Training Tips Norwegian Elkhound Pups - Osa and Koda

[@grizzlycountry1030]

Best and smartest dog I ever had was a Norwegian Elkhound I found in a shelter when I was a kid. She was loved until the day she died from cancer and never forgotten. We still talk about her as if it was yesterday.

[@MervCarlson]

Great to hear you had the awesome opportunity to spend that time with a fantastic Elkhound. Thanks for sharing, Merv

[@brentlund2272]

Love back packing with my Elkhound.........does not get better !

[@townbythetown]

I'm a Californian who just moved with my Norwegian fiance to remote Northern Norway and we're picking up our Norwegian elkhound pup may 1st. I have a feeling your channel is gonna be a helpful tool for me as I learn about the breed. I appreciate your style of training and overall philosophy from what i've seen. Thanks

[@townbythetown]

Also, we have first pick of an eight dog litter. Any quick tips on what you'd look for when picking out an eight week old pup?

[@officialgamerz29]

@@townbythetown How is living in Norway its my dream to move there and to get an elkhound.

[@townbythetown]

I've only been here two weeks. I'm way up north and its been a steady blizzard since I've been here. Eager to get into the woods but they're telling me its not safe yet because of avalanches. Other than that its great. I found a norwegian girl and that was my way in. Hit me up when you make it happen dude@@officialgamerz29

[@MadMaxJuggernaut]

@@townbythetown Hook me up with a norwegian girl, kidding haha. How are the norwegian women and people?

[@paradoxregina]

@@MadMaxJuggernaut We are intelligent, calm and independent :)

[@kuramai4707]

Thank you I will be getting an elkhound in a month. Very helpful.

[@anitapedersenwarren5833]

You will LOVE your elkhound. And I'd it's coming from Merv, you can't get any better! Our Viking is 4 years old and wow....what a rock star!

[@kuramai4707]

@@anitapedersenwarren5833 I got my elkhound she's 1 year old I love her. Amazing dogs.

[@shannonherb2048]

I miss my elkhounds. I may get another one but I dont hunt anymore. They are a brilliant species of hound, or spits.

[@MervCarlson]

Shannon, contact me anytime, [e-mail] we have some great pups and it won't matter if you hunt anymore, they are so great just to hike with and be around. Look forward to talking, thanks, Merv

[@tedm2922]

Norwegian Elkhounds are so special. I had a harness and weather permitting I would exercise my two by having them pull me on my bike. Only one at a time and I had to put one of them in the dog run before I got the harness out to prevent a war on who got to wear it. They loved it.

[@tedm2922]

I just watched another video and saw a dog wearing a leash collar the guy called a harness because it had an extra strap. The man who made my harness tried to talk me into entering my male in weight pulling contests. It was a sled harness that he made with both my male and female in mind.

[@ytterdahlensswix7849]

Great Merv! Lots of knowledge and experience there. Don’t think I’ve meet anyone that spend so much time with their dogs hanging out, always curious and open minded.

[@MervCarlson]

Thank you Paul.

[@anitapedersenwarren5833]

Such beautiful animals!!!!❤️❤️❤️

[@rebeccaday7244]

I have a male Norwegian Elkhound Samuel since he was 9 weeks old and when he was 10 months old my son Christopher passed away from covid. Sam went back to the family I got him from and I realize he was the low dog of the pack. Even though his dad Zeus and his brother Marshall was there, they weren't raised together. I got him back 1 month and seven days. He was skinny and his hair was dull. So he once again got healthy. Then 2years later I took him to a doggie run kennel for 24 hours. It do turn out well. Sam knows to use the restroom on grass. He never got to leave the kennel. He got in the car when I picked him up, after this long narrative Samuel will not get in the car cause he thinks I am going to leave him. Sam still misses hris what do I need to do to get him in the car to go places with me. I appreciate any input you may have. I love him and he is beautiful and smart. Thank you and God bless you.

[@MervCarlson]

Sorry to hear of your loss of your son Christopher, my sincere condolences. Please if you wish I can assist with the travel and car training, email me direct if you wish. [e-mail] . Sincerely, Merv

[@Rigel434]

Beautiful dogs.

[@cutedoglilangel799]

Wonderful as always!!

[@whispy4027]

How old is your oldest dog

[@AdamRich47]

I have a 3 year old and she is fantastic. But- I never got her to be obedient. I live in a village and we walk 3 times/ day but if i let her off leash, like on a college campus, she won't come if she sees a squirrel. Any advice? I have had several other dogs, labs, and they were easier to train.

[@MervCarlson]

Hi Adam, you describe a situation that the dog is bred to actually leave you and go to the squirrel, doing exactly what it was bred to do instinctively, functioning flawlessly. Your perception of training versus instinctive behavior perhaps is what needs to be looked at. You should go to her, thank her for finding the squirrel, sometimes it is us who need the training. haha. You have a centuries old hunting dog, think about her instincts and getting her to do as you wish becomes much easier. Hope that helps. She obviously is way easier to train than the others as she is doing what she was bred to do, without any input from you, a Self Learning, Self Training dog, which I mention they are many times in my videos. So easier to train is a matter of perception really. Thank you, Merv

[@AdamRich47]

@@MervCarlson wow. I think I agree. I just keep her on the leash and am glad about the good things. Getting her used to the car. These are special dogs.

[@Lady_Jay42]

How do you get them to know their name? How long does it take?

[@MervCarlson]

Haha, well that depends, if their name is "Good Boy" they know it right away, hahaha. No, they can lock onto the name relatively quick. I mean some who I know, and know the name, they know it by 7 weeks, others could be 9 to 10, and others longer. The twins, Tekla and Tuva, they were a year old and they didn't know if they were Tekla, or Tuva, as they were together all the time, so they answered to either name. They both came on either. But I carry the little pups around telling them their name from very small. Telling them I was calling their name, and then repeat it over and over. If you pick them up, and say the name over and over while you carry them from small. It imprints fast. I knew MANE from the second he came out, so it was super fast with him, as I was calling him by name from literally only minutes old. It's all about Tone with a dog, so you can imprint a tone prior to whelp. But with a pup, carry it, say it's name. Look at it, call it's name, say it over and over, praise them when they come using the name, over and over. The more you use the name, the faster they lock to it. Lock right onto the dog when saying it with your vision, your energy, really connect with them when setting the name. Remember, big fun time with the name, always, big fun time. They learn way faster if they are enjoying it. Hope that helps. Merv

[@gerald4133]

They are very stubborn, I've had 5 Elkie's & they are very intelligent right now we have a male Juno 2 . He only obeys me, I am struck so he knows who's the boss. He only respects me. I've had Elkie's Male/female. My spouse he doesn't follow her commands. Sit, go, move, down.

[@marshkus994]

Im sorry, these dogs are specifically breed for moose hunting. What makes a good Elkhound is that it for example is trained so that it hunts mooses and does not mix it up with reindeer. These dogs are not meant to have just walking around, a good Norwegian elkhound you cant walk with without a leash, because the hunting instinct is supposed to make the dogs want to track a moose. So im sorry but you are using these dogs for the wrong purpouse. (I am Norwegian and i am a moose hunter, and i have Norwegian elkhounds)

[@MervCarlson]

Hi Marshkus, thank you for the comments, we also all hunt Moose with the dogs, hunt bear and the dog is very easy to use year round. We can't hunt year round in Canada, we have very limited time frames we can hunt. We want to be with the dog year round. Our lineages can easily do many things. Yours can as well. There are many of our lines that are Champion Bear hunting, and Champion Moose hunting lines from Finland and Sweden, Norway. So they can hunt many things, not just Moose. I know you use your lines for Moose, of course. But they can easily hike all year, we all do it Year round here. So, no, we do not use them for the wrong purpose, we use for them for more purpose. They are extremely skilled dogs and we like to use them for more. Our USA folks of course need to be able to have hiking companions and scouting companions as well, we place a lot of dogs there. So our goal is to allow the dog to be used in remote terrain to much more advantage than just hunting Moose. Thank you for sharing, good luck on the hunting. We wish you the very best. Merv

[@wildernessliving4288]

@@MervCarlson agree with you Merv. I hunt moose with my Elkhound here in Norway, but just as in Canada we have a set season, and cannot hunt year round.. Don't want my dog locked up all year exept during hunting season, so I take him for walks in the woods and mountains to spend time with him and exercise him, as well as honing his tracking skills. He's a great hunting dog, but also a great hiking buddy! I look at him as a family member, not a hunting tool :)