THE ELKHOUND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20501, 31 August 1928, Page 16

THE ELKHOUND.

Amongst the many varieties of foreign hounds that are exhibited at the Kennel Club shows in Great Britain there is not a more pleasant looking dog than the elkhound. During the last three years it has become immensely popular on both sides of the Border, and large classes ,of diem are tc\ be seen at the larger dog shows. Lady Irwin, the wife of the GovernorGeneral of India, was the founder of the British Elkhound Society in 1923, and it now boasts a big number of members. Lady Talborde Malahide has done much to popularise the variety, and has imported several beautiful specimens into this country. The elkhound is very similar in appearance to the once better-known variety the eskimo, which became famous through its connection with the Peary Arctic expedition across Greenland. The elkhound is, however, much smaller and not so /olf-like in appearance. Both have very dense coats, with a thick, v oolly undercoat to resist the penetrating snow and cold. The eskimo dog is a North American variety, whilst the elkhound is a native of Norway. The former is largely used as a draught dog for drawing sledges, whilst thg latter is used for hunting elk in Norway and Sweden. He has also a good nose, and is sometimes used for tracking the bear. Both dogs are very fast, and have great powers of endurance. Kane, the explorer, reported that he did 700 miles with his dog team at a rate of 57 miles a day. The elkhound is a cobbly-built dog with powerful rib and great lung capacity. He has a shapely head with erect ears, which give him a very intelligent loo' He is sagacious enough in every way, and is a very sturdy dog for bis size. His tail is carried over his back, and it -is tightly curled up or twisted, as the term goes. Elkhounds are of a very pretty silvery wolf-grey colour, the outer hairs having’ tips of black, which give the coat a beautiful finished appearance. A very docile type of dog, and capable of great affection for its owner, this native of Norway seems as if it is a true ladies’ dog. The ladies, 'ndeed, are the best supporters of the breed, and several very large kennels of hounds have been established during the last year gr two. The elkhound is undoubtedly one of the coming varieties,—James Garrow, in the Weekly 1 Scotsman.