Norwegian Elkhound vs English Setter - Breed Comparison

Norwegian Elkhound vs English Setter - Breed ComparisonEnglish Setter is originated from United Kingdom but Norwegian Elkhound is originated from Norway. English Setter may grow 14 cm / 6 inches higher than Norwegian Elkhound. English Setter may weigh 55 kg / 122 pounds more than Norwegian Elkhound. Both English Setter and Norwegian Elkhound has same life span. Both English Setter and Norwegian Elkhound has almost same litter size. Both English Setter and Norwegian Elkhound requires Moderate Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Hound dog
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United Kingdom
Norway
Height Male:
61 - 69 cm
24 - 28 inches
45 - 55 cm
17 - 22 inches
Height Female:
58 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
45 - 55 cm
17 - 22 inches
Weight Male:
55 - 80 kg
121 - 177 pounds
18 - 25 kg
39 - 56 pounds
Weight Female:
45 - 70 kg
99 - 155 pounds
18 - 25 kg
39 - 56 pounds
Life Span:
11 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
5 - 10
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Laverack Setter • Lawerack • Laverack
Norsk Elghund, Gray Norwegian Elkhound, Elk Dog, Norwegian Moose Dog
Colors Available:
orange, lemon, or brown of various markings. Freckles/flecking, blue
silver, white, Grey, cream
Coat:
flat and silky
Short to medium length, dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Cheerful, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Playful, Quiet, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

History

english setterThe English Setter seems to have been a hunting dog in England as far back as the 15th century. These dogs were known to be ‘setter types’ – hunting dogs that ‘set dogges’ – to set or point at game birds. It is believed that the English Setter is a cross of the Water Spaniel, Spanish Pointer and English Springer Spaniel. In the late 1500’s Sr. Johannes Caius, a sportsman, announced to his friends that there was a new dog our of France for hunting. He then describes an English Setter.

Then in the early 1800’s Rev. Harrison of Carlise sold a couple of setters to Mr. Laverack. This pair is the foundation for the breed of English Setters. Without really knowing, Laverack claimed that this line he was breeding from had been pure for 35 previous years. He inbred his male and female for many years and did well in confirmation and field trials.

Then in 1874 the first English Setters were imported to the US from this Laverack line. Mr. Llewellin then crossed the best dogs in the Laverack line with his dogs and eventually produced winning champions Armstrong Dash II and Dashing Bondhu. This led to the “Dashing Bondhu” or the Llewellin line of English Setters. This is why the English Setter is sometimes referred to as the Llewelllin or Laverack Setter.

The setter group to which the English setter belongs includes the Irish Setter, the Gordon Setters and the Irish Red and White Setter. The English Setter, as well as the others, were bred to hunt birds such as pheasant and quail. It was the job of the setter to find the prey and point it out to the hunter after it had been shot. They were also used to flush the birds from the brush so that the hunter could then release hawks to take down the prey. The English Setter is methodical and systemic in their approach.

By the 1600’s this working dog had become the breed of the landed gentry and shooting game was their pastime. These nobles did not use hawks to capture the prey but rather shot them after the English Setter flushed them out. The English Setter is very popular today both as a hunting dog and as a family pet. The English Setter is bred for athleticism and endurance. The have both AKC and UKC certification.

norwegian elkhoundThe 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.

Description

english setter puppy - descriptionThe English Setter is very much a setter in his looks. He is medium in size and was bred to hunt by following airborne prey over a large expanse of ground. He has to have both speed and stamina. He also has to run with his head up watching the prey in the air.

He has a slight dome shaped head and a long muzzle with dark, gentle eyes. The ears have their tips lined up with the eyes, the neck is long and muscular. He shows powerful hindquarters and a fairly long tail.

The coat length is medium and silk. The ears, chest, neck and legs are feathered, as is the tail. The hunting version has a shorter, finer coat than the show dog. The show dogs’ coats are flowing and long. Both types have a white coat with Belton or ticking. The Belton can be black, orange, lemon, liver and the tricolor. This is the liver or blue Belton but there are tan markings on the legs, chest, and face. It was Laverack who named the ticking Belton after a village in England.

norwegian elkhound puppy - descriptionThe 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.

Characteristics

english setter dog - characteristicsThe AKC standard for the English Setter breed describes him as a “Gentleman by Nature” and that might be all you need to know about this delightful dog. They are people-oriented and settle right down with their families if they get enough exercise. With proper stimulation they become couch potatoes when you bring them in at night.

They are very friendly with everyone but are especially happy when playing with children. You can trust them with your other pets, children of all ages and anyone coming to your front door. They are not guard dogs. However, they can have a stubborn streak, they can be strong-willed. This is especially true the more working than show stock they are. In addition, they are intelligent, calm and quiet in the house.

norwegian elkhound dog - characteristicsYour 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.

Health Problems

english setter puppies - health problemsEnglish Setters, like many other breeds that have a base white coat, can be affected by congenital deafness. A test done by LSU in 2010 showed the 12.4% of the dogs they tested were affected by this. They are also prone to:

  1. Allergies
  2. Both Airborne and food allergies can plaque the English Setter
  3. Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism

Most of this is caused by autoimmune thyroiditis or a condition where the immune system attacks its own thyroid gland.

Cancer

The primary cause of death after ten years old

norwegian elkhound puppies - health problemsYour 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.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

english setter dogs - caringThe English Setter is a hard working dog and should be fed accordingly. Puppies should be fed three times a day and adults twice to avoid bloat. Watch your English Spaniel though as they love to counter surf.

Health issues

In addition to the conditions listed above the English Setter is prone to:

Bloat

Caused by excessive exercise before or after having eaten a large meal. It is suggested that you feed your English Setter twice a day, smaller meals and not right before or after strenuous exercise.

Ear

Keep her ears clean and check regularly for infections.

Exercise and games

The English Spaniel needs exercise on a routine basis – every day walks are best along with some time to just run either in a fenced yard or dog park. Take her jogging, running alongside your bike, hiking or just long walks. They do well with lure coursing, agility, confirmation, obedience and rally.

norwegian elkhound dogs - caringAs 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.

Comparison with other breeds

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  3. Norwegian Elkhound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Norwegian Elkhound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Norwegian Elkhound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Norwegian Elkhound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Norwegian Elkhound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Norwegian Elkhound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Norwegian Elkhound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Norwegian Elkhound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Norwegian Elkhound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Norwegian Elkhound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
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  14. Norwegian Elkhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
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  16. Norwegian Elkhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Norwegian Elkhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Norwegian Elkhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
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  25. Norwegian Elkhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. English Setter vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. English Setter vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. English Setter vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. English Setter vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. English Setter vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. English Setter vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. English Setter vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. English Setter vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. English Setter vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. English Setter vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. English Setter vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. English Setter vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. English Setter vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. English Setter vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. English Setter vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. English Setter vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. English Setter vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. English Setter vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. English Setter vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. English Setter vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. English Setter vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. English Setter vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. English Setter vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. English Setter vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. English Setter vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison