Swedish Elkhound Dog Breed

Swedish Elkhound was developed from ancient Scandinavian dogs and he shares the same ancestry with other Scandinavian dogs like Finnish and Swedish Lapphund, Norwegian Elkhound or Lapponian Herder. He was bred by Sami people who lived in arctic region of northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia.

Swedish Elkhound are not only hunters, they can be used for more purposes. They are very strong and protective, so they are great protectors and watchdogs, but they are also fast and large, so they are great sled dogs. Thanks to their bright and eager to please nature, they can also be herding dogs and they are also used as army or rescue dogs, because they are very brave and fearless. But hunting is their best ability, they will never be the best sled or herding dog, because they are very independent and they dont like working together.

Great thing about Swedish Elkhound is, that they are tough breed. They have good lifespan around 13 years and they have no big health issues. Sometimes they might have hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, liver disease, skin allergies and hearing problems, but they are not that common as with other breeds. The only thing you should také care of is proper diet, so your dog will not become obese.

Watch our video about Swedish Elkhound: