Breed guide
Norwegian Elkhound
Viking's hunting dog. Bold, loyal, silver-coated. Hardy and long-lived. Heavy shedder — don't shave the double coat.
AKC Rank
#99
Size
medium (48-55 lbs)
Life Expectancy
12-15 yrs
Activity
high
Feeding a Norwegian Elkhound
Scandinavian moose hunter. ~1,000-1,300 kcal/day. Hardy breed with efficient metabolism.
Key nutrients
- •omega-3
- •high-quality protein
Portion notes: Two meals daily. Watch weight — efficient metabolism.
Fresh food picks for Norwegian Elkhounds
Our recommended fresh-food subscriptions for medium dogs.
The Farmer's Dog
Fresh, human-grade food portioned for your dog
- •Human-grade fresh food
- •Portioned per dog
- •Vet-developed recipes
- •50% off first box
Ollie
Fresh food with both cooked and baked recipes
- •Fresh and baked recipes
- •Turkey, beef, lamb, chicken proteins
- •Custom portions
- •60% off first box
Nom Nom
Restaurant-quality fresh food with microbiome testing
- •Pre-portioned pouches
- •Vet-formulated
- •Microbiome testing available
- •50% off first order
Spot & Tango
Fresh or UnKibble — whole-food nutrition, your choice
- •Fresh or UnKibble options
- •Human-grade ingredients
- •Shelf-stable storage option
- •50% off first order
First-year cost
What a Norwegian Elkhound actually costs year one
Breed-specific estimate based on size, health concerns, and grooming needs. Excludes purchase/adoption fees (highly variable).
First-year total
$3,245-$7,090
Ongoing years run $2,450-$5,330 (no gear + training one-times).
Food (year one)
Fresh food subscription
$1,450-$2,400
Gear (one-time)
Crate, bed, harness, bowls, toys
$320-$460
Vet care
Wellness + breed-specific
$600-$1,250
Grooming
high grooming needs
$400-$1,200
Training
Puppy class + supplies
$225-$750
Supplements
Breed-matched, optional
$0-$480
Other first-year
Vaccines, neuter, DNA test
$250-$550
Pet insurance (estimate)
Not included above — shown for planning. Breed-risk adjusted.
$644-$1,127/yr
Estimates based on US market averages for medium dogs. Your costs will vary with lifestyle and region.
Supplements for Norwegian Elkhounds
Matched to this breed's common health concerns. All NASC-sealed.
Cosequin (Nutramax)
The #1 vet-recommended joint supplement
- •#1 vet-recommended
- •NASC Quality Seal
- •Glucosamine + chondroitin
- •Clinically studied
Supplements support — they don't treat or cure disease. Talk to your vet for anything clinical.
Health concerns to watch
Silver double coat is gorgeous but sheds constantly.
Ancient spitz breed — independent thinker, not blindly obedient.
Hardy and long-lived with proper care.
Prone to weight gain if overfed.
Gear for Norwegian Elkhounds
Breed-size-appropriate picks. Links go to Amazon.
Crate
for Norwegian Elkhounds
Harness
for Norwegian Elkhounds
Bed
for Norwegian Elkhounds
Collar
for Norwegian Elkhounds
Leash
for Norwegian Elkhounds
Slow feeder bowl
for Norwegian Elkhounds
Chew toy
for Norwegian Elkhounds
As an Amazon Associate, Barkly earns from qualifying purchases.
Training for Norwegian Elkhounds
Matched to Norwegian Elkhound temperament (bold, playful, loyal).
GoodPup
1-on-1 virtual dog training with certified trainers
- •1-on-1 live video sessions
- •Certified trainers
- •Custom per-dog plan
- •Weekly structure
BAXTER & Bella
Online puppy training program, lifetime access
- •Lifetime membership
- •Self-paced video lessons
- •Puppy + adult content
- •Behavior troubleshooting
Dogo
App-based training with daily structure
- •App-based daily plans
- •AI-guided feedback
- •Affordable monthly cost
- •Trick training library
GPS trackers for Norwegian Elkhounds
Size-appropriate picks for tracking, activity monitoring, and escape alerts.
Fi
Smart collar with GPS + activity tracking
- •Real-time GPS
- •Activity + sleep tracking
- •Escape alerts
- •3-month battery
Tractive
Affordable GPS tracker with unlimited range
- •Attaches to any collar
- •Worldwide GPS coverage
- •Activity monitoring
- •Budget-friendly
Curious about their DNA?
Confirm breed mix, check for genetic health risks, and get actionable insights.
Embark
The most comprehensive dog DNA test
- •350+ breeds identified
- •250+ health conditions screened
- •Cornell-partnered science
- •Relatives finder
Wisdom Panel
Breed identification + health screening
- •350+ breeds
- •Genetic health insights
- •Budget-friendly option
- •Fast results
Norwegian Elkhound questions, answered
How long do Norwegian Elkhounds live?▾
How big do Norwegian Elkhounds get?▾
How much exercise does a Norwegian Elkhound need?▾
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Ask Barkly about your Norwegian Elkhound
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