Norwegian Elkhound vs Kintamani - Breed Comparison

The Kintamani dog is an ancient cross-breed and hails from Bali Island, Indonesia.

The beautiful dog is classified into the working dog group.

It isn't sure how the dog developed, and it is believed that local Balinese feral dogs might have had a show in with bring the breed about. There are many stories regarding the origination of this breed but in 2006 the dog got recognition in Bali under the category 'distinct' dog breed.

There are efforts to see the Kintamani dog get global recognition.

The Norwegian Elkhound is an ancient spitz-type dog breed hailing from Norway and with a history that goes back thousands of years.

These dogs have been used as hunting dogs and have been able to bring down game such as Elk, bears, wolves, badgers and reindeer. They have also been used to guard livestock.

The Norwegian Elkhound was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1913.

Looking quite a bit like the Malamute, Chow and Samoyed, the Kintamani is a medium sized dog and has a broad face, erect ears, dark-brown eyes and a thickly plumed tail that is essentially held high.

The Kintamani is a Spitz type dog with an attractive appearance. Standing at 40 to 55cm, the Kintamani weighs in at roughly 13 to 17kg. The colors of the medium to long haired coat are white, beige, black and even brindle, though less common.

Temperament:

Having an independent nature and being territorial, your Kintamani can become aggressive with other dogs. He is very loving and accepting of his human family members though, becoming very loyal to one favorite family member.

They're alert and curious and make good watchdogs. He is also fond of swimming and climbing so he makes a good sport companion.

He is an intelligent dog and he can be easy to train. He is strong-minded and an independent thinker, so training and socialization will rein him in a bit and make him obedient and amicable.

The Norwegian Elkhound is a medium to large sized dog standing at roughly 45 to 55cm in height and weighing anything fro 18 to 25 kilogams.

People love this dog because of his beautiful wolf-like face and bright eyes. The head is broad and wedge-shaped, the eyes dark brown, the ears stand erect and the bush tail curls over the dog's back.

The double coat has different shades of gray and silver with cream and white shades on the undercoat.

He is a moderate shedder with some seasonal shedding.

Temperament:

The Norwegian Elkhound is a high energy dog who loves to be busy and he also makes a loving and loyal companion towards his human family. He tends to be a little bit reserved around strangers.

He is an independent dog so so its a good idea to have him trained and socialized so that he is always obedient. He is an intelligent dog so you won’t battle to teach him.

He gets on well with children in the home. He however, can be a little bit aggressive with other dogs, but not if he was brought up with them as a puppy. Adventurous and active, he just loves spending time outdoors. It's why he is best suited to life in the countryside as opposed to the city and also prefers cooler climates.

The Kintamani dog is an alert, bright, intelligent dog who will make you a good watchdog.

He also makes a companionable pet, and is friendly, loving and loyal to his human family. He has a social, lively temperament, and as people see what awesome pets they make, they are becoming more in demand as they are also easily trainable.

Do your duty towards this attractive dog and love and care for him like any other family member and he’ll be your most devoted best friend.

Your Norwegian Elkhound makes an awesome pet. He is full of the joys of living and wants to be an active member of his human family.

He is active and always ready for some fun and games. He is also intelligent and will make an even better pet when he has been trained and socialized.

Those who have owned one of these beautiful dogs will always say how they adore this beautiful, smart, loving canine friend of theirs.

You’re the only one who knows your dog, so you’re the one who will pick up signs that he isn’t well.

You can tell a lot from your dog’s behavior, and often a dog that isn’t well will hide away in a corner. If you're worried about your pet’s health, get him to the vet for peace of mind.

Being a responsible dog owner requires you regularly performing body checks on your pet.

Parvo in Dogs:

The canine parvovirus (CPV) infection is a very contagious viral illness that affects dogs. The intestinal form will have your dog vomiting, he won’t want to eat and he’ll have diarrhea.

The other less common type is the cardiac parvo where the heart muscle of a fetus is attacked, leading in all likelihood to death. Thankfully the incidence of the parvo-virus infection has been reduced by vaccination of puppies.

Lyme Disease in Dogs:

This is a tick-borne illness that is transmitted through deer ticks. It is a disease more typically seen in dogs from the northeast United States. Common signs of the illness are lameness, lethargy and enlarged lymph nodes. Most dogs respond well to antibiotic treatment.

Ears Infections:

Take a look inside your dog’s ears and check for itchiness, discharge and redness. Inside the dog’s ears it is very sensitive so if you don’t want to clean his ears, rather leave you vet to do it as you don’t want to perforate your dog’s eardrums.

Your beautiful Norwegian Elkhound can reach 15 years of age if you look after him well and he manages to avoid some of the common dog diseases there are.

There are some dog illnesses that are good to be aware of -

Glaucoma:

This is an eye condition where there is pressure that builds up in the eye. There is a problem with the drainage of fluid in the eye and this is what causes the pressure and there can be damage to the optic nerve.

Pyotraumatic Dermatitis:

This is a skin condition that causes inflammation and is often seen in dogs like the Norwegian Elkhound who have thick coats.

Hip Dysplasia:

A common disease seen in many dog breeds, young and old, and which is a malfunction of the hip joints, causing problems with your dog’s mobility.

Grooming:

The thick, lustrous coat of the Kintamani will need to be brushed twice a week because the coat is capable of getting burrs in. He sheds, so to keep the coat lustrous you want to be brushing him twice a week to remove all those loose hairs.

Exercise:

The dog can adjust to life in the city or the countryside, but being energetic it is best that they have a reasonable sized garden or life on a farm. He will be quite happy with some good walks, but he'll want some more rough and tumble. He just loves joining you on a hike and climbing on rocks. These dogs are actually known for their climbing skills.

Diet:

Kibble isn’t all equal, and dog owners have a huge choice, with the idea being to find the most nutritious one. Good food is key to good health for your Kintamani.

Your Kintamani puppy will require 4 meals a day. As he reaches adulthood you can start feeding him one or two meals a day.

The Kintamani has a beautiful thick coat and you want to ensure it stays that way by feeding him the best quality food there is. Top-quality dry food from a reputable brand will ensure balanced nutrition.

Read the packaging to ensure you’re giving him food that is appropriate to his age and for medium sized dogs. He will do well on some cooked chicken, brown rice, pasta and vegetables being added to this dry kibble every now and again as a treat.

If you’re unsure about whether he is getting the right kind of food in with a good balance of vitamins and minerals, you can always speak to your vet. Make sure that fresh, cool water is constantly available to him and wash his food and drink bowls regularly.

As a spitz type dog, the Norwegian Elkhound is an energetic dog who will need lots of physical activity.

He has a very thick coat so make sure he doesn’t overheat during exercise as he has been used to living in wintry climates.

Brush and Check for Ticks:

Your pet will shed some of that thick hair so he will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep the coat in tip top condition. At the same time check him over for ticks and fleas. How often you see ticks on your dog will depend on where you live. These parasites attach to your dog and feed on his blood.They are capable of causing many diseases in your pet, one of which is Lyme disease, a disease which can lead to arthritis and swelling with your dog’s joints.

The best way to prevent any disease from weakening your pet is to get him to the vet as soon as possible. A good way to prevent ticks is to speak to your vet about tick control products.

Diet:

Make sure he has the best food to ensure health and happiness. Keep his meals simple – no exotic, spicy foods that can upset his stomach.

A high quality kibble brand for energetic dogs is a wise choice and some tasty home-made food added in occasionally. This can be boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables. Never leave him without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.