FCI standard 268

Norwegian Elkhound Black.

FCI utilization: hound for elk hunting (268; working trial only in Sweden, Norway and Finland). FCI temperament: fearless, energetic and brave. NJFF (translated): fearless, bold and mentally strong, specialised as a bandhund (leash dog) on elk and deer hunts, but also used on reindeer and roe deer; suited when a particular animal is on the quota and in smaller terrain; also well suited to blood-tracking. Dyrebar (translated): the smallest of the elkhounds; strong mind for elk and bear hunting; especially good as a bandhund, bred to strengthen that trait. Wikipedia: used primarily on large game such as moose, deer and bear; bred for on-leash hunting; a sibling of the grey Norwegian Elkhound but smaller, more agile and not a barker..

Breed sets the odds. The parents set the dog. Every number here shows its source, its spread and how sure we are. Nothing on this page is a prediction about one dog.

19 / 17INHeightdogs 18.5, bitches 17.3. An ideal from the standard, not a range.

29–44LBWeight, all linesbreed dogs 28.7 to 44.1 lb; breed bitches 28.7 to 44.1 lb.

The body

What the breed is built like. Registry standards give an ideal, not a range.

Height at the shoulder

dogs 18.5 in (16.9 to 19.3) · bitches 17.3 in (16.9 to 19.3)

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 1999

Low and high span FCI, Wikipedia and the NJFF breed-wide range (43 to 49 cm = 16.9 to 19.3 in).

Weight

dogs 28.7 to 44.1 lb · bitches 28.7 to 44.1 lb

Breed clubNorges Jeger- og Fiskerforbund (NJFF)

Low and high span NJFF, Norwegian and English Wikipedia and Dyrebar (both sexes). No registry weight.

Coat

FCI: dense and rough, lying close to the body; short and smooth on head and front of legs, longer on chest, neck, back of legs and underside of tail; longish coarse topcoat over a soft, woolly black undercoat; shining black, a little white on chest and feet may be tolerated (white hairs, white on the tail and white socks are faults). Wikipedia: dense, short, thick, coarse double coat, solid black; brush two or three times a week; calls the fur hypoallergenic. Dyrebar rates it allergy-friendly: no.

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 1999

Wikipedia and Dyrebar disagree on allergy-friendliness; both stand.

Heat tolerance

3 of 5 · Dense, rough, close-lying double coat: longish coarse topcoat over a soft woolly black undercoat (FCI)

DerivedFederation Cynologique Internationale, 1999

Derived from the coat description (medium double = 3). No measured data.

The dog at home

What the breed asks of a day. The first thing most homes get wrong.

Exercise need

Dyrebar (translated): needs enough exercise and brain work, suits an apartment poorly, and can become frustrated if it does not get to hunt. NJFF: energetic as a puppy and young dog.

EditorialDyrebar.no

Editorial; no registry or Royal Kennel Club band.

Energy

NJFF (translated): energetic as a puppy and young dog, but with correct and sufficient training, mental stimulation and use it becomes a calm, harmonious family dog; has had an unjustified reputation as stubborn and self-willed; quick and contact-seeking. Dyrebar (translated) ratings: activity level 8/10, exercise level 10/10, hunting dog 10/10; may bark a good deal if left alone outdoors.

Breed clubNorges Jeger- og Fiskerforbund (NJFF)

Dyrebar ratings are editorial, not measured. Editorial views are shown beside the standard, labelled; where they disagree both stand (Chad, Oct 8 2026).

The work

What it was built to do in the field, and what a test or trial asks of it.

Role

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 1999

The leash-dog work (a short line to the handler) is what separates this breed from the grey Norwegian Elkhound, which is a loose, baying dog. Editorial views are shown beside the standard, labelled; where they disagree both stand (Chad, Oct 8 2026).

Primary game

NJFF (translated): elk (moose) and red deer (hjort); also reindeer and roe deer. Dyrebar (translated): elk and bear. Wikipedia: moose, deer and bear. FCI: elk.

Breed clubNorges Jeger- og Fiskerforbund (NJFF)

Editorial views are shown beside the standard, labelled; where they disagree both stand (Chad, Oct 8 2026).

Also used on

NJFF (translated): reindeer and roe deer, and blood-tracking (ettersøk) of wounded game. Wikipedia: an excellent search dog. Norwegian Wikipedia (translated): has been used on elk and bear and was widespread in Trysil and Østerdalen; the NJFF history adds that around 1900 it was a popular elk and bear dog, especially in eastern Norway.

Breed clubNorges Jeger- og Fiskerforbund (NJFF)

Editorial views are shown beside the standard, labelled; where they disagree both stand (Chad, Oct 8 2026).

Range

Close, by method: the dog works on a short line tied to the handler (Dyrebar, NJFF), so the working range is the length of the line.

EditorialDyrebar.no

Close is inferred from the leash-dog method the sources state; no source prints a range class.

Search pattern

Dyrebar (translated): a bandhund (also called ledhund) is a hunting dog tied to the hunter by a short line; the dog leads the hunter to the game without the game noticing, and when the game is near it marks silently by staring in the direction of the game. NJFF (translated): searches on the line using both ground scent and air scent (overvær), but because it works on a line mainly air scent to find and locate game. Wikipedia: picks up scent mostly from the air and jumps to higher ground to do it; calm and silent in contact with the game so the hunter can approach unseen and take a precise shot; rarely barks. FCI faults: "stressed, nervous, barking".

EditorialDyrebar.no

Dyrebar and Wikipedia are editorial; NJFF is a hunting federation. Barking is a listed fault in the FCI standard. Editorial views are shown beside the standard, labelled; where they disagree both stand (Chad, Oct 8 2026).

Field trial standard

FCI: working trial only for the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway, Finland).

Breed clubFederation Cynologique Internationale, 1999

The Norwegian trial rules were not read.

Cold water

4 of 5 · Dense double coat; Wikipedia calls it an all-weather hunting dog whose coat keeps out heavy autumn rain and cold

DerivedFederation Cynologique Internationale, 1999

Derived from coat plus the Scandinavian autumn hunting season. No measured data; no water-work source read.

How common the problems are

Evaluated dogs skew toward breeding stock; the numbers are still the best there are.

Most common disorders

Wikipedia (citing the Norwegian breeding programme): hereditary glaucoma and ataxia are watched; hip status must be known for breeding dogs, and over the last 10 years 83.2 percent were free from hip dysplasia type F; the breeding committee approves only matings where one parent is known free of hereditary glaucoma. Dyrebar (translated): no frequent diseases. NJFF and Dyrebar both give a life span of 10 to 12 years (a site figure, not a study).

EditorialWikipedia

Editorial; the Norwegian breeding programme document was not read.

What to ask a breeder for

The health clearances the breed’s own club and registry name. Reference only: what to ask for, never a statement about any dog’s health.

NorwayHip dysplasia status known for every dog used in breedingNorwegian breeding committee, as reported by Wikipedia · Wikipedia, Black Norwegian Elkhound (read via Internet Archive)
NorwayHereditary glaucoma: one parent known free before a mating is approved (genetic testing of both parents planned)Norwegian breeding committee, as reported by Wikipedia · Wikipedia, Black Norwegian Elkhound (read via Internet Archive)

How to read this page

Every value carries a label. Measured means peer-reviewed data on many dogs. Studied means peer-reviewed, smaller or indirect. Breed club means a club or registry states it. Editorial means expert opinion with no measurement behind it. Where two good sources disagree, both are shown and neither is averaged.

Published when the entry rests on the best information available from no fewer than three independent sources, checked by a second pass that did not write it. 4 sources on this page. Found something wrong? Tell us and the correction is logged with its date.

Also called: Norsk Elghund Sort, Black Elkhound, Svarthunden, Norwegian Elkhound Black

Every breed, read the same way.

The breed index grows as entries clear the standard. Gun dogs first.

All published breeds

Your norwegian elkhound black, on the record.

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