Norwegian Elkhound

[Elkie1]

Was interested in a Elkie for my 2nd dog but have crossed them off the list cos of their tendency to bark

I will have to admire pics!

Unfortunantly that is one of their bad traits as the elkhound barks to alert the hunter to the prey (Elk, Bear, Deer) - it is built into them - . The elkhound is quite an intelligent dog and you can teach the elkhound not to bark. Infact, mine only bark at the postman or anyone coming into the property who should not be their.

Although quiet most of the time at home, If there is a reason to bark they will bark.

funny though, two of mine never bark at shows and are probably the most quiet elkies at any show however, their mother barks at shows all the time.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Elkie1

[mersonmalinois]

12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be)[/b]

Health testing is not compulsory for Elkhounds. There are only about three breeders that carry out any health tests. Elkhounds should be tested for HD, have their eyes tested and also their kidneys. There is no known test for Familian Renal problems but Elkhounds can hace their kidneys tested, preferably once a year to ensure that there is not any kidney problems. It is very hard to give an idea on what health testing results should be when only three, maybe 4 breeders actually carry out testing. Obviously, the lower the hip scores the better. I prefer to work on a maximum of 1:1. A few breeders say that they have never had any problems but how do you know if the dogs have not been tested and also why wait until there is a problem?

This statement is a bit harsh don't you think? Where is the proof that only 3 maybe 4 breeders do testing?

with this statement, you are publicly attacking other fellow elkhound breeders - This is a public forum

Are you serious elkie1? Norskgra didn't attack anyone. She was letting people know that some breeders don't test and that is a VERY important point to share with prospective puppy buyers/Elkhound fanciers. Telling the truth isn't "harsh".

I think Norskgra should be thanked for sharing this information.

We'll in that case, maybe she should have wrote "To my knowledge"

That's obvious, isn't it? I always appreciate those who know a breed well sharing about health and what testings should be done for their breed. It lets buyers know to be informed and to make wise decisions when choosing a breeder/puppy.

I don't understand why you are jumping her in this thread elkie1. How about embracing your fellow breeder for her dedication to health instead of scolding her for no reason? I don't understand why you are doing that.

[Elkie1]

12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be)[/b]

Health testing is not compulsory for Elkhounds. There are only about three breeders that carry out any health tests. Elkhounds should be tested for HD, have their eyes tested and also their kidneys. There is no known test for Familian Renal problems but Elkhounds can hace their kidneys tested, preferably once a year to ensure that there is not any kidney problems. It is very hard to give an idea on what health testing results should be when only three, maybe 4 breeders actually carry out testing. Obviously, the lower the hip scores the better. I prefer to work on a maximum of 1:1. A few breeders say that they have never had any problems but how do you know if the dogs have not been tested and also why wait until there is a problem?

This statement is a bit harsh don't you think? Where is the proof that only 3 maybe 4 breeders do testing?

with this statement, you are publicly attacking other fellow elkhound breeders - This is a public forum

Are you serious elkie1? Norskgra didn't attack anyone. She was letting people know that some breeders don't test and that is a VERY important point to share with prospective puppy buyers/Elkhound fanciers. Telling the truth isn't "harsh".

I think Norskgra should be thanked for sharing this information.

We'll in that case, maybe she should have wrote "To my knowledge"

That's obvious, isn't it? I always appreciate those who know a breed well sharing about health and what testings should be done for their breed. It lets buyers know to be informed and to make wise decisions when choosing a breeder/puppy.

I don't understand why you are jumping her in this thread elkie1. How about embracing your fellow breeder for her dedication to health instead of scolding her for no reason? I don't understand why you are doing that.

Just so you know, I am fine with the way she has it now. Sometimes you may think your post is fine, but you need to read over it to see if maybe it is going to be taken the wrong way by some people. Everyone interprates things differently to others. - ETA I was not the only one who felt is was an attack on other elkhound breeders.

I am fine with the way it is rewritten quoted below.

Health testing is not compulsory for Elkhounds. From discussions I have had with other breeders, there are only about three breeders that carry out any health tests. Elkhounds should be tested for HD, have their eyes tested and also their kidneys. There is no known test for Familian Renal problems but Elkhounds can hace their kidneys tested, preferably once a year to ensure that there is not any kidney problems. It is very hard to give an idea on what health testing results should be when only three, maybe 4 breeders actually carry out testing. Obviously, the lower the hip scores the better. I prefer to work on a maximum of 1:1.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Elkie1

[Norskgra]

Removed.

Edited November 18, 2009 by Norskgra

[mersonmalinois]

Elkie1, what health checks have you done on your dogs? How long have you been breeding? Just curious as you seem like a complete novice by the way you come across in many threads. I hope I am wrong and that you do health check your dogs and agree that health checks are important before breeding any dog.

[Elkie1]

Elkie1, what health checks have you done on your dogs? How long have you been breeding? Just curious as you seem like a complete novice by the way you come across in many threads. I hope I am wrong and that you do health check your dogs and agree that health checks are important before breeding any dog.

I do health check my dogs before breeding and I do think it is important.

I will not breed a dog/bitch that is unfit for breeding in any way, shap or form.

Edited November 17, 2009 by Elkie1

[mersonmalinois]

Elkie1, what health checks have you done on your dogs? How long have you been breeding? Just curious as you seem like a complete novice by the way you come across in many threads. I hope I am wrong and that you do health check your dogs and agree that health checks are important before breeding any dog.

I do health check my dogs before breeding and I do think it is important.

Excellent! Glad to know you are one of the NE breeders in Oz who take the health of the breed seriously. What tests do you do on your dogs? In my breed we do hips, elbows, eyes and often cardiac & thyroid. What do you feel is important for your breed?

eta: Oh yeah, how long have you been breeding?

Edited November 17, 2009 by mersonmalinois

[Odin-Genie]

Another thing Norwegian Elkhounds can suffer from is sebaceous cysts. Luckily only one of mine has had one, and was easy to remove.

In experience, some elkhound can be allergice to different foods. an elkhound I know is allergice to beef products and Odin-Genie, Odin is allergice to Chicken products.

Actually, Odin is now perfectly fine with chicken. But he can't digest beef and pork. I give him lamb bones.

[Odin-Genie]

What are they like with other dogs?

Are they gregarious or do they have a tendency to ignore them?

From personal experience,

My sister has a cross bred dog who gets along with all my elkies. My recent little puppy (5 months of age) loves nothing better then to play with all his puppy friends in sweepstakes

We also have a bitch, socialised the same way all our elkies have been but since she had a urine infection as a young puppy, around the time when a dog lashed out at her and resulted in her splitting her ear open, she will not get along with anyother dog now. She is happiest on her own. But she loves greeting people in the comfort of her own enviroment.

From purely personal experience my elkhound is excellent with other dogs. He wrestles and chases dogs that want to play, leaves those alone who don't want to play. Most people in the dog park comment on his good doggy manners. He is very gentle with puppies and smaller dogs and often sits down in front of them to make them comfortable, but at the same time he is never submissive. If any dog gets too boistrous, he just walks away. He has the best possible temperament I could have asked for.

[Odin-Genie]

Sigh... Just another breed to add to my wish list...

Who would they not be suited to?

They would not be suitable to people who are not prepared to give them some training. Personally, I would be hesitant in selling a male to an elderly person, purely because the males can be very head strong as well as physically strong.

I would add that anyone not willing to commit to regularly exercising their dogs for at least one hour a day should not get an elky. They are a high energy breed.

[Odin-Genie]

Was interested in a Elkie for my 2nd dog but have crossed them off the list cos of their tendency to bark

I will have to admire pics!

Ours only bark if someone is around the house.

I second Norskgra's comment. My elky only barks if there is a reason. And his barking never last long. I've never had a problem with his barking.

[Odin-Genie]

I am not going to get into a discussion about breeding since I know nothing about it. However, I would like to add that I got my elkhound from Elkie1 and she has been the most wonderful breeder I have come across. She provided me with all the info, kept in touch with regualr updates before I picked up Odin, continued to help and support later when I had any questions. I did not receive the same level of help from my other dog's breeder who has been breeding and showing for a very long time.

[dee lee]

I am not going to get into a discussion about breeding since I know nothing about it. However, I would like to add that I got my elkhound from Elkie1 and she has been the most wonderful breeder I have come across. She provided me with all the info, kept in touch with regualr updates before I picked up Odin, continued to help and support later when I had any questions. I did not receive the same level of help from my other dog's breeder who has been breeding and showing for a very long time.

Oooh, Elkie1- can I have one of your Elkies?

I am supposed to have narrowed down my breed choice butI have to admit I love the look of Elkies.

[Ratty500]

Removed - Not worth it.

Agreed

as a elkhound breeder myself i didn't feel attacked by what norskgra had written.

How's The Move going Norskgra Settling in well??

Edited November 18, 2009 by Ratty500

[Aziah]

Oh FFS no one said anyone was a bad breeder

Getting all defensive at someone who's suggested that health testing is important (despite the fact it's not required to register a litter) only suggests to me that those getting their knickers in a knot don't bother health testing their own dogs!

[Odin-Genie]

I am supposed to have narrowed down my breed choice butI have to admit I love the look of Elkies.

If you do get an elky we could have an elky meet since you are in Sydney too!!!

Edited November 18, 2009 by Odin-Genie

[Norskgra]

Thanks everyone for the support. I really appreciate it, especially when I haven't met some of you.

Removed - Not worth it.

Agreed

as a elkhound breeder myself i didn't feel attacked by what norskgra had written.

How's The Move going Norskgra Settling in well??

Thanks Ratty500. The move has gone well. We will have another trip to Sydney soon to collect the last of our stuff. We are really enjoying ourselves.

Edited November 18, 2009 by Norskgra

[Ratty500]

Thanks everyone for the support. I really appreciate it.

Removed - Not worth it.

Agreed

as a elkhound breeder myself i didn't feel attacked by what norskgra had written.

How's The Move going Norskgra Settling in well??

Thanks Ratty500. The move has gone well. We will have another trip to Sydney soon to collect the last of our stuff. We are really enjoying ourselves.

Thats great

[dee lee]

I am supposed to have narrowed down my breed choice butI have to admit I love the look of Elkies.

If you do get an elky we could have an elky meet since you are in Sydney too!!!

Dont tempt me! I am being such a fickle tart in my breed choosing!

I especially like the fact that they have less fur than most spitz breeds (who I am a sucker for ).

My main concern is that everyone keeps emphasising the huge amount of exercise they need.

My last dog was a high energy crossbreed who, when she was a pup, I needed to walk a minimum of an hour a day. She could go for a 40 min run with my OH, crash for about half an hour and want to go again! ;) We had to limit how often she did that because she just got fitter!

Is that the kind of energy level you guys are talking about? Or is it worse?

Also what are they like with kids? Are they affectionate? Very dominant?

(oh oh, here I go again... )

[Elkie1]

Elkie1, what health checks have you done on your dogs? How long have you been breeding? Just curious as you seem like a complete novice by the way you come across in many threads. I hope I am wrong and that you do health check your dogs and agree that health checks are important before breeding any dog.

I do health check my dogs before breeding and I do think it is important.

Excellent! Glad to know you are one of the NE breeders in Oz who take the health of the breed seriously. What tests do you do on your dogs? In my breed we do hips, elbows, eyes and often cardiac & thyroid. What do you feel is important for your breed?

eta: Oh yeah, how long have you been breeding?

All our elkhounds have a yearly all round thorough checkup by the vet, they also get a health check before we plan on going ahead with any mating. There hips are examined - not tested , their eyes, their heart rate ( as one of our bitches came from a litter which had a puppy born with a heart murmer), breathing but mostly basic routine health checks. But if requiered would no doubt do any further testing on our dogs if it was in the best intetest for them. We have a very close relationship with our vet and they personally know our dogs very well. They have given all our dogs the all clear in health.

As for how many years I have been breeding.

I have owned Norwegian Elkhound for 5 years now. done lots of research on the breed before we got our first. Was very selective with our second. We started show 5 years ago and was told to breed our bitch at 18 months of age with a certain dog. I believe the bitch was not raeady to be mated and planed for her to be mated at 2 years of age. The dog we planed on using first off became in my thought an undesirable match to her and so we used another dog. We have had three litters and started breeding elkhounds in 2007. Odin-Genie owns one of my puppies from the first litter,we own the only bitch, one went to Victoria and the last puppy went to another member of Odin-Genies family.

2nd litter, we used the dog we didn't use for the first mating to a differend bitch and had 5 beuftiful puppies. 2 oh which went to the in-laws of Rachelbuck. one of which went to a young boy with autisum.

3rd litter we had 6 puppies and lost two. the vet was in contact with us all through the development of the litter if we were to loos a third, all dead puppies would have went away for test. At that time, a virus was going around my area killing whole litters of puppies. Fortunatly, the remaning 4 survived. We show the two boys and the two girls went to Victoria.

All puppies are health checked (basic all over vet check - unless the vet requiers further evaluation) within 24 hours of birth and again at 6 weeks before we take any deposits. If the puppy does not seem well or moving as one should, we will imediantly have the vet do a check up on the puppy. We will never sell a puppy we don't think is healthy to a prospective buyer as I would not want to receive an ill puppy myself.

All puppies we have had are all very healthy and doing very well (from last contacts with owners) I have always told the new owners of our puppies if there is something wrong, we'd like to know. if they have a question don't hesitate to ring or email or even ask. I love nothing better then to know that the puppies we have produced are doing fine in which they are. (from last contacts with owners)

ETA - The dog we are using next for stud had his kidneys tested in October ths year and came back fine.

Edited November 19, 2009 by Elkie1