|
| |
|
|
Kamia Kennels - Quality Elkhounds
Female Elkhounds - GÆDA and
Tora - Two Great Dogs To Celebrate With
As GÆDA is full Norwegian Elkhound I
am putting this up on Norway's Independence Day, May 17th, 2013
Both these females sit here under the birch, calm and
content. These are two of the premier females in Canada
right now. They will be cycling soon, both will be having
summer litters.
These girls are pretty much inseparable now, they hang out
all the time together, they are out in the front yard most
of the time these days. The boys and Mia are out back.
GÆDA
is just a slight bit taller, maybe half inch, and Tora maybe
just a slight bit thicker, but they are very closely matched
in size, and weight, with Tora just edging out GÆDA
weight wise.
These are guard females, nice and social if I ask, but they
let no one approach without apprehension. And stray dogs are
run out, plain and simple, step in their turf, you best
start running as they will be burning down on you.
With people, once instructed to be social, they are
absolutely the best. You can do anything. So nice to be
around. These are some very good females. Both of them of
course have backed each other up in some pretty mean battles
with some miserable foe, both scarred, but still beauties.
Mia and Takoda, Pals for Life
I have Mia back home from Kamloops now, she had a
great holiday out in the BC desert. She is happy to be home,
and no one happier to see her than Takoda. They are best
pals these two. You won't find a couple dogs that get along
better, hang out more, and have fun and play together better
than these two.
|
The Norwegian Elkhound, an ancient breed with
history dating back thousands of years, is a powerful, dominant and
loyal companion for any family.
Norwegian Elkhounds have been used to hunt & guard for centuries,
they have remained virtually unchanged, providing the companionship and
loyal protective traits so well known by our ancestors still today, even
though some roles perhaps have changed for them.
Elkhound Traits:
- Strong Willed ( "Yet very trainable" )
- Healthy and Strong
- Virtually no eye, ear or feet problems
- Fast and quick, very agile, compact and powerful
- Beautiful Double Coat:
- Thick warm inner layer, coarse water repellent outer
layer
- Tightly Curled Tail
- Litter size 8 average
- These dogs have a No Odour Coat - no wet smell
- Excellent Winter Dog - these dogs love snow
- Very Territorial - Norwegian Elkhounds make
excellent watch and guard or personal protection dogs
- Outstanding Family Dogs - ( these dogs
bond to a family and make terrific companions )
- Full Exercise Required: these are high energy dogs, they
need lots of room and lots of exercise
- Barking is Instinctive: these dogs alert you if
anything comes into the territory, they bark and are loud, excellent
as watch dogs.
The history of an Elkhound clearly indicates a use in hunting and
protection, this trait is still foremost as these dogs have changed
little if at all. Used to slow down and distract large game by barking
and moving in circles around the game, the dogs were essential to the
success of any hunt. They're agile and powerful features made them able
to remain out of harms way in rugged terrain, yet keep up and in fact
bay large Moose and hold them at bay. The barking and circling were two
very effective methods to allow the hunter to get in close undetected as
the game was distracted and constantly having to focus on the dogs.
Elkhounds have been protective and courageous and use these traits in
this role. It is fascinating to watch a pair of Elkhounds with an
intruder, they move extremely fast, they circle, the hair is up the
entire length of the back, the bark is loud, the black face and
especially the black around the jaws highlight the white fangs. These
dogs are an excellent watch dog, guard dog, or personal protection dog.
Elkhounds will watch over the family unit as one - they make one of
the best choices for a family who wants a loyal companion. Norwegian
Elkhounds are not normally overly aggressive to strangers, however they
are aloof to those not part of the family unit. To the family unit
though they are as warm and as much apart of your life as you want them
to be.
 |
Jocko - Son of Tora 6 months
I received some great photos of Jocko from Sherry and Dick down
in Montana, they provide a great home for the big fella there. This
is an outstanding Male, truly a great example of the old genetics at
work. These are thick big boys, strong, powerful, yet easy going and
nice to be around, unless your an intruder, or coyote. Sherry and
Dick have Jocko trained on all kinds of stuff, I'll fill you in
on
all the details in the newsletter but suffice to say, he can do way
more than any of mine and he is only six months old, I better get
out the training manual.
These big dark boys, they are something to see, they come out of
the old lines, go way back to ancient times, thousands of years old,
have been hiking and hunting, guarding and protecting the handler
the whole time. These are really good dogs, and Jocko, he is as good
as you'll ever find.
|
|
|
Teeka, Female Norwegian Elkhound - Two years old
I received a great set of photos and update on Teeka from John
and Denise just recently. They have this beautiful daughter of Bram
and Tora down in Calgary. She is a really pleasant social female,
very nice to be around. She is every bit as tall and long as her
mother, and weighs very close as well, just a couple of pounds
lighter yet.
These females are terrific companion dogs, they make one of the
best family dogs there is, in our opinion, and our folks of course,
the best family dog. Teeka is an active Elkhound Female and John and
Denise, they provide tons of exercise and roaming for her on the
trails around southern Alberta.
I appreciate all the care that Denise and John provide Teeka, you
can see she is very well cared for and is a beautiful Elkhound.
|
 |
|
|
|
GÆDA - Female Elkhound -
Kamia Kennels
There are few things in the dog world better than having
a great female Elkhound. GAEDA is one of those females that are
absolutely amazing to have around. She is zero trouble, never asks
for a thing. Pays attention like you have never seen. Is always, and
I mean always 1 step behind and to the right, never do I have to
wonder where she is. She has developed into a beautiful female. As
far as standards go, she is a bit taller and longer, and
heavier, she weighs up close to Tora and stands just slightly
taller. A nice dark mask, great ears, black feet, very nice run and
spring, and super agile, light on her feet. She is a bouncy female,
a very happy girl these days.
Tora - Female Elkhound - Kamia Kennels
Tora is out front in the yard with GÆDA
all the time now. We have been blessed to have Tora, there is
no doubt. This is a companion dog, my my. She is a personable
female, you can't work these qualities into a dog, they need to be
born with it, she carries this trait to the fullest. She is the
nicest female to people and can be so social, but Tora carries with
her the absolute fearless nature and dominance that is found rarely
if ever to this degree. And she can scrap. Al Pacino in that old
movie scar face character has nothing on her. She is a battle tested
warrior. She is all muscle, although she packs on a little condition
before cycling, so she is a solid 58 lbs.
Her pups make some of the very best family dogs you'll ever come
across. Her females are all over the site, you'll not find better
anywhere, and her big boys, well, if your lucky enough to have a
Male from Tora, well, you have yourself one of the very best dogs in
North America, no doubt about it.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cypress Female Elkhound, Two years
I got a great update from Ken a while back and would like to
thank him for that great update, and also all the great care he
gives to Cypress, she looks terrific. This is a daughter of Tora,
first litter.
"Hi Merv and the best of the new year.
Unfortunately we don't have a lot of pics (I'll send some in a
separate attachments) but I report that all is well with Cypress.
She is growing nicely and shows very good intelligence and physical
properties. Her appearance is exceptional as elkhounds go but most
importantly she has grown to be an integral member of this family.
The only problem is I would like to retire so I can spend more time
with these two dogs. We regard her as a puppy still but she shows
qualities of an adult elkhound. She is fascinated with birds and
studies them in flight and on land and water sometimes from great
distance she will tract a bird in flight. She watches TV with us and
but unlike Nala just flash a picture of an Elk, Moose, Deer and she
is at the screen on attack. Now interestingly enough both on tele
and in real life she seems amazed at people riding on horses and she
is calm when they pass us. Cypress will put the min pin on the
ground if she is out of line (which is much less these days). Best
trainer title too. One problem was Cypress decided to eat every
blanket and dog bed so they are all removed when she is around in
the day. At night she gets a bed which I remove in the morning
before our walk. The min pin used to tear out stuffing too until her
teeth settled and I can see this happening with cypress to. She has
antlers, nylabones for extreme chewers, leather chews and a variety
of other non-destructible items too. She destroyed the largest TOSS
KONG made of fire hose in less than five minutes. Her teeth are like
scissors and she can cut fabric with little difficulty. Oddly riding
in the back of the 4 door pickup (this is the dogs area - seats are
folded rubber mat and carpet ontop with blankets to lie on there is
no such behavior. I guess its anticipation for where we are going -
who knows but with the small seat down for the min pin to stand on
and the elkhound cuddled up it's quite cool. Oh she is a very
friendly confident dog with people and other dogs. Loves chasing
squirrels and if I wasn't watching would probably be kidnapped by
her many admirers.
You have done an excellent job Merv and I thank you for Cypress.
All the very best to you and your family for now and the future."
Ken
|
|
 |
|
|
Jaegar - Son of Takoda and Mia - 2 years old - happy
birthday big fella!
Jaegar has been an impressive fella from day one, even as a stout
little guy he exhibited all the traits I was looking for. I was
looking for the old world dog, the big thick dark rascal. Strong,
powerful, heavy and thick. I was looking for a real dominant male,
nice to the handler, loyal, all the personable traits of Takoda, yet
with all the mean to danger that the breed is well known for. I was
after a fearless big boy, confident, calm, steady, not worried about
a thing.
I was after the deep color, the dark way down, if possible a
darker mask, although not a concern for me. I wanted a wide flat
back big fella, with a seriously wide chest, just like Mia, and deep
like Takoda. I wanted the big power in the rear, thick bone density,
yet clean, not clumsy.
Height to match Takoda, weight to be the same or a little more. I
was after the big muzzle, the wide strong jaws, even taper, nice
looking head. I was hoping for nice dark ears like Mia. I could have
gone either way on the coat, a bit looser like Mia, or a bit tighter
like Takoda, either or for me. I was after the Black/Silver versus
the Grey / Black, that part was easy with Takoda.
I knew that intelligence was going to be easy, Mia and Takoda
come from very smart lineages, so any pup directly in this lineage
is highly intelligent, that I knew was a given. The ability to not
turn out too nice, this was always something I had to watch out for,
it's easy to raise all nice dogs, it's not so easy to keep the mean.
The breeding male I was looking for needed to keep the mean, he
needs to pass that protective trait down, right close to the
surface, we can't breed out those traits. I want my dogs to look
after the kids and protect them, I don't want the kids to have to
look after the dog.
Easy keeper, well, that was pretty much a given out of Mia, it's
not really too much of an issue with those coastal lines, and with
the frame out of Takoda, he would lean out some, but for me, the
easy keeper genetics are harder to keep, than the lean. So, an easy
keeper, easy fleshing big fella is what I was after. Lean is easy,
easy keepers, not so easy.
The big wide head, big muzzle doesn't guarantee bite strength,
but Takoda does, so I knew any of his pups have the old bite
strength. I did not want too much of the stubborn Norway traits,
although you can't get coastal fleshing and the big wide chests
without the stubborn, however Takoda would tone this down without a
doubt. The big bark comes from the Swedish, they have a very nice
deep bark, it's loud but nice, I hoped for this. I did not want the
Norway yap.
I wanted a nice spring in the gate not overly stiff front end, I
like the easy moving big fellas, there are plenty of stiff legged
females, so an easy moving big fella for me. Nice clean compact
feet, feet like Tora is what I was after, just a little bit larger
of course. Both Mia and Takoda have exceptional feet, again this was
going to be easy. Slightly tighter tail curl than Takoda, yet not to
worry about.
And finally, tons of character, a deep love of snow, a true
hunting boy, hike all day stamina, big jump, big stride, run and
run, pull like a freight train, yet can sit still by you, quiet,
easy to be around, yet pound the door at the first hint of danger.
All protection traits fully intact, and above all instincts that
"Wake Up", and of course, out of the old lines.
That is a pretty big list of wishes - we ended up with a pup, a
male, a big fella that far exceeds that list, Jaegar.
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
