Norwegian Elkhound is originated from Norway but Basset Hound is originated from France. Norwegian Elkhound may grow 17 cm / 7 inches higher than Basset Hound. Both Norwegian Elkhound and Basset Hound are having almost same weight. Norwegian Elkhound may live 3 years more than Basset Hound. Both Norwegian Elkhound and Basset Hound has almost same litter size. Both Norwegian Elkhound and Basset Hound requires Moderate maintenance.
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 Basset is a French dog bred in Great Britain in the late 1800s. The history of the Basset goes way back to ancient times as there have been discoveries of short legged dogs found in the catacombs of Egypt. These dogs also became popular during Emperor Napoleon III’s reign. Controlled breeding of the Basset began in France in 1870.
Hunting was popular with noblemen during the Middle Ages, and Francois Hubert bred hounds for this purpose. After his death, in his honor, the monks named the hounds bred at the monastery the St. Hubert's Hound. It is accepted that the St. Hubert's Hound is an early ancestor of many hound breeds that we see today.
French Bassets were imported into England in the 1870s. Everett Millais, thought to be the father of the modern Basset Hound, bred such dog to a Bloodhound to create a heavier Basset. The puppies were later refined with English- and French Bassets, and the first breed standard for the Basset Hound was made in the UK at the end of 19th century. To this day, many cartoon dogs are based on this extraordinary looking dog, and they also appear in adverts, a popular one being the logo for Hush Puppies, a shoe brand.
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.
The Basset Hound is a scent hound, a short-legged breed of dog belonging to the hound family. He is renowned for his long body, his loose skin and the very characteristic long, droopy, low-set ears. This is also a dog that drools a lot. The Basset Hound stands only 33 – 38 cm in height. You wouldn’t call him a small dog as he is robust and solid, weighing anything from 18 to 30kg. The Basset Hound is also well known for his eyes, where the red of the lower eyelid shows. Their calm, serious expression is also a familiar and much loved feature of these dogs.
The Basset is a short-haired dog, but in spite of that he sheds constantly. Coat colors can vary but the most common colors are white, tan and black – a tri-color coat.
This scent hound is a friendly canine, outgoing and playful. He gets on well with children and other pets in the family, and training and socialization can make him even more amicable with them. He adapts easily to life in the city or in the country.
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.
The Basset's long body with his short legs give him a unique look. Add to that this breed is among the most even-natured and easy-going. It is why he makes such a cool pet. While he adapts well to both city living and country living, you can’t afford to let him become a couch potato. Sitting around and eating consistently will just make your best friend sick and increase your medical bills for him.
The amicable Basset Hound is child friendly and because he isn’t particularly territorial, he will be alright with your other pets too. If you're looking for a wonderful friend who will be loyal to you, the Basset is waiting to fill the role of companion for you.
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 Basset Hound is a pretty robust breed and with proper nutrition and exercise, can live up to 12 years of age but this particular breed is prone to some major health conditions.
Cherry Eye is seen quite often in Basset Hounds. It is very painful because the tear gland tears away and it will require surgery before infection sets in. Also, glaucoma is an inherited eye disease that needs to be checked out as it can lead to blindness. The eye is red and the dog is constantly rubbing at it.
This is when the cartilage in the Basset’s joints don’t attach to the bone properly. It is known as osteochondritis dissecans or OCD. Be careful to stick to the recommended growth rate suggestions for feeding with a Basset puppy.
Basset Hounds are more prone to a heart condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM. It is where the heart becomes large and weak so that it battles to pump blood to the body.
Other illnesses to look out for are Canine Hip Dysplasia and obesity.
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.
Watching his diet. He will need quality, nutritious food and plenty of exercise.
It is also a good idea to get into the habit of brushing his teeth a couple of times a week with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste. Never use toothpaste made for humans.
Clean his long ears and keep them dry. The vet will show you precisely how.
Be sure to see that he get his puppy vaccinations, and that you continue to give him vet check-ups when he shows signs of sickness.
He has low grooming needs but brush his coat twice a week to get rid of dull, loose hairs.
He is a smart, active dog with lots of energy so set aside time to have ball games with him and to get him out of the yard with walks.