How long does a Norwegian Elkhound live?

The listed lifespan for a Norwegian Elkhound is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Norwegian Elkhound?

The listed height for a Norwegian Elkhound is 20.5 in (male), 19.5 in (female).

Is a Norwegian Elkhound good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Norwegian Elkhound is 3 out of 5.

When is a Norwegian Elkhound full grown?

The growth size band for a Norwegian Elkhound is up to 24 months.

Hound Group

Norwegian Elkhound

Norwegian Elkhound is a large dog in the Hound Group. Adult weight is 55 lb (male), 48 lb (female), height is 20.5 in (male), 19.5 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Friendly, Confident, Dependable.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Norwegian Elkhound dog — Photo: Sannse · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight55 lb (male), 48 lb (female)

SizeLarge GroupHound Group

Height

20.5 in (male), 19.5 in (female)

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 119 single-size large breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about 0.9 years longer than the 12.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 51.5 lb is about 7.7 lb lighter than the 59.2 lb average for those large breeds.

The listed origin is Norway. The coat is described as double, medium. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.3 points above the group average of 3.7 for the Hound Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 128 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in up to 24 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): larger breeds require up to 24 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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