Norwegian Elkhound Cost

Last Updated on January 6, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

The beautiful Norwegian Elkhound pet dog breed, with its wolf-like face, is a dog that really enjoys life. Smart as it can be, they likewise have a fantastic sense of humor. They’ll race you around the kitchen table, reverse instructions when you do, and after that growl just for fun.

Although these are pure-blooded pet dogs, some might still wind up in the care of shelters or rescue groups. Think about adoption if this is the breed for you.

Vibrant, energetic, and protective, the Norwegian Elkhound makes an exceptional guard dog and protector. Elkhounds are absolutely committed to their families. When you’re upset, this tenderhearted Viking will plop their head on your lap. Flexible and caring, both skilled pet parents and amateurs will find it easy to fall for these pet dogs. You should only make sure you can give it proper amounts of exercise to meet their high energy levels.

Just how much does it cost to get a Norwegian Elkhound puppy?

Typically, a Norwegian Elkhound is going to cost anywhere from $500 to as much as $1,200. The expenses truly boil down to the dog’s age, gender, quality, breeder, parents and bloodline, and geographical place.

You might also like our articles about the cost of a Boxer, a Dogo Argentino, or an Irish Settler.

Most online sources will tell you that the typical price of a Norwegian Elkhound can be $500 or more.

At Elkhound Hill, a Norwegian Elkhound without an American Kennel Club (AKC) registration costs $650, while one with a limited AKC registration costs $800. A dog with complete AKC breeding rights will cost around $1,000. Costs will apply to both male and female Norwegian Elkhounds.

At the time of this writing, PuppyFind.com, a popular online pet categorized site, had just 35 listings, with costs varying from $350 to a bit more than $950.

The main AKC Market had a handful of respectable breeders, with rates anywhere from $700 to $1,150.

What is going to be included in the adoption fee?

Trustworthy breeders, at the very least, will include a written agreement between the breeder and the purchaser when a pup is bought. The agreement will have a stipulation that prevents the purchaser from selling the pet dog to another person without the approval of the breeder. Aside from this, they will also add a health test, registration documentation, health guarantee, up-to-date vaccinations, and a travel dog crate if being shipped.

Some additional expenses to prepare for

If the pet needs to be delivered by means of an airline company or by car, then the expenses might be anywhere from $150 to $400, depending upon the travel distance.

Numerous breeders will ask for a deposit, which can be approximately $200 to hold a pup, however, as long as you commit and buy the puppy, your deposit will be added towards the adoption charge.

Like in the case of any other family pet, you should be prepared for ongoing expenditures such as food, toys, grooming sessions, training, and routine/surprise veterinarian consultations. A healthy pet can easily cost $800 each year and far more if it were to get some harder-to-treat illnesses.

Recurring costs

The expense of keeping a Norwegian Elkhound in your life is a noticeable one.

Nevertheless, the cash you spend does not stop with the adoption cost or the purchase cost.

You will also want to think about things like the expense of food, healthcare, training, and grooming.

Price of Food

For a pet dog the size of a Norwegian Elkhound, you do not have to stress over monthly food expenses.

Nevertheless, the expense of food is, naturally, still very important to take into consideration. Do you have the additional $30 each month that you’ll require for a 30-40 pound bag of high quality food?

And try to avoid getting the economical things just to save on monthly expenses.

It’s pretty bad for your dog, which means that you will save some money now, however, you’ll just pay double later on in medical expenses.

Plus, that’s just unfair to the dog.

Healthcare Costs

Among the smartest things you can do when thinking about acquiring a brand-new dog is to look into the health issues that are common for that particular breed.

You can then have a better understanding of just how much you may wind up spending on veterinarian expenses and medication in the coming years.

For example, have a look at a few of the more typical health issues that might affect the Norwegian Elkhound:

Hip dysplasia
Hypothyroidism
Fanconi Syndrome (a pretty rare kidney illness)
Skin Cysts
Eye problems, like glaucoma, Retinal Atrophy, and Retinal Dysplasia

Now, while a bulk of these issues are fortunately not as important as you might think, you still need to prepare for anything unexpected.

Any dog can get cancer or get hit by moving vehicles. These are things you should get ready for just in case the worst will happen.

You can also check out pet insurance coverage which, while an added cost, might wind up saving you a lot of money in the long run.

Training Programs

Lots of people can train their own pet dogs. Although this type of dog is known to be very loyal, they will still have to be trained with a “firm” hand. If adopting as a pup, be sure to get expert obedience classes to teach it the fundamentals such as sit, stay, and lie down.

Nevertheless, if you’re a newbie dog owner, or if you purchase or adopt a pet dog who is harder to train, then you might need to work with an expert trainer.

This too is another expenditure you will have to prepare for before you even bring your brand-new dog home to meet your family and especially your kids.

What if your pet has a problem with jumping on different people when they come at the door?

It’s much better to prepare for a training program and not need it, than to need one and ask how you’re going to pay for it.

Grooming Expenses

Like training, grooming is something else most pet owners can do on their own.

Nevertheless, if you’re not used to a shedder, then you may need some aid with the Norwegian Elkhound.

Any tips to remember?

The Norwegian Elkhound is known as a very delicate, faithful, robust, athletic breed and will flourish on daily exercise. They can get along with other types of dogs as long as they are introduced at a younger age.

The typical height will be 19 to 21 inches in height, with a weight ranging between 48 and 55 pounds.

The Norwegian Elkhound has a double coat: the external coat is weather-resistant and has a hard, thick feel to it, whereas the undercoat is softer and wooly in texture. Typical coat colors will be black, silver, and gray.

The life span of this dog, as long as kept healthy, can be 12 to 15 years.

Norwegian Elkhounds can be rather challenging pets due to the fact that although they are a smart breed, they are very stubborn and will typically do what they want and when they want.

The very best place where you will find a Norwegian Elkhound for sale is an AKC dog breeder, animal shelters, or rescue groups.

Breeders might accept appointments on a first-come, first-serve basis. Some need a deposit of half of the overall price to hold a pup. Due to the rarity of this dog type, you might need to place yourself on a kennel waitlist.

Lots of breeders will not ship their litter, so purchasers will need to go and pick the dog up personally.

You should do your best to avoid purchasing Norwegian Elkhound pups at pup mills, which are commercial pet dog reproducing places that put more focus on revenues than animal well-being. Lots of young puppies in pup farms are badly mistreated and are bred indiscriminately.

This canine is pretty much OK in an apartment, however, due to its active nature, it will still need enough workout.

Any way to save some money?

You can try to avoid the private breeders and consider adoption as a way of supporting a local shelter or rescue groups. While you might not get this specific breed, you might find a mix that really looks like it, while also helping a cute dog find a family.