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The Steep Norwegian Elkhound Price: (+LIFETIME COSTS)

If you’re in the market for a Norwegian Elkhound, you’re probably curious about the price. And once you find out that price (typically over $1200), will it honestly change your mind about the breed?

Photo of Norwegian Elkhound Lying in the park | Dog Temperament

Well, the best way to tell is to examine aspects of the breed, including the Norwegian Elkhound temperament.

If there’s something you don’t like about a dog’s temperament, then this is a good clue that you should be moving on to a different breed.

This is especially true if the breed you’re interested in, on average, tends to be more expensive than other dog breeds out there.

Norwegian Elkhound Temperament and Personality

The Norwegian Elkhound has a temperament you can respect.

Have you walked a tough road in life, and you are looking for a kindred spirit? Then this bold, strong-willed dog is for you.

However, if you love and/or have small animals, then he may not be.

The Elkhound simply cannot coexist under the same roof with smaller animals due to his strong prey drive. You may decide this is a sacrifice you are not willing to make.

If, however, you don’t have or intend on getting, a cat anytime soon, then the Elkhound can make an excellent guard dog for your home.

Don’t get him wrong, though. He’s not an “all work and no play” kind of dog.

He enjoys any opportunity you give him to run around the yard and unleash his boundless energy.

The Norwegian Elkhound, Up Close

Back in medieval times, people knew the Norwegian Elkhound as “dyrehund,” which translates to “animal-dog” in Norwegian.

Assumedly, this is because the Elkhound was a highly respected hunting dog.

Norwegians kept the breed to themselves until the 19th century, which is when it started showing up throughout England.

Norwegian Elkhound Size

A full-grown Norwegian Elkhound is, on average, between 49 and 55 lbs. and between 19 and 20 inches tall.

The Norwegian Elkhound is what you would consider a mid-sized dog.

Therefore, feeding and taking care of him isn’t as much of a concern as it is to take care of a much larger dog.

You’ll spend much less on food than you would to feed a Great Dane or Saint Bernard, for example.

Norwegian Elkhound Price – How Much Do Norwegian Elkhounds Cost?

Now that you know the basics about this breed, you may be more (or less) willing to accept the Norwegian Elkhound puppies price.

So, here we go…

On average, the Norwegian Elkhound price runs between $1,200 to upwards of $6,000.

Of course, if you have your heart set on a purebred Norwegian Elkhound, then you can expect the price to be at the higher end of that scale.

There are many reasons why the price of a dog can vary so greatly from breeder to breeder.

A lot has to do with the dog’s stock, like whether his parents are purebred and of show quality.

Some of it has to do with how rare the breed is, either in general or in the particular area where you live.

And sometimes, the price just boils down to what a breeder knows she can charge, and ultimately get, for her Elkhound puppies.

Demand

The Norwegian Elkhound is, simply put, not the most popular dog in the U.S.

In November of 2019, the AKC listed the breed as #97 out of 191 recognized dog breeds in the U.S.

Because he’s not in high demand, there are less breeders out there who specialize in Norwegian Elkhounds…and you know what that means.

Less breeders means less dogs, which means a rarer breed. And a rare breed almost always translates to a higher price tag.

Norwegian Elkhound Rescue and Adoption

The price of a Norwegian Elkhound may be, understandably, too rich for your blood. In that case, perhaps you may want to consider adoption instead.

If you’re interested in pursuing adoption as an option, check out the website for the Norwegian Elkhound Association of America.

This organization can provide you with a list of reputable organizations from which you can adopt or rescue one of these precious pups.

Now, while an adoption can certainly cost thousands of dollars less than buying a dog from a breeder, it still has its downsides.

For one thing, you may not be able to get the entire story regarding that particular dog’s history.

This is often because the shelter doesn’t know either.

Dogs often either end up on their doorstep when people can no longer care for them, or they find them on the street and rescue them.

It is therefore important to consider paid training, particularly for an older rescue dog – especially for problems like chewing as the result of separation anxiety.

It’s hard not to blame them. If you lived in a shelter, and then your new owner left you alone, you’d be worried too that they wouldn’t come back. You wouldn’t understand at first that their departure was only temporary.

But, on the other side of the coin, when you adopt, you get to give an otherwise abandoned dog a warm and loving “fur-ever” home. And doesn’t that just beat any potential downside?

Norwegian Elkhound Cost of Ownership

The cost of bringing a Norwegian Elkhound into your life is an expensive one.

However, the money you spend doesn’t stop with the adoption fee or the purchase price.

You also need to consider things like the cost of food, medical care, training, and grooming.

Cost of Food

For a dog the size of a Norwegian Elkhound, you don’t need to worry about going bankrupt over feeding him every month.

However, the cost of food is, of course, still important to keep in mind. Do you have the extra $30 or so per month that you’ll need for a 30-40 lb. bag of high quality food?

And please, don’t buy the inexpensive stuff just to save a couple of bucks.

It’s the same as fast food – sure, you save money now, but you’ll only pay double later in medical costs.

Plus, that’s just not fair to the dog.

Health Care Expenses

One of the smartest things you can do when considering purchasing a new dog is to research the health concerns common to that breed.

You can then have a good idea of how much you might end up spending on vet bills and medication in the coming years.

For instance, check out some of the more common health problems that could afflict the Norwegian Elkhound:

Helpful Dog Health Resource:

Note: Our Health is #1 Priority. It should be no different for your dog. But you need to help him. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is the answer. This handy guide will help you recognize the symptoms of the health problems above. Get the knowledge to stay ahead of these terrible issues that can rob your lovely dog from vigor and life. Help your friend make it to 14 yrs+ without pain and suffering.

Now, while a majority of these concerns are thankfully not major you still have to plan for the unexpected.

Any dog can get cancer or get hit by a car. These are things you need to prepare for just in case the worst happens.

You can also look into pet insurance which, while an added expense, may end up saving you money in the long run.

Training Programs

Many people can train their own dogs.

However, if you’re a first-time dog owner, or if you buy or adopt a dog who is more difficult, then you may need to incorporate a professional trainer.

This too is another expense you need to plan for before you even bring your new dog home to meet the family.

What if your dog has a problem with jumping up on people when they come through the door?

The problem here is that many dog owners find it adorable or harmless when their puppy jumps up to greet their guests, so they don’t stop them.

The problem, however, comes when that puppy grows into a hefty adult and is knocking Grandma over when she comes in the door.

As “cute” as this behavior may be, it’s important to curb it while your dog is still young.

And if you find your methods ineffective, then you must bring someone in to help before it’s too late. This, of course, costs money.

It’s better to plan for a training program and not need it, than to need one and wonder how you’re going to pay for it.

Helpful Dog Training Resource:

For help with training your dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.

Grooming Costs

Like training, grooming is something else most dog owners can do on their own.

However, if you’re not used to a shedder, then you might need some help with the Norwegian Elkhound.

He has both a top coat and an undercoat. Where things get tricky is that his undercoat sheds more than his topcoat.

During the Elkhound’s shedding season, you’ll think you live in the Wild West with the tumbleweeds of dog hair that will roll around your house.

You have to brush him every day, and you have to brush his coat against the grain to get all the dead hair out.

You also have to vacuum every day to keep your house from looking like you’re growing a new dog in the carpet.

If this sounds like too much, then you may need to hire a professional groomer to help.

Final Thoughts on the Norwegian Elkhound

The Norwegian Elkhound is a bold and beautiful dog. However, he’s also an expensive one.

For this reason, you need to consider all the factors of this breed before you agree to hand over that rather large chunk of your hard-earned change.

Some quick factors to point out: he’s healthy, but he’s a chore to groom.

He loves exercise, and he’s easy to train, but he bores easily.

Therefore, you may need to consider hiring both a trainer and a professional groomer.

He’s not a large dog, so food isn’t as much of a concern. So really, the biggest concern for you here with the Norwegian Elkhound is his sticker price.

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