Attributes<\/span><\/strong><\/td>

Swedish Elkhound<\/mark><\/strong><\/td>

Norwegian Elkhound<\/strong><\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>

Good For First Time Owners<\/strong><\/td>

No<\/td>

No<\/td><\/tr>

Good Guard Dog<\/strong><\/td>

Yes<\/td>

Yes<\/td><\/tr>

Apartment Friendly<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>

With Enough Exercise<\/td>

With Enough Exercise<\/td><\/tr>

Good Family Dog<\/strong><\/td>

Yes<\/td>

Yes<\/td><\/tr>

Shedding<\/strong><\/td>

Moderate To High<\/td>

Moderate<\/td><\/tr>

Barking And Howling<\/strong><\/td>

High<\/td>

High <\/td><\/tr>

Height<\/strong><\/td>

20-26 inches (51-66 cm)<\/td>

19-21 inches (48-53 cm)<\/td><\/tr>

Average Life Expectancy<\/strong><\/td>

12-13 Years<\/td>

12-15 Years<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n

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Swedish Elkhound – Dog Breed Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
$\"\"$
Swedish Elkhound by Canarian<\/a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Swedish Elkhounds, as their name clearly says, originate from Sweden, but have been living all over Northern Scandinavia for centuries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the most ancient breeds, they’re also known as J\u00e4mthund after the J\u00e4mtland, a historical province in central Sweden. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like most dogs from the North, they were used to pull sleds, but their main purpose was hunting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This breed helped hunters go after the big game, such as elks, but also bears and lynx.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Appearance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is a spitz-type breed, rather similar to wolves in appearance. The body is medium-large, muscular with a compact rectangular frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As is typical for all northern breeds, Swedish Elkhound has a double coat which provides protection in a cold climate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The topcoat is semi-long and lies close to the body. The undercoat is thick, wooly, and soft. The topcoat color varies from light to dark grey, while the undercoat is usually cream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The head is broad and long with a longish muzzle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ears are erect and hairy, while the eyes are dark brown and oval-shaped with an intelligent expression. Swedish Elkhound’s tail is curled over its back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adult males grow up to 20-26 inches (52-65 cm) and weigh 55-78 pounds (25-35 kg).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fully grown females are about the similar height and weight as males.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Temperament<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Swedish Elkhound has a true heart of a hunter. They’re courageous, tenacious, hard-working, and very energetic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, they’re capable for much more than hunting. When properly trained, they can be used for almost any job. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They do have a certain level of stubbornness and some independence tendencies, so it’s important to establish leadership early on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, due to their intelligence and eagerness to please, they are not very hard to train.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Besides being hard-workers, this Swedish breed is also very affectionate, devoted and loyal to their family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They get along great with kids and are very patient and careful when around them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, due to their high prey drive, they may have to be supervised around other pets, especially if not properly socialized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Swedish Elkhounds are bursting with energy, so they need constant physical, as well as mental, stimulation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most likely, they will not be content cooped up inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Norwegian Elkhound – Dog Breed Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Norwegian Elkhound by Canarian<\/a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
This breed originated in the rough Norwegian country and its roots can be traced more than a thousand years back to the dogs Vikings used for hunting and guarding duties. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Legend says that these loyal dogs were even buried with their Viking masters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nowadays they still serve as reliable watchdogs and are sporadically used for hunting, while they’re becoming more and more popular as family dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Appearance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Norwegian Elkhounds are medium in size and are hardy and squarely built. They have a muscular and strong body typical for hard-working dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The body of the Norwegian Elkhound is covered with a water-resistant double coat<\/a> developed as a protection against the harsh Scandinavian weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The topcoat is relatively short, straight, coarse, and lies smooth. The undercoat is soft to touch, wooly, and very dense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ears, face, and legs are covered with hair that’s a bit shorter. The coat color is various shades of gray, and silver, with black hair tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The head is wedge-shaped and broad. The ears are high-set and stand erect, while the eyes are dark-brown. The tail curls over the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There’s not much difference between males and females when it comes to size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The adult dogs are 19-21 inches (45-55 cm) high and weigh 39-56 pounds (18-25 kg).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Temperament<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Norwegian Elkhound is a breed that likes to work hard and play hard. They’re fearless, energetic, and extremely loyal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While they’re known as calm and composed guardians, they also have a playful side to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They love to be around family and particularly enjoy time spent with kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Norwegian Elkhounds thrive on the attention they receive from the owners and appreciate any chance to join the family activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As they have loads of energy, these activities need to be frequent and challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While not aggressive, they are rather shy around strangers and will bark extensively if they feel threatened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They may not always be friendly towards other pets, especially smaller ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar to all breeds with similar geographic origins, they’re rather independent, so it’s necessary for them to go through early socialization and retraining to ensure obedience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Swedish Elkhound vs Norwegian Elkhound – What’s The Difference?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Swedish Elkhound<\/mark><\/strong><\/td> Norwegian Elkhound<\/mark><\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
$\"\"$ <\/td> $\"\"$ <\/td><\/tr>
Swedish Elkhound by Canarian<\/a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)<\/a><\/td> Norwegian Elkhound by Canarian<\/a> (CC BY-SA 4.0)<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Sharing so many common origins and backgrounds, it’s logical that Swedish Elkhound and Norwegian Elkhound are rather similar breeds in many aspects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The differences, however, start with appearance. The Swedes are higher and somewhat bulkier and have a tad darker coat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other than that the build is rather similar, as they’re both spitz-type dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both breeds require owners with some experience, but they can still be handled by committed first-time owners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, Norwegians are a bit easier to train as they have less of a natural stubbornness to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, Swedish Elkhound is slightly more intelligent and versatile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Norwegian Elkhound is more adaptable and is a better fit for apartment living, although both breeds are better suited for country life compared to living in the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the Norwegian breed also sheds more and demands more grooming effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Swedish and Norwegian Elkhounds have so much in common that they were for a long time considered as two variants of the same breed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This guarantees that you can hardly go wrong with either of these breeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other than personal preference, there’s not much else that could play the role in choosing between the two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fact that the Swedish breed is slightly better at hunting hardly plays a role nowadays, particularly when looking for a family dog. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, be prepared for some serious activity whichever you go for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both of these dogs are extremely energetic and need a lot of exercise both for the body and the mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Otherwise, these are friendly, playful, and loyal dogs that would make a wonderful new member of any family.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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Appearance<\/h3>\n\n\n\nNorwegian Elkhounds are medium in size and are hardy and squarely built. They have a muscular and strong body typical for hard-working dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n