At a glance the quick version
The FCI standard gives no weight; Wikipedia states 16-20 kg for the breed.
Coat and looks how to spot one
dense, rough double coat
A compact, square-built spitz with pricked ears and a tightly curled tail. The coarse outer coat lies close over a soft, woolly undercoat, staying short on the head and front legs and growing fuller on the neck, chest, hindquarters and underside of the tail.12
Personality what they are like
Bold, spirited and full of energy in the forest, yet affectionate at home. It is a clever dog that enjoys close contact with its family and is generally good with children.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High. A working elk-hunting dog that needs long daily outings and does best with an active job such as hunting, hiking or tracking.12
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The weather-resistant double coat is easy to keep with a regular brush, done more often when the undercoat is shedding.12
Home where they are happiest
Built for Nordic forest and cold weather; suits an outdoorsy home with plenty of space and regular time in nature.1
Company who they like around
A people-oriented dog that likes physical closeness with its family.2
The story where it all began
Black spitz dogs used for elk hunting in the Norway-Sweden border forests were described by the naturalist Llewelyn Lloyd as early as 1828. The black elkhound has been kept as a distinct breed since the mid-1800s and remains a working hunting dog, uncommon in Norway and very rare elsewhere.2
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
'Elghund' is Norwegian for elk dog, which in Europe means the animal North Americans call a moose.2
- 2
The earliest written description dates from 1828, when a naturalist noted two black hunting dogs with upright ears and curled tails.2
- 3
It is smaller than its grey cousin, with males ideally standing about 47 cm at the shoulder.1
- 4
Under the FCI standard, a hunting trial is part of the breed's requirements only in the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden and Finland.1
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 268 (Norwegian Elkhound Black), Group 5 (Spitz and primitive types), Section 2 Nordic Hunting Dogs; standard dated 09.08.1999, country of origin Norway. Working trial required only in the Nordic countries.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Black Norwegian Elkhound. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- BrushingDaily during heavy sheddingevery 3 days
- Double coats insulate against cold and heat, so shaving is not recommended
- Bathevery 10 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year
You might also like
Norwegian Elkhound
Jämthund
Karelian Bear DogLike what we are building? Buy us a coffee.
The breed atlas is free for everyone, with a source on every fact, and it will never show ads. If it helped you, a small tip keeps the research going. Any amount is lovely, and no is a perfectly fine answer too.
Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard No. 268, Norwegian Elkhound Black fci.beused for recognition, height, coat, colour, temperament, use
- Black Norwegian Elkhound, Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, history, weight, temperament, fun facts
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.