Hunting Dogs

In this category we will present you with detailed descriptions and articles about all breeds from following sections, Nordic Hunting Dogs and Primitive Types – Hunting Dogs. Breeds included are Karelian Bear Dog, Finnish Spitz, Swedish Elkhound, Russo-European Laika, West Siberian Laika, East Siberian Laika, Norwegian Lundehund, Thai Ridgeback, Podengo Português, Podenco Canario, Podenco Ibicenco, Taiwan Dog, and Cirneco dell’Etna.

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Portuguese Podengo Dogs Characteristics

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The Portuguese Podengo or Podengo Português (Portuguese Warren Hound) is a primitive type Sighthound breed originating from, as its name suggests, Portugal. The breed comes in three varieties – Portuguese Podengo Grande (large), Portuguese Podengo Medio (medium), and Portuguese Podengo Pequeno (small). Except their size and weight, they are more or less the same dogs with only a few noticeable differences, which I’ll explain later in this article. There’s a common opinion that these dogs were developed from hounds imported to the Iberian peninsula from Egypt and North Africa by the Phoenician traders approximately 3.000 years ago. However, some experts believe that this breed particularly had evolved from small Iberian wolves. Anyhow, there’s no denying that these Portuguese dogs have many similarities with other Mediterranean hounds, such as the Pharaoh Hound, Podenco Canario, Cirneco dell Etna or Ibizan Hound. That’s why the Podengo Português breed is by the FCI included in the group 7: Primitive Types – Hunting Dogs in the class of primitive dogs. Continue Reading →

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Black Norwegian Elkhound Dog Breed Info And Characteristics

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The Black Norwegian Elkhound or Norsk Elghund Sort is a Spitz type hunting dog originating from, as its name suggests, Norway. This is, in fact, a modern, smaller and more agile version of a Gray Norwegian Elkhound. The Black Elkhound was actually developed from this original Elkhound back in the early 19th century – the breed was acknowledged in 1877. Despite that, people in Scandinavia often say that this particular Black Moose Dog truly has an ancient origin since it was estimated that Norwegian Elkhound‘s ancestors had originated approximately 6.000 years ago. Beside these two Norwegian versions of Elkhound dogs, there is also a third version – the Swedish Elkhound, which is the biggest of the three. All three breeds are classified as hunting dogs and are mainly used to hunt big game. The Black Norwegian Elkhound is by the FCI included in the Nordic Hunting Dogs group in the class of primitive dogs. Continue Reading →

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Swedish Elkhound Breed Information And Characteristics

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The Swedish Elkhound or Jämthund is a Spitz type hunting dog that originated a few thousand years ago in Jämtland, a province in central Sweden. It is quite obvious that its Swedish name was given after the name of this province. This is one of three Elkhounds – other two being the Norwegian Elkhound and Black Norwegian Elkhound – and is the biggest of them, but it’s also the least favorite of them. It is interesting to know that before 1946, when the breed was finally recognized, the Jämthund and Norwegian Elkhound were considered the same breed. Well, although they’re quite different in look, it is not that surprising since these dogs were developed from the same ancestors. Together with the Swedish Lapphund, Finnish Lapphund, and Lapponian Herder, these two breeds were developed through hybridization of female wolves and male dogs. This interbreeding had occurred after their domestication. The Swedish Elkhound is in the FCI included in the Nordic Huntig Dogs group in the class of primitive dogs. Continue Reading →

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Six Toed Norwegian Lundehund Dog Breed Info And Characteristics

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The Norwegian Lundehund or Norsk Lundehund is a small Spitz-type breed originating from Røst and Værøy municipalities in the north of Norway. The name of the dog literally translates as Norwegian Puffin Dog since the word “Lunde” means Puffin (this dog is primarily used to hunt these birds and collect their eggs), and “Hund” stands for dog or hound in Norwegian. Nobody knows exactly how much this breed is actually old, but scientists had estimated, based on the fossil remains of the Varranger dog from northern Lapland, who had the identical jaws, that it might be somewhere around 5.000 years. This fact puts Lundehund into the group of oldest primitive dogs in the world. However, the first mention of the breed, the way it looks like today, is dating back to the late 16th century. Today, this dog belongs to the Nordic Hunting Dogs group in the class of primitive dog breeds. Continue Reading →

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Finnish Spitz Dog Info And Characteristics

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The Finnish Spitz dog or Suomenpystykorva (in Finnish) is a primitive breed originating from Finland. It was developed by the Finno-Ugrian hunting tribes approximately 2.000 years ago. In the process of selective breeding, they were using the ancient Spitz-type dogs they brought with them while migrating from the river Volga region in central Russia. These dogs were bred for hunting in the harsh and hostile Finland’s wilderness. They remained isolated there until the early 19th century, when they were almost extinct by interbreeding with other breeds brought in Finland at that time. Fortunately, thanks to the group of dedicated people the breed has been saved in its original shape. It belongs to the Nordic Hunting Dogs group in the class of all primitive dogs. In 1979, Finsk Spets was proclaimed as the national dog of Finland, the title he still proudly bears. Continue Reading →