Norwegian Elkhound, originated in Norway in the 11th century, was primarily used for hunting moose and was named after it. Although this dog is not large in size, it has a solid and sturdy body with a compact and proportionate structure. Its entire body is covered with thick and smooth gray fur, making it stand out. Overall, it gives the impression of being short and stout, a typical northern dog.
This dog is intelligent, friendly, brave, clever, and lively. It has sharp senses and is an independent and opinionated guard dog.
The history of this dog is very ancient. Archaeologists have found dog remains in Norway, which after analysis and diagnosis were found to be essentially the same as the Norwegian Elkhound. The fossils were found to have lived in the Paleolithic Age, indicating the existence of this dog as early as the Paleolithic Age.
Long, long ago, this dog was primarily used for hunting and accompanied Scandinavian hunters. Later they sailed with the Vikings and came to the mainland. It is a very brave hunting dog.
Whether as a companion to Nordic pirates or as a guard dog for ranchers, or as a herder to protect livestock from wolves or bears, it is like a perpetual hunter working for humans. Sometimes it also appears beside ascetic wanderers. Over the past six thousand years, the Norwegian quality of the Norwegian Elkhound has remained untainted, maintaining purity. It is a brave and fearless, friendly and tough dog, loyal to its owner, willing to dedicate itself to humans.
It is intelligent, lively, energetic, and brave, with endurance and perseverance. It can use its barking to corner many animals and was an excellent hunting dog in the past. Today, it is a friendly and noble watchdog in the family.
1. Heart disease
Dog heart disease is often associated with obesity and old age. When dogs have heart disease, they mainly show symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath. It is difficult to detect dog heart disease, and when owners notice it, the dog is already seriously ill.
2. Infectious diseases
Canine distemper and canine parvovirus are common fatal infectious diseases in dogs. Dogs that have not been vaccinated in a timely manner are prone to these two infectious diseases. Once they become ill, they will experience symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Kidney disease
When it comes to common diseases and symptoms in dogs, kidney disease cannot be ignored. The terrifying aspect of dog kidney disease lies in its unconscious process. By the time owners discover it, the damage to the dog's kidney cells is often more than 75%. The typical symptoms when dogs have problems are usually hematuria, abnormal urine color, and changes in urination habits.
4. Parasites
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and heartworms are common parasites found inside dogs. When dogs are infected with gastrointestinal parasites, the main symptoms are emaciation, lethargy, diarrhea, visible worms or worm eggs in the feces, and pale gums. Heartworm is a parasite that lives in the dog's heart. After dogs are infected, they may experience symptoms such as poor vitality, coughing, anemia, asthma, and ascites.
5. Canine pneumonia
Pneumonia is also a common disease in dogs, but canine pneumonia is a complication of other diseases. It often occurs in dogs with abnormalities in the upper respiratory tract system, bacterial infections, canine distemper infections, viral colds, impaired lung function, and heartworm infections. Coughing, nasal congestion, and increased body temperature are the main symptoms of canine pneumonia.
When raising Norwegian Elkhounds, it is important to bathe them regularly. Dogs usually have body odor, which can become stronger if they are not bathed regularly. In addition, poor hygiene can easily lead to the dog getting sick.
In the summer, the temperature is also relatively high. This breed of dog does not dissipate heat easily, so regular bathing and ventilation are important steps for their skin and body development.
1, Can't bathe frequently
When bathing a dog, of course, it should not be too frequent. The frequency of bathing a dog depends on the dog's hygiene. In hot weather in summer, one or two more baths can be taken, and in winter, one or two baths can be reduced. But overall, it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2, Grooming regularly
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. Seasonal shedding is more severe. If you want the fur to grow well, regular grooming is an important step. Pet owners can use special pet combs to help the dog clean its naturally shedding fur and avoid tangles. Grooming once in the morning and once in the evening for about five minutes each time is enough.
3, Sunbathing
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of a dog's fur. Besides making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. While sunbathing, pet owners can let the dog exercise a bit, which can help improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4, Deworming
Poor fur condition is actually closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrients from the dog's body, depriving it of nutrition. Therefore, deworming is essential. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming together. Deworming drugs can cause great harm to the dog's digestive system, so it is recommended to feed probiotics together on usual days to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5, Pay attention to diet
In order to make the dog have a beautiful coat, it is necessary to establish a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On one hand, feed the dog with nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a suitable and nutritious dog food that meets the dog's needs; on the other hand, you can feed the dog with an appropriate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolks, and vegetable oil, etc.