Elkie Meets Finkie

 Dogs  7 Responses »
Jun 292011
 

While poking around websites dedicated to squirrel dogs in the States, there were references to Elkhounds ["Norwegians" or "Elkie"], Finnish Spitz ["Spitz"] and West Siberian Laika ["Laika"]; I ran across an advert from West Virginia about a half Norwegian Elkhound, half Finnish Spitz. The goal of his purpose-bred cross is to retain the eagerness of searching games of the Spitz, but to cross in the biddablity ["good handle"] of the Norwegian. Whether or not the mix is successful remains ambiguous.


via abovetopsecret.com [Image: dogfin]

Actually, it is not quite uncommon to see mentions of “3/4 Cur, 1/4 Spitz” or “1/2 Spitz, 1/4 Norwegian, 1/4 Feist” et cetera with a Finkie somewhere listed in the pedigree. Some people enjoy the persistent nature of the Spitz, but dislike the fact they hunt deep without ranging closeby– hence the attempts to dilute certain traits while trying to maintain desireable attributes.

However, if the photographed Norwegian-Spitz mix ends up at a rescue, I am sure it would be labelled as a “German Sheperd mix.”

Hat tip: Scottie from retrieverman found this picture when the idea of a cross was blabbed.

Reindeer Dogs

 Hunting, Hunting  2 Responses »
May 042011
 

via google.com [Image: "Gamle Norge.": Rambles and scrambles in Norway by Robert Taylor Pritchett, 1879]

In Sporting Life on the Norwegian Fjeds, published in 1878, there are numerous references to “bear-hounds,” “reindeer-hounds,” “deer-hounds” and “elk-hounds” for conventional purposes. The dogs doesn’t seem to be defined by their breed or type, but rather the function they are used for.  In fact, they even mention how dogs are employed to find a “ryper” [trans: "grouse"].

The people in the book did not specify what kind of dogs were used nor were there any hints whether the dogs mentioned are either Elkhounds, Lapphunds, Finnish Spitzes, Norbottenspets, Karelian Bear Dogs, Huskies, English Setters, Finnish Hounds and so on. It is neither clear if the dogs were imported from Britain or Germany. Nevermind the type, what’s important is how the methodology of hunting which still persists today continuing from a hundred and thirty years ago.  The account of hunting in Scandinavia is quite enjoyable read about how the English, Norwegians and Finns use their dogs.

In a particular segment about “reindeer hounds,” Jans Andreas Friis mentioned prick-eared dogs, small in stature, with noses that come to a point; who could also be used to hunt birds. Here is an excerpt on how to use a “bandhund” [trans: "leashed dog"] to trail games:

Reindeer hounds are of course always led by a leash or cord This is better not attached to a common dog collar as the dog in its eagerness to follow up the spoor is apt to nearly choke himself but should be fastened to a kind of harness in such a manner as to leave the throat and head free The smallest specimens of the race are preferred as they are not so strong and can therefore be more easily guided by the cord It is no doubt very pleasant when climbing upwards to be assisted by the dogpulling at the leash but the reverse is the case when going over difficult and dangerous ground such as over loose pieces of stone or when descending precipitous mountain slopes where the assistance of both hands and feet are necessary to proceed in safety A sudden unexpected tug at the line then by a strong eager dog might easily cause the sportsman to lose his footing and his life Accordingly the dogs in general use are small ones with sharp noses and upright pointed ears of the same breed as those used by the Fins to guard their herds of tame reindeer These dogs are also used for hunting bears and elk Usually a dog specially trained as an elkhound can be used for reindeer as they will follow the spoor of one animal as readily as that of the other These dogs could of course be trained to follow at heel until such time as there is a probability of finding reindeer when they could be attached to a leash and told to search for spoor instead of as now tuggingat the leash as soon as the sportsman sets out in a way that renders it difficult to hold them There is no hope of this improvement however so long as the present system of training is in vogue amongst the peasant hunters who are the principal trainers of deerhounds An ordinary sporting dog will readily follow rein spoor when encouraged to do so while young and probably could be trained both to follow reindeer spoor led in a leash and to go at liberty and search for winged gameFrom the text, it sounds like the Finns are referring to the Lapinkoira [trans: "Lappish dogs"] landrace: either the Lapphund (Suomenlapinkoira) or the Lapponian Herders (Lapinporokoira). However given even Norwegian Elkhounds have innate herding abilities, and there were numerous village strains of dogs prior to the standardizations set forward by kennel owners, it is probably wise to be consistent with the original text: classify dogs based on their tasks.

War Dogs Have Been Reduced

 Hunting, Hunting  No Responses »
Mar 232011
 

Viking dogs are Viking hardcore. There is a certain aura surrounding the Nordic dogs ranging from how Elkhounds were the war dogs or Buhunds were ship dogs. Despite such folklores, no one is raiding with these dogs.

Ever wonder what Norwegian slash Swedish Elkhounds and Finnish Spitzes are meant to be?

via youtube.com

Now in British Columbia, unlike Sweden, one cannot use a dog in the same manner in the footage. However if one takes a look at the 2010-2012 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis, it is noted they can still use dogs for ungulates on a leash:

[Image: Service B.C.]

The use of dogs is permitted in the hunting of all game, but dogs must be on a leash when used to hunt deer, elk, moose, mountain sheep, mountain goat and caribou. Unleashed dogs may be used to hunt small game, lynx, bobcat, grizzly bear, black bear or cougar. Any person may train dogs by allowing them, under supervision, to pursue game birds from August 1 to April 30.

Now there is a style involving a ten-foot leash. These dogs are classified as “bandhunds” [literally "leashed dog."] They silently track the moose, leading the hunter to the prey, and drops their tail or raises the scruff when the game is nearby.

via youtube.com

Here, elkhounds are more known for their ability to flush or tree birds and bay bears. However the elkhounds are not really used in the same way catch-dogs such as curs and heelers. See, some bear hunters prefer dogs to keep the bear at bay from a distance; while others prefer their dogs to grip and grapple the bear to hold them. Hunters who praise the grip-and-hold method of the bear dogs often dismiss the possibility of other breeds and regurge terrier runts cannot hunt bears or that size matters. Although it is uncertain how much of the previous statement is just testosterone raging, I disagree; the 35-pounds, now 40-something, Shiba Inu I have could bay a bear; he done it before, and while he was bold enough to go foot-to-foot with one and kept his distance, he also knew playing rough would spell doom, unlike many of the hounds people share stories about. When elkhound owners praise their dogs’ style, I know exactly what they are talking about.

Mind you, I never grew up in this kind of culture of big-game dogs. Using gundogs for small games is okay, but using them to hunt big games was considered unsportsmanlike; also it was considered as a low-class hillbilly thing to do to use a dog for anything other than vermin control and birding. Yes, we are very British in mentality.

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