History

After a long journey through history, the Norwegian Elkhound found its way into the American Kennel Club hound group and utility ring. A study of its perseverance as a utilitarian for the peoples of Scandinavia is the key to the understanding of its form and function.

As the glaciers that covered Scandinavia during the Ice Age began to recede, people followed the slowly developing flora and fauna that replaced the icy terrain. These migratory people, referred to as Veidefolket, lived off the valleys and waters of this rugged land that was rich with game and fish. Archaeological excavations have uncovered Stone Age tools and weapons, as well as evidence of wild dogs referred to as Torvmosehund, thought to be the forerunners of the Norwegian Gray Elkhound breed.

A burial site dating ca. 5,000-4,000 B.C. at Vistehulden, Norway, held the remains of two dogs with skeletal features similar to present-day Elkhounds. Pottery with hunting scenes in bas relief, unearthed from a grave at Valloby, leave little doubt that Elkhound-like dogs existed in Norway before the time of Christ.

The first benched dog show in Norway was held in 1877, with 124 hunting dogs entered, including 15 Elkhounds. The second show was held in 1880 with an entry of 180, including 28 Elkhounds. Both of these shows were sponsored by the Norwegian hunting and fishing club. The Norsk Dyrehundklub was established by a group of Norwegian hunters and sportsmen in 1899. The first show where classes were divided for the Gray Elkhound and the Black Elkhound was in 1900. There are several other Elkhound breeds in northern Europe and Scandinavia recognized as elg [hereafter referred to as moose, its North American counterpart] and bear dogs. These spitz-type dogs are used to hunt large game. Examples are the Swedish Jamthund and the White Elkhound. The Jamthund, a taller, rangier version of the Gray Elkhound, developed in much the same way. Its head and expression, accentuated by white markings on the muzzle, differ considerably. The White Elkhound, having a clear white coat, was approved by the Swedish Kennel Club in 1993. It tends to be larger than the Gray and is built more like the Jamthund.

With the increase in the sport of showing dogs, a standard of excellence was needed to insure uniformity of judging and to guide breeders in producing higher quality dogs. The Norsk Dyrehundklub completed the breed standard for the Elkhound in 1906. Breed standards were written for other Elkhound breeds, as well, i.e., Swedish Jamthund, Karelian (Finnish) Bear Dog, and East and West Siberian (Ostsibirsk) Laika, Svart Elghund, Swedish White Elkhound, and Halleforshund, by the kennel clubs of their countries of origin.

Breed standards are written to preserve the breeds, not to change them. The Gray Elkhound standard describes what the quality Gray Elkhound looked like in 1906, what it should look like today, and how it should look in the future. Norway has maintained emphasis on the hunting ability of the Gray Elkhound as well as its breed conformation. Norwegian Elkhounds bred and shown in the United States should be as similar as possible to the original Gray Elkhound that was bred and utilized for hunting bear and moose in Norway, not an Americanized version of its counterpart.

Three Elkhounds were registered in the AKC studbook in 1913. Lady Helga, an Elkhound bitch, is on record as the first Elkhound shown in the USA at a 1913 Los Angeles show. Elkhounds were first shown at Westminster in 1924, competing in the miscellaneous class.

In 1930, a group of Elkhound fanciers met informally to discuss the formation of a parent club. The Norwegian Elkhound Club of America was formally admitted to the American Kennel Club in November of 1935. The Norwegian standard was accepted as the official standard to be used by breeders in the USA and in compliance with AKC events. A continuing effort has been made by the NEAA to preserve the Elkhound as it came down through history, a comrade, guardian and hunter, much like its ancestors that roamed the rugged, ice-covered lands of Scandinavia.