MyDogBreeds
Schapendoes is originated from Netherlands but Norwegian Elkhound is originated from Norway. Both Schapendoes and Norwegian Elkhound are having almost same height. Both Schapendoes and Norwegian Elkhound are of same weight. Both Schapendoes and Norwegian Elkhound has same life span. Schapendoes may have less litter size than Norwegian Elkhound. Both Schapendoes and Norwegian Elkhound requires Moderate maintenance.
Known also as the Dutch Sheepdog, the Schapendoes originates in the Netherlands.
It has always been known as a herding dog and farm dog. There were times during the 1940s when the dog’s numbers dropped considerably, but fortunately a breed club known as the Nederlandse Schapendoes was formed in 1947.
It wasn’t until 1971 that the dog earned recognition as a Dutch breed and the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized this Dutch Sheepdog in 1989.
The 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.
The Schapendoes is a medium sized herding dog standing at between 40 and 50cm in height and weighing between 12 and 25kg.
When you look at him, you’re reminded of the Old English Sheepdog or the Bearded Collie. The thick, double coat of the dog can be a mix of colors and can be brown and white, black and white and gray and a mix of all these colors.
In spite of the thick coat, the dog sheds very little. He is an active dog and is known to be able to jump high. This makes him perfect for ball and frisbee games as he will leap into the air to try and catch the ball.
He has medium length floppy ears and the tail is long and feathered, carried high when busy, but when he is relaxed the tail hangs low.
Brave, cheerful,social and loyal, the Schapendoes is a shaggy Dutch dog who makes a splendid pet and companion for active people.
He is intelligent too, and in fact it is why he makes such a great farm dog too as he is able to work on his own and co-operates with his owner. He just loves being active, and will happily join you on all your hikes, runs on the beach, swimming, walks and other activities.
He thrives on being counted in as one of the active family members. This intelligence of his makes him easy to train and socialize, making him well mannered and obedient.
His amicable nature allows him to get on with all well disciplined children as well as with other pets in the home.
The 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.
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.
Because this dog has always been a working dog, he has learned to be independent.
They’re eager to please their owners and easy to train too. They’re not aggressive and are friendly and affectionate and want to protect their owners.
They’re cheerful and playful and are tolerant of children and pets in the home. However, they don’t want little children being allowed to climb over them.
You can expect these big cuddly dogs to make loyal, devoted pets when treated with love, care, kindness and respect.
Your 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.
Your Schapendoes is a generally healthy breed and with good food, a good amount of exercise and plenty of love and care, he can reach the ripe age of 15 or so.
Every dog however, has the potential to get one of the many canine diseases there are. Some of these canine diseases to look out for include hip dysplasia, dental problems, eye diseases, bloat, cancer and others.
Some people think that problems with teeth are mild – nothing to worry about and yet bad teeth can affect the quality of life for your pet.
Problems with the pet’s teeth usually start with a build- up of plaque that leads to tartar. This can lead to gingivitis and then periodontal disease can develop. Dogs can have bad teeth and this can affect organs in the body.
Problems with the teeth can be serious and your veterinarian will need to do an oral checkup and dental cleaning. If your dog has oral problems, you may notice bad breath, loose teeth, dribbling, tartar on the teeth and pawing at the mouth.
Your 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 -
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.
This is a skin condition that causes inflammation and is often seen in dogs like the Norwegian Elkhound who have thick coats.
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.
The Schapendoes has a dense double coat which can become quite long in places. The hair is slightly waved and there is quite a lot of hair around the face which includes a mustache and beard.
He will need to have his hair brushed twice a week, and some people choose to have him professionally clipped.
Trim his nails, check inside the ears for ear infection, check that the eyes are nice and clear without discharge, check inside the mouth for rotten teeth and check him over for any unusual lumps.
Your Schapendoes is an active dog and you want to ensure that the food you buy him keeps him active and healthy.
It is important to choose the best dog food if you buy commercially manufactured dog food. Then you can be sure it will have the right formulation of vitamins and minerals.
Home-made food is also an excellent choice for your pet. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots can be very healthy and tasty. Keep it simple like this. Chop it all up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week to give him a nutritious treat.
Some raw meat added in occasionally will do him the world of good and keep the skin and coat healthy. Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.
As 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.
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.
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.