There are many pros to owning a Norwegian Elkhound: they are fearless protectors, extremely loyal, and love being around people… Unfortunately, one of their major cons is that they aren’t the best choice for families with multiple pets.
Instinctively, Norwegian Elkhounds do not typically get along well with other pets. They are aggressive alphas that like to hunt and kill small animals. However, with proper training and socialization, your Norwegian Elkhound might learn to get along with some other animals, like dogs and cats. Continue reading to learn more…
Norwegian Elkhounds and Other Dogs
The number one animal a Norwegian Elkhound has the potential to get along with is another dog, but this depends a lot on the circumstances.
If you raise a Norwegian Elkhound around other dogs from the time they are a puppy, they will eventually find their place in the pack, and things should go rather smoothly. On the other hand, if you introduce an adult Norwegian Elkhound to another dog, don’t expect it to go well.
Norwegian Elkhounds are natural alphas with a lot of aggression. Once they have matured, they will try to dominate any other dog they come in contact with, which will usually result in a fight.
Your best chance at getting an adult Norwegian Elkhound to play nice with other dogs is if you take them to a socialization class.
Norwegian Elkhounds and Cats
Similar to the Irish Wolfhound, Norwegian Elkhounds instinctually view cats as prey. As soon as they see a cat, they will chase it, and if they can catch it, they will likely kill it without hesitation. You have to remember, they are a hunting breed with strong instincts.
Your best chance at getting a Norwegian Elkhound to get along with cats, is if you raise them around cats from a very early age – the earlier the better. Still, there is no guarantee they might not one day turn on the cat. Even if you can train one to get along with your cat, leaving the two alone together would be risky.
Click here to learn what to do if your Norwegian Elkhound kills a cat.
Norwegian Elkhounds and Other Pets and Animals
It is extremely difficult to train a Norwegian Elkhound to not kill small animals. This means if you keep pets, such as mice, guinea pigs, gerbils, birds, etc… adopting a Norwegian Elkhound is a bad idea.
You should also know that they will attack and kill any small wild animals that may come around your yard, such as raccoons, skunks, and opossums, which is a bad thing because they may contract rabies. Click here to learn what to do if your Norwegian Elkhound kills a raccoon.
Conclusion
In summary, if you are someone who already has other pets or plans on have more than one pet, and you are considering adopting a Norwegian Elkhound, you should consider a different breed.
If you already have a Norwegian Elkhound, and you want to get another pet, only do so knowing that it may require a lot of training and patience. If you are not prepared to keep the animals separated until they get along, spend a lot of time working with your Elkhound, and possibly pony up some cash for socialization classes, you probably shouldn’t do it.
References:
American Kennel Club. Norwegian Elkhound. Retrieved from https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/norwegian-elkhound/
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