Schweizer Laufhund vs Norwegian Elkhound - Breed Comparison

Schweizer Laufhund vs Norwegian Elkhound - Breed ComparisonNorwegian Elkhound is originated from Norway but Schweizer Laufhund is originated from Switzerland. Both Norwegian Elkhound and Schweizer Laufhund are having almost same height. Both Norwegian Elkhound and Schweizer Laufhund are having almost same weight. Norwegian Elkhound may live 3 years more than Schweizer Laufhund. Norwegian Elkhound may have more litter size than Schweizer Laufhund. Norwegian Elkhound requires Moderate Maintenance. But Schweizer Laufhund requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Hound dog
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Norway
Switzerland
Height Male:
45 - 55 cm
17 - 22 inches
47 - 59 cm
18 - 24 inches
Height Female:
45 - 55 cm
17 - 22 inches
47 - 58 cm
18 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
18 - 25 kg
39 - 56 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
18 - 25 kg
39 - 56 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
5 - 10
3 - 7
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Norsk Elghund, Gray Norwegian Elkhound, Elk Dog, Norwegian Moose Dog
Bruno Laufhund, Bruno Jura Laufhund, the Jura Type Saint Hubert Hound French Type, Bruno Hound, Lucerne Hound, the Jura Type French Saint Hubert Hound, and the Schwyz Laufhund., Lucerner Laufhund, Chien Courant Suisse Berner Laufhund, the French Jura Type Saint Hubert Hound, The Saint Hubert Hound Jura Type, Jura Hound, Jura Laufhund, Bern Hound
Colors Available:
silver, white, Grey, cream
different for each line black with tan markings; tan with black mantle or saddle; white with black or tan or orange.
Coat:
Short to medium length, dense
coat type short, smooth, and somewhat harsh
Shedding:
Moderate, Seasonal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

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.

schweizer laufhundThe Schweizer Laufhund is a breed born in Switzerland and sought after by the French and the Italians for their skill at hunting small mammals, especially hare. Mercenaries brought scent hounds from France to Switzerland and cross bred them with the Schweizer Laufhund, thereby influencing and changing the native breed.

In 1882 it was established that within the breed of “Swiss Hound” (Schweizer Laufhund) there were five different varieties. At this time a standard was written for each of these five different types. By 1909 the standards were revisited and revised, eliminating the hound of Thurgovie. Then in 1933 it was decided that one standard would cover all the varieties of the Schweizer Laufhund.

The Schweizer Laufhund was a line used to develop many different scent hounds. They are used almost exclusively as hunting dogs and not as family companion dogs. St. Hubert Jura Hound, the rare ancient variety, is still in the hunting parties of Canada and France. The breed existed before any dog breeding written records were kept. In Switzerland from the middle ages on, the Schweizer Laufhund was the only hunting dog in the country until recent times.

Even though they didn’t have any popularity until the European nobility became enamored of them in the middle ages, it is thought by some that they date back to the Roman Empire. In actuality most of their pre- Swiss history has been lost. We do know that through the years the breed has been influenced by cross breeding with Austrian, German and French scent hounds.

He is not recognized by the larger kennel clubs such as AKC or UKC, but by some rare breed associations. The dogs that remain today in the United States, Canada and Europe are still mainly owned by either active or retired hunters. Despite their great personalities, they are still not numerous among family pets.

Description

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.

schweizer laufhund puppy - descriptionA medium sized dog with good endurance and strength. Its head is lean, and its muzzle is long making this a very noble looking breed. Each of the 5 varieties has some of its own characteristics. They all have short, fine hairs on their ears and heads and longer hairs on their legs and back.

Each variety can be identified by its colors as they are unique.

• Bernese – White with a black saddle or black patches and tan on the ears and face.

  • Schwyz – A white dog with marking of orange.
  • Bruno Jura – Black with tan markings and Tan with black saddle marks.

• Lucernese – Because they have white and black hair mixed across their bodies, they appear to be “blue”.

  • St. Hubert Jura – Tan with a black saddle.

The Schweizer Laufhund come in miniature and standard sizes fitting into the same standard. Weight has a lot to do with the gender and height of the individual dog, they are longer than they are tall. As a scent hound, the breed is muscular and sturdy. They carry their long tails in a slight curve with a taper at the end.

Despite the different colors in the different varieties all of the breed have black noses, long droopy ears, and oval, brown eyes. They have a soft, calm and gentle facial expression.

Characteristics

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.

schweizer laufhund dog - characteristics1Children friendliness - they can be very gentle and loving with children. Toddlers might remind them of prey, however.

2.Special talents – they have great stamina.

3.Adaptability – adapts well if he gets enough exercise.

4.Learning ability -their learning ability is high, but they can be very stubborn.

Health Problems

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.

schweizer laufhund puppies - health problemsThere are a few health issues that the Schweizer Laufhund is prone to. As an ancient breed there is not a lot of genetic evidence of breed health issues but there is more recent reporting.

  • Hip Dysplasia – can result in lameness, arthritis and inability to hunt.
  • Cataracts – can result in blindness.
  • Elbow Dysplasia – can result in lameness, arthritis and inability to hunt.

• PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) – hereditary – can result in blindness.

  • Ear Infections – due to long droopy ears. Keep them clean.

• Ectropion and Entropion – eyelid misalignments either inward or outward. Can be corrected with surgery.

Caring The Pet

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.

schweizer laufhund dogs - caring. Feeding the puppy – as an active working breed they should be fed a high quality active or working breed kibble formula.

2.Feeding the adult - the adult should be fed the same active or working breed formula, only in an adult formulation.

3.Points for Good Health – stamina

4. Games and Exercises – this active breed does require a lot of daily exercise. Take them on at least one good, quick walk per day and give them a fenced yard to play in. They love hunting training and field trials along with activities like barn hunt. They love to run alongside as you bike or jog.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Norwegian Elkhound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Norwegian Elkhound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  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
  13. Norwegian Elkhound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Norwegian Elkhound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Norwegian Elkhound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Norwegian Elkhound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Norwegian Elkhound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Norwegian Elkhound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Norwegian Elkhound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Norwegian Elkhound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Norwegian Elkhound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Norwegian Elkhound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Norwegian Elkhound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Norwegian Elkhound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Norwegian Elkhound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Schweizer Laufhund vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Schweizer Laufhund vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Schweizer Laufhund vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Schweizer Laufhund vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Schweizer Laufhund vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Schweizer Laufhund vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Schweizer Laufhund vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Schweizer Laufhund vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Schweizer Laufhund vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Schweizer Laufhund vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Schweizer Laufhund vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Schweizer Laufhund vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Schweizer Laufhund vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Schweizer Laufhund vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Schweizer Laufhund vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Schweizer Laufhund vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Schweizer Laufhund vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Schweizer Laufhund vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Schweizer Laufhund vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Schweizer Laufhund vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Schweizer Laufhund vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Schweizer Laufhund vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Schweizer Laufhund vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Schweizer Laufhund vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Schweizer Laufhund vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison