Elkhounds are active, easy-going, and happy
dogs. They are generally very healthy throughout their lives. None of our
dogs has ever required veterinary care except annual vaccinations, unless
there was a mishap of some kind in our very rural environment, these are
mostly encounters with porcupines. They are inquisitive, very intelligent,
and respond readily to correction. A stern word is all that's ever needed.
Elkhounds, while best noted for being hunters of large animals like moose
and elk, are avid hunters of small game, such as rabbits, squirrels,
raccoons, rodents, weasels, and some birds.
They are excellent watchdogs, although they are not typically aggressive
with people. In confrontational situations with strangers, they are most
likely to bark furiously at the stranger, until you do something to
indicate that the stranger is a friend – usually a handshake does the
trick. Elkhounds are not typically used for personal protection, although
their excellent hearing alerts them to the approach of strangers, and
their wolfish appearance tends to make many people hesitate before
approaching.
Unless an Elkhound becomes very sick, with cancer or some other fatal
disease, most live to about fifteen or sixteen years old. Most people who
have one of our puppies have replaced a deceased dog. The oldest Elkhound
we ever heard about had lived to be 22. |
