Grooming a Norwegian Elkhound

Hair type: The weather-resistant, double coat of a Norwegian Elkhound is thick and hard. The coat is gray with black tips and a lighter undercoat and undersides with a black muzzle, ears, and tip of the tail. Norwegian Elkhound puppies are born black and turn grey when they are about a week old as their coat develops.

Daily coat care: The hard, coarse, weatherproof coat is easy to groom. It should be brushed regularly using a slicker brush and a comb with double metal teeth, with extra care given while the dog is shedding its dense undercoat. When the dog is shedding, the dead hair clings to the new hair. The dead hair should be removed with a rubber brush or a wooden comb with a double row of metal teeth. Brushes and combs just for this purpose are sold in pet stores. Bathe only when necessary, as it removes the natural oils in the skin. Like other Arctic dogs, they do not have the usual smell of dog hair. The coat is both water and dirt resistant. This breed is a seasonally heavy shedder.

Recommended groom frequency: Your Norwegian Elkhound should receive a professional grooming every 6-8 weeks.

At Petmania Grooming Studios we have a full range of treatments available for your Norwegian Elkhound. If you get puppy, we recommend our Puppy’s First Visit at around four months, once your puppy has received all his vaccinations.

Diet

Depending on the size and age of your Norwegian Elkhound, you will need to feed between 197g and 259g of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.

Our pet advisors in-store can help you find the most appropriate food for your dog, while you can find out more about the different dog food brands we stock here.

Activity Level

This is an active breed which needs lot of exercise. Daily long walks are vital for physical and mental well being of your Elkhound and they should be supplemented with jogging or running in a secured area regularly. Lack of exercise can lead to your dog developing behaviour problems.

Where to get a Norwegian Elkhound

There are lots of places offering dogs or puppies for sale in Ireland, but we would always ask that you consider adopting a dog first. Our animal rescue partners have 100’s of rescue dogs and puppies seeking a forever home and would be delighted to introduce you to them.

However, if a rescue dog is not for you, we do recommend that you choose a registered breeder and seek Irish Kennel Club registration papers which will confirm that the dog has been bred to their strict code of ethics.