Norwegian Elkhound

The breed falls under the mitochondrial DNA sub-clade referred to as d1 that is only found in northern Scandinavia. It is the result of a female wolf-male dog hybridization that occurred post-domestication.{{cite journal|doi=10.1093/molbev/msp195|pmid=19723671|title=MtDNA Data Indicate a Single Origin for Dogs South of Yangtze River, Less Than 16,300 Years Ago, from Numerous Wolves|journal=Molecular Biology and Evolution|volume=26|issue=12|pages=2849–64|year=2009|last1=Pang|first1=J.-F.|last2=Kluetsch|first2=C.|last3=Zou|first3=X.-J.|last4=Zhang|first4=A.-b.|last5=Luo|first5=L.-Y.|last6=Angleby|first6=H.|last7=Ardalan|first7=A.|last8=Ekstrom|first8=C.|last9=Skollermo|first9=A.|last10=Lundeberg|first10=J.|last11=Matsumura|first11=S.|last12=Leitner|first12=T.|last13=Zhang|first13=Y.-P.|last14=Savolainen|first14=P.|pmc=2775109}}{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.fsigen.2015.06.014|title=Complete mitochondrial genome database and standardized classification system for Canis lupus familiaris|journal=Forensic Science International: Genetics|volume=19|pages=123–129|year=2015|last1=Duleba|first1=Anna|last2=Skonieczna|first2=Katarzyna|last3=Bogdanowicz|first3=Wiesław|last4=Malyarchuk|first4=Boris|last5=Grzybowski|first5=Tomasz|pmid=26218982}} Subclade d1 originated "at most 480–3,000 years ago" and includes all Sami-related breeds: Finnish Lapphund, Swedish Lapphund, Lapponian Herder, Jämthund, Norwegian Elkhound and Hällefors Elkhound. The maternal wolf sequence that contributed to these breeds has not been matched across Eurasia{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.jveb.2010.08.035|title=Regional occurrence, high frequency, but low diversity of mitochondrial dna haplogroup d1 suggests a recent dog-wolf hybridization in Scandinavia|journal=Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research|volume=6|pages=100–3|year=2011|last1=Klütsch|first1=C.F.C.|last2=Savolainen|first2=Peter|issue=1|pmc=}}''

File:Norwegian Elkhound 1.jpg

According to The Kennel Club breed standard ideally the dog stands about {{convert|19.5|-|20.5|in|cm}} high and weighs up to {{convert|23|kg|lb}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/standard.aspx?id=1016|publisher=The Kennel Club|access-date=3 June 2015|title=Breed standard|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135950/http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/standard.aspx?id=1016|url-status=dead}} Its grey, white, and black coat is made up of two layers: an underlying dense smooth coat ranging from black at the muzzle, ears, and tip of its tail to silvery grey on its legs, tail, and underbody and an overlying black-tipped protective guard coat. An ideal Elkhound has a tightly curled tail. The Elkhound is a medium-sized dog and extremely hardy.

Image:Norwegian elkhound head.jpg

Norwegian Elkhounds are bred for hunting large game, such as wolf, bear and moose. Although the breed is strong and hardy, the dogs typically have an inseparable bond with their masters and are quite loyal. All Elkhounds have a sharp loud bark which makes them suitable as watchdogs.

Norwegian Elkhounds are loyal to their "pack" and make excellent family dogs given proper attention. They are bold, playful, independent, alert, extremely intelligent, and, at times, a bit boisterous. They rank 36th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, being of above average working/obedience intelligence.

Image:Norwegian Elkhound in California.jpg]]

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 12.9 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.{{cite journal | last=McMillan | first=Kirsten M. | last2=Bielby | first2=Jon | last3=Williams | first3=Carys L. | last4=Upjohn | first4=Melissa M. | last5=Casey | first5=Rachel A. | last6=Christley | first6=Robert M. | title=Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death | journal=Scientific Reports | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=14 | issue=1 | date=2024-02-01 | issn=2045-2322 | doi=10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w | page=| pmc=10834484 }}

Norwegian Elkhounds are prone to an inherited abnormality that causes primary renal glucosuria via reducing the functional capacity of the tubular epithelial cells to reabsorb glucose; this disorder further predisposes them to lower urinary tract bacterial infections.{{Cite book |last=Littman |first=Meryl |title=BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Nephrology and Urology |publisher=British Small Animal Veterinary Association |date=January 2017 |edition=3rd |chapter=Ch14 - Genetic basis for urinary tract diseases}}

Norwegian Elkhounds are also predisposed to dioestrous & gestational diabetes, progesterone-related forms of diabetes mellitus.Fall, Tove. Characterisation of diabetes mellitus in dogs. Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2009

A form of inherited chondrodysplasia has been described in the Norwegian Elkhound since the 1980s. Symptoms include curvature of the forelimbs, carpal valgus, retarded ossification, and a shortening of the vertebral body. Researchers from Finland identified the cause to be a recessive nonsense mutation in the ITGA10 gene.{{cite journal | last=Kyöstilä | first=Kaisa | last2=Lappalainen | first2=Anu K. | last3=Lohi | first3=Hannes | title=Canine Chondrodysplasia Caused by a Truncating Mutation in Collagen-Binding Integrin Alpha Subunit 10 | journal=PLoS ONE | publisher=Public Library of Science (PLoS) | volume=8 | issue=9 | date=2013-09-25 | issn=1932-6203 | doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0075621 | doi-access=free | page=e75621}}

The Norwegian Elkhound is one of the more commonly affected breeds for primary open angle glaucoma. An autosomal recessive mutation in the ADAMTS10 gene is responsible for the condition in the breed.{{cite book |author1-first=James A.C. |author1-last=Oliver |author2-first=Cathryn S. |author2-last=Mellersh | editor1-first=Barbara | editor1-last=Cooper | editor2-first=Elizabeth |editor2-last=Mullineaux |editor3-first=Lynn | editor3-last=Turner |title=BSAVA Textbook of Veterinary Nursing |date=2020 |publisher=British Small Animal Veterinary Association |isbn=978-1-910-44339-2 |edition=Sixth|chapter=Genetics| page=131}}

The Norwegian Elkhound has its origins in Sweden where it has always been highly prized as a hunting dog. It is 98% genetical identical to the Jämthund and share the same roots being from Jämtland and Norrland (Northern Sweden). It was rarely seen or bred outside of Norway until its appearance in England in the 19th century.{{Cite book|title=Den norske hundeboka|last=Antonsen|first=Ellinor|publisher=Ulvund tekst & forlag|year=1995|isbn=8291132054|location=Sunndalsøra|pages=170|language=no}} It was officially recognized by The Kennel Club in 1901.

• President Herbert Hoover's "Weegie"

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• List of dog breeds
• Tahltan Bear Dog (extinct)
• Norwegian Lundehund
• Old Norwegian sheep
• Icelandic goat
• Norwegian sheep landrace
• Norwegian chicken landrace
• Norwegian forest cat
• Black Norwegian Elkhound

;Citations

{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography

• Lynch, Deborah and Jenny Madeoy. 2004 "Man's best research guide: Breeds hold key to shared ailments." presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science by Deborah Lynch of the Canine Studies Institute in Aurora, Ohio and Jenny Madeoy of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Centre in Seattle. [http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=209245]
• Lynch, Deborah and Jenny Madeoy. 2004a "How top dogs took lead 7,000 years ago." presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference in Seattle by Deborah Lynch of the Canine Studies Institute in Aurora, Ohio and Jenny Madeoy of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Centre in Seattle. [http://www.ladlass.com/intel/archives/2004_02.html]

• Books
• Norwegian Elkhound (Comprehensive Owner's Guide), 2005. {{ISBN|978-1-59378-306-8}}
• Norwegian Elkhounds by Anna Katherine Nicholas. TFH, 1997. {{ISBN|978-0-7938-2319-2}}
• The Norwegian Elkhound (Pure Bred) by Nina P. Ross, PhD. Doral, 1995. {{ISBN|978-0-944875-39-1}}
• The Elkhound in the British Isles by Anne Roslin-Williams. Witherby & Co., 1993. {{ISBN|1-85609-050-7}}
• My 60 Years with Norwegian Elkhounds by Olav P. Campbell, 1988.
• The New Complete Norwegian Elkhound, revised edition, by Olav Wallo. Howell, 1987.
• Norwegian Elkhounds by Anna Katherine Nicholas. TFH, 1983.
• Great Gray Dogs: The Norwegian Elkhound Factbook, 2nd edition. Great Gray Dogs, 1980.
• Your Norwegian Elkhound by Helen E. Franciose and Nancy C. Swanson. Denlinger, 1974.
• How to Raise and Train a Norwegian Elkhound by Glenna Clark Crafts. TFH, 1973. Reprint of the 1964 book with a different cover.
• Magazine Articles
• Dearth, Kim D.R. "The Norwegian Elkhound" Dog World September 1999, Vol. 84 Issue 9, p12-17.
• "Dog of the Vikings" Dog Fancy. April 1998.
• "Norwegian Elkhound". Dog World. July 1997, Vol. 82 Issue 7. p86.
• "Regional occurrence, high frequency but low diversity of mitochondrial DNA haplogroup d1 suggests a recent dog-wolf hybridization in Scandinavia". Klütsch CFC, Seppälä EH, Lohi H, Fall T, Hedhammar Å, Uhlén M, Savolainen P 2010 Animal Genetics, online early.

• [https://neaa.net/ Norwegian Elkhound Association of America]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130404012149/http://www.necgb.co.uk/ Norwegian Elkhound Club of Great Britain]

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