Key Points
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Norwegian Elkhounds have such a loyal fanbase, as these dogs are strong, smart, confident, and have a lot of love to give.
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The best dog toys for Norwegian Elkhounds include crinkle or squeaky toys, tennis balls, and puzzle toys.
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Choose specific toys that provide your Norwegian Elkhound with the type of interaction or stimulation they most enjoy.
If you have a Norwegian Elkhound, you know how rowdy these dogs can get. Norwegian Elkhound dogs are huge lovebugs who enjoy bonding with their family just as much as they enjoy using their agility to play around. This hound breed is a great pet and active animal, so they are great at dog sports and need an owner is delighted to spend their time playing around.
If you are already blessed enough to own and care for a Norweigan Elkhound, you might know that they can tear through toys within days, and sometimes it only takes hours.
Keep reading for the top 15 toys for your Norwegian Elkhound in 2023.
Norwegian Elkhound Dogs
The Norwegian Elkhound is the National dog of Norway, although that doesn't stop dog enthusiasts all over the world from loving this breed.
The American Kennel Club describes these dogs as "famously fine companions and watchdogs," and this couldn't be more true. Many of these dogs stand proudly with their owners, and although they look fierce, they are one of the most affectionate dog breeds.
This breed traveled with the Vikings and are now figures in Norse legends. They're part of the hound breed group of dogs, but that doesn't stop this dog from being one of the most affectionate dog breeds out there. This dog breed has been around since 5,000 B.C.
Breed Overview
This historic dog is a trustworthy and strong pet. Any dog lover will easily understand why Norwegian Elkhounds have such a loyal fanbase, as these dogs are strong, smart, confident, and filled with love. A Norwegian Elkhound puppy appreciates being the only dog in their home.
The Norwegian Elkhound breed is in the hound breed but is often described as being in the working group as well. These pups can live an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years. An adult dog grows to be 19 to 20 inches tall at its shoulders. These dogs are pretty average-sized, most weighing 44 to 50 pounds. If you're worried about your dog's weight, see a vet.
While this working breed used to hunt large game, their name is still a misnomer. The breed standard was originally called Norsk Elghund, and "Elghund" translates to moose dog. Europeans refer to moose as elk, so there was some confusion when this hound group made its way to the United States.
Since these dogs used to hunt big game, they are very strong dogs and have maintained this strength throughout their working dog history. Dogs with impressive stamina and strength, such as this breed, might destroy toys extra quickly, so it's important for a dog owner to try to get the most out of their dog's toys.
15 Toys Your Norwegian Elkhound Will Love
Owners can take time to pick out specially designed toys based on what strengths they want to help their dog develop. You might want to start investing in puzzle toys to stimulate your dog and entertain them while making them smarter.
Some dog toys provide something for your dog's chewing urges. It's a natural urge that many dogs have, and if your Norwegian Elkhound has a bad habit of chewing up your shoes, get a shoe-hanging organizer and watch this never be a problem again, and buy them toys to chew. You can even buy your dog an old pair of sneakers from a second-hand store if they're devoted to shoe-chewing.
Most pet parents don't overthink buying a new toy. This isn't a high-stakes thing that will make or break your dog. In fact, any toy can provide copious amounts of stimulation and enjoyment for your furry friend. Still, one of the best ways to decide what toys to buy for your dog is by targeting certain needs they might have. If your pup loves the dog park, consider investing in some of the best dog toys for the dog park.
However, if you aren't too worried because your dog already aces training and obedience lessons and is a total sweetheart, this list of toys can be used for inspiration the next time you want to buy your pup something nice.
by Leashboss
1. Squeaky or Crinkle Toys
The Leashboss Unstuffed Crinkle Dog Toys offer the perfect stimulation for aggressive chewers. The Leashboss toys are stuffing-free, so you don't have to worry about all of the mess. Your dog will get hours of playtime with exhilarating crackle, crunch, and squeak noises. The toys are available in a 5-pack from Amazon for under $30.
While squeaky toys are often not purchased for their longevity but rather for the fact that they offer stimulation both in your dog's mouth and hearing. Dogs love chewing, and squeaky toys are often soft, which can feel better in your dog's mouth than some tougher toys. This is especially true if your pet suffers from any stage of dental disease.
Squeaky toys don't last long, so you don't have to keep a constant one in the house, especially if you find them annoying. Every now and then, consider splurging and getting one of these for your Norweigan Elkhound.
2. Treat Dispensing Toys
Treat dispensing toys are excellent ways to provide your pup with a long-time distraction while providing them plenty of entertainment and mental stimulation.
When they use these during playtime, they get extra treats. Double bonus, animals with high anxiety levels can benefit from this because it provides a distraction from their anxiety causes, and owners can fill the toy with calming supplement treats.
by insum
3. Tennis Balls
Plenty of dog brands now make tennis balls out of a thicker rubber material specifically for breeds like the Norwegian Elkhound.
Toys like this are extra good options since you can play with your dog, or your dog can play with tennis balls on their own. Play smarter, not harder, and get toys that have multiple interaction options.
by Feeko
4. Tug-of-War Rope
Another absolute classic for dog toys is a tug-of-war rope.
Dogs like the Norweigan Elkhound might be the type to chew ropes apart on their own, and that's okay! You don't buy dog toys for your dog so that they can stay pristine and go unused. Ropes are excellent toys that offer duality since your pet can waste hours ripping one up on their own time or spend their playtime with their owners enjoying the company of people they love the most.
by Outward Hound
5. Puzzle Toys
Puzzle toys come in various shapes, sizes, and challenging levels.
Suppose your Norwegian Elkhound seems to have boundless energy even after training and exercising daily. In that case, puzzle toys can be a great and healthy way for them to use that energy and entertain themselves.
If your dog is new to puzzle toys, it's important to start small and simple and provide plenty of encouragement and patience. It can take dogs a while to get the hang of how puzzle toys work, especially if they don't figure out that these bad boys spit out treats.
Once your pet starts understanding these types of toys, you'll see how excited they get!
Puzzle toys are great ways to relieve your dog of stress symptoms, and you can provide calming treats to help your dog de-stress. Talk about a double-whammy!
by KONG
6. Classic Kong Toy
New and improved toys like puzzle toys are great in many ways, but you can never go wrong with a classic Kong dog toy.
These bad boys are made to last and are great for dogs with intense chewing instincts. They can chew all day and night and still have a Kong toy left to chew another day. If your Norweigan Elkhound has already destroyed one of these tough nuggets, buy a stronger one. Kong is great at manufacturing different toy strengths based on your dog's natural chewing power.
by DR CATCH
7. Enrichment Toys
Enrichment toys and puzzle toys are quite similar, and some might go so far as to say they're the same. These toys are pretty similar to puzzle toys, and there are just far more options when it comes to enrichment toys.
Some dogs don't like puzzle toys because they are too difficult, and your pet cannot understand why you would hand them a block that offers no chewing, pulling, squeaking, or entertaining qualities. You can't blame them for that, either. As far as they know, most puzzle toys are about as fun as a brick.
Enrichment toys can be an excellent build-up to puzzle toys, as most of these toys are much simpler in design and still offer plenty of fun and mental stimulation.
This specific dog toy is a great example of how enrichment toys can be simpler in design and, therefore, easier for your dog to understand.
As with puzzle toys, you can get more advanced enrichment toys as your dog begins to learn and understand the designs of these objects but start simple with a toy like the one linked above. After your pet learns to love that, you can move on to another enrichment or puzzle toy that provides more of a challenge.
8. Hide and Seek Toy
Some people prefer playing good old-fashioned hide and seek with their dog rather than purchasing a toy that plays with them.
Try it out if you've never played hide and seek with your Norwegian Elkhound! Not only is it incredibly good for your dog and entertaining, but it's some of the most fun in the world to hide and listen to your dog search frantically to find you. It's even more uplifting when they get beyond excited once they've found you. If you're having a bad week or need something to make your heart sing, this is a perfect time to try this game with your pet.
by iDig
9. Interactive Toy
Interactive dog toys feel much more natural to dogs.
There aren't many toys that allow your dog to dig freely at home, and in a world where everyone cares about random holes in the ground (which is fair), your pet isn't exactly free to dig out and about either. If your Norweigan Elkhound has a habit of digging and you want to allow them to run with it, this toy can be great for them.
by Frisco Fetch
10. Fetch Toy
Classic toys like fetch toys always go unmatched in the dog toy market. These toys have been fun for people and dogs for decades, and if it's not broke, don't fix it.
11. Frisbee
While a frisbee is similar to fetch toys, some dogs get even more excited at the sight of a flying disk than they do at the sight of a ball.
Maybe your pet is a UFO enthusiast or they just enjoy catching flying disks in midair. Regardless of which they are, frisbees are excellent toys for dogs. Some people think frisbees are easier for your dog to catch in the air than a ball, and if you have a puppy or an older dog, a frisbee might be an excellent alternative to a ball.
by Benebone Wishbone
12. Wishbone Dog Chew Toy
Kong and Wishbone are two iconic dog toy manufacturers because they actually make products that will last more than a month for tough chewers like your Norweigan Elkhound. While any chew type of toy can greatly benefit your pup, the Whishbone Dog Chew Toy can be a great, long-lasting option.
by FitPAWS®
13. Balance Toy
Some people love surfing, skateboarding, or other activities that test their balance. Dogs can share this quality, too, and they might really enjoy playing with a balancing dog toy. Toys like this can also allow your dog to use their muscles to balance without putting too much pressure on their joints, making this a good option for older dogs.
by AWOOF
14. Sniffing Mat Toy
If you haven't noticed yet, Norwegian Elkhound dogs love sniffing things out. Many dog breeds share this quality. An interactive toy like a sniffing mat for dogs lets your dog run wild with their nose while they try to sniff out some of their favorite snacks. This is an excellent option for mentally stimulating toys that your dog can enjoy on their own time, without too much intervention from you.
by SmartPetLove
15. Anxiety Toy
The anxiety toy is one of the most overlooked options on the market in 2023.
These toys are excellent distractions for highly anxious dogs and can even offer them comfort in times of your absence. They might not offer much in the ways of activity and mental stimulation, but not many other toys are the equivalent of a nice hug for your dog. This toy can be an excellent option if you want your pet to feel your love when you're away.
Why Toys Are Important to Your Dogs Mental and Physical Health
Being picky about the toys you provide for your dog isn't too important, but ensuring you give them the proper amount of physical exercise and mental stimulation is incredibly important to their health. Choosing specific toys can make providing these needs easier, leaving you as happy as your dog is playing with their new toys.
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