Raising dogs, especially providing care for the black norwegian elkhound, is a specialty of people across the globe. Some zoologists believe dogs were first domesticated between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that dogs evolved from wolves. Since then, people have selectively bred more than four hundred different breeds, which range in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the distinction of the tallest pooch. However, the most widespread canines are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The black norwegian elkhound is also a popular choice among dog owners. Many owners are uninformed, however, of many common black norwegian elkhound care tips.
Cost of care for your black norwegian elkhound
The yearly cost of providing for your black norwegian elkhound—to include everything from meals and snacks, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between $420 and $780. This is not even counting capital costs for spay/neuter surgery, a collar and leash, dog carrier and dog crate. Note: Make sure you have obtained all your supplies before getting your black norwegian elkhound home.
Basic black norwegian elkhound Care
Feeding your black norwegian elkhound
- black norwegian elkhound pups between eight and 12 weeks old need four meals in a twenty-four hour period.
- Feed black norwegian elkhound pups 3 to 6 months old three meals in a day.
- Feed pups 6 months old to 1 year 2 bowls of food every twenty-four hours.
- By the time your black norwegian elkhound reaches her 1st birthday, 1 meal every 24 hours is typically adequate.
- Sometimes black norwegian elkhounds might prefer 2 smaller servings. It is your duty to learn your black norwegian elkhound’s eating schedule.
High-quality dry food ensures a balanced diet for full-grown black norwegian elkhounds and may be mixed with water, broth, or canned food. Your black norwegian elkhound may have a taste for cooked eggs, fruits and vegetables, and cottage cheese, but these additions shouldn’t total more than ten pct of her daily food allowance. black norwegian elkhound pups should probably be fed high-quality, name brand puppy food. Please cut down on “table food”, though, because it can result in vitamin and mineral imbalances, bone and teeth problems, and might cause some very finicky eating habits and obesity. Give fresh, clean water at all times, and make certain to clean food and water dishes very often.
black norwegian elkhound Care Tips: Your black norwegian elkhound needs physical activity daily
black norwegian elkhounds need some exercise in order to stay healthy, stimulate their minds, and maintain their health. Daily physical activity also really helps black norwegian elkhounds fight boredom, which would often lead to destructive behavior. Outside playtime would appease most of your black norwegian elkhound’s instinctual urges to dig, retrieve, chase, chew and herd. Activity needs will vary based on your black norwegian elkhound’s age and her level of health—but 10 minutes in back of the house and just a couple of walks around the block every day probably is not enough. If your black norwegian elkhound is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will probably be much greater.
Grooming tips for black norwegian elkhounds
Frequent brushing will help keep your black norwegian elkhound clean and reduce shedding. Inspect for ticks and fleas daily during the summer or other warm weather. Many black norwegian elkhounds don’t need to be bathed more than a few times per year. Before a bath, comb or cut out all mats from the black norwegian elkhound’s coat. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or dirt will stick to the soap.
black norwegian elkhound Handling
Pups, as opposed to adults, are clearly the easiest to manage. When carrying the black norwegian elkhound pup, place 1 hand beneath your dog’s chest, either with your forearm or your other hand supporting her hind legs and rear. Don’t attempt to grab or lift your puppy by his or her forelegs, tail or back of the neck. When you must pick up a bigger, adult black norwegian elkhound, lift from the underside, supporting his or her chest with 1 arm and rear end with your other arm.
How to House the black norwegian elkhound
Your black norwegian elkhound needs a comfortable peaceful location in order to sleep apart from all drafts and off the floor. You may wish to purchase a doggie bed, or think about making one from a wood box. Put a clean sheet, blanket, or pillow in the bed. Wash the black norwegian elkhound’s bedding frequently. If the black norwegian elkhound will be spending a lot of time outdoors, be certain she has plenty of cool water and shade in hot weather, and a warm, dry, covered shelter in winter.
Licensing and Identification for black norwegian elkhounds
Your city has licensing rules to heed. You should affix the license to the black norwegian elkhound’s collar. This, along with an ID tag, will most likely help you recover your black norwegian elkhound should he go missing.
Info on black norwegian elkhound Behavior
Thoughts on black norwegian elkhound Training
A well-behaved, companion black norwegian elkhound can truly be a blessing to own. But when left untrained, your black norwegian elkhound can be a lot of trouble. Teaching your black norwegian elkhound the standards—”Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, “Come”, and “Leave it”—will bolster your relationship both with the pooch as well as your relatives. If you’re the owner of a pup, begin training him on manners quickly! Use doggie snacks as recognition and incentive. Pups should start obedience courses when they have been sufficiently vaccinated. Call your community SPCA or humane society for details on obedience courses. You should always keep your black norwegian elkhound on a leash in public, even while a pup. Just be positive your black norwegian elkhound will come back to you when you say. A disobedient or aggressive black norwegian elkhound can’t play with kids.
black norwegian elkhound Health
Your black norwegian elkhound should see the veterinarian for a thorough screening, innoculations and heartworm examination annualy, and as soon as possible if she is injured or ill.
black norwegian elkhound Dental Health
While many of us might simply dislike our black norwegian elkhound’s foul breath, we should pay attention to what it may mean. Bad breath is a sign that your black norwegian elkhound should have an oral examination. Plaque , which is a result of bacteria creates a bad stench that requires treatment by a professional. Once your black norwegian elkhound has had a professional dental cleaning, his teeth and gums may be be preserved in a healthy state by feeding a special diet focused on dental health, eliminating table food, and regular brushing. Your veterinarian can give you more tips on eliminating oral ailments and bad breath. You should brush the black norwegian elkhound’s teeth with a doggie paste or a simple baking soda and water paste a few times per week. Use a child’s soft toothbrush, a gauze pad or a piece of nylon stocking stretched over your finger. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, sometimes affects black norwegian elkhounds. This troublesome affliction can lead to tooth loss and cause infection to his body. Veterinarians should brush his teeth at a routine checkup.
Bad black norwegian elkhound Breath
If your black norwegian elkhound has bad breath, gum disease may simply be the tip of the iceberg as far as his health issues. Intestinal or liver diseases sometimes also cause stinky breath, whereas a sweet, even pleasant smell may usually be a sign of diabetes. If your black norwegian elkhound’s breath smells of urine or ammonia, kidney disease might be the reason. Set an appointment with a veterinarian whenever your black norwegian elkhound has halitosis along with other signs of disease like excessive urinating or drinking, depression or lethargy, weight loss, nausea, or decreased appetite.
black norwegian elkhound Flea and Tick Issues
Daily, regular inspections of your black norwegian elkhound for ticks and fleas during the summer are important. Find and remove fleas using a flea comb. There are several new methods of tick reduction. Get advice from your vet about his options.
Heartworm problems in black norwegian elkhounds
This parasite lives in the heart and passes from an infested dog to your black norwegian elkhound by mosquitoes. Many black norwegian elkhounds die yearly as a result of heartworms. Your black norwegian elkhound should have a blood test for heartworms every spring—this is necessary for detecting infections from the past year. A once-a-month tablet given during mosquito season will help to protect your black norwegian elkhound. If you ever travel in a warmer-than-usual climate with your black norwegian elkhound during the winter, she must be on the preventive medicine during the trip. There are some areas, usually the areas with more moderate climates, where doctors recommend worm pills be given continually.
Medicines and Poisons
Please don’t give your black norwegian elkhound medicine that has not been prescribed by a veterinarian. As little as one ibuprofen tablet can possibly cause stomach ulcers in black norwegian elkhounds. Make sure your black norwegian elkhound is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. When you suspect that your pooch has consumed a toxic substance, notify the doctor or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four-hour animal poison assistance.
Neutering and Spaying black norwegian elkhounds
Female black norwegian elkhounds should be spayed—which is the removal of the uterus and ovaries—and males neutered—removal of the testes—by 6 months old. You usually will significantly diminish your female black norwegian elkhound’s chance of breast cancer by spaying before adulthood. The risk of a diseased uterus, which is also a serious condition that impacts older females, can also be eliminated by spaying prior to 6 months. Neutering male black norwegian elkhounds eliminates the risk of prostate and testicular diseases, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias.
Shots for your black norwegian elkhound
- The combo vaccine (also called the “5-in-1 shot”) must be given to your black norwegian elkhound at 2, 3, and 4 months of age and then once yearly. This innoculation immunizes your puppy from hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and distemper. Your black norwegian elkhound must be vaccinated for at least the first four months of her life.
- If you have an uninnoculized black norwegian elkhound older than 4 or five months, he must have a series of 2 vaccinations given two or 3 weeks apart, followed by a yearly immunization.
- Your black norwegian elkhound pup’s innoculations should coincide with her socialization program. You should take your black norwegian elkhound pup to socialization courses by eight or nine weeks old, according to many veterinarians. At this age, they should have already received their first vaccinations.
Because laws vary between different areas, contact a local vet to get info on rabies immunization. For example, in New York City, the statute requires all pets older than 3 months must be vaccinated for rabies. After the initial shot, he must have another innoculation the next year, and then every 3 years after that. There are many innoculations, many of which are effective for your black norwegian elkhound. There are others that are not, however. Ask your black norwegian elkhound’s vet for her recommendation. Another thing, if your black norwegian elkhound happens to get ill because she is not innoculated, the innoculation can be administered once your pet fully recovers.
Hookworms in black norwegian elkhounds
black norwegian elkhounds are commonly exposed to worms—especially in rural areas. Eggs that carry roundworms and hookworms are transmitted through a black norwegian elkhound’s feces. Most puppies, even from healthy mothers in good homes, carry intestinal worms. Getting an accurate, early diagnosis is the key to effective treatment. This will make certain that the medication is successful against the worms your dog has. A dewormer that eliminates hookworms, for example, can’t kill tapeworms. Your vet can best figure out the culprit—and assign the most effective treatment.
black norwegian elkhound: Miscellaneous Care Tips
Checklist of black norwegian elkhound Supplies
- Premium-quality dog food and snacks specifically for black norwegian elkhounds and similarly-sized dogs
- Food dish
- Water dish
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Brush & comb for grooming, including flea comb
- Collar with ID tag and license
- Leash
- Carrier (for puppies)
- Training crate
- Box or dog bed with quilt or towel
- Doggie or child’s toothbrush
The no-no list
Never feed your black norwegian elkhound the following:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate
- Grapes or raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, chives and garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt and salty foods
- Tomato leaves, stems or unripe fruit
- Yeast dough
Final Thoughts
Unless you are at home, or in a secured, fenced-in space, always keep your black norwegian elkhound on a leash. And please, when your black norwegian elkhound defecates on your neighbor’s grass, clean it up! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about black norwegian elkhounds
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