound has been an important dog for farmers in Scandinavia for hundreds of years.