Best dog food for a Norwegian Elkhound
A Norwegian Elkhound is a medium-sized spitz breed with a dense double coat and a working heritage bred for stamina in cold climates, and their food needs generally reflect an active, robust dog whose main breed-specific considerations are coat and skin support, plus a watchful eye on joints given their working build.
Feeding a Norwegian Elkhound
A medium breed
An adult Norwegian Elkhound typically weighs 20–25 kg, so a healthy Norwegian Elkhound eats a moderate amount compared with other breeds. Every feeding guide on a bag is written per kilo of body weight, not per breed — start there, then adjust to the dog in front of you.
Life stage
A medium breed is usually done growing at ~12 months, which is roughly when a puppy food has finished its job. With a typical lifespan of 12–15 years, there is a long adult stretch in the middle; switch to a senior food when your vet thinks it is worth it rather than on a birthday.
A high-energy dog eats like one
Norwegian Elkhounds sit at the top end for energy, and a dog working through an hour and a half of real exercise a day burns through the feeding guide faster than a dog on a short stroll. Feed to the dog's condition, not to the middle of the range on the bag.
How much should a Norwegian Elkhound weigh?
Adult 20–25 kgfully grown at ~12 months
| Age | Stage | Typical weight | Of adult size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 weeks | Just home | 3.1–3.8 kg | 15% |
| 3 months | Young puppy | 5–6.3 kg | 25% |
| 6 months | Growing fast | 10–12.5 kg | 50% |
| ~12 months | Fully grown | 20–25 kg | 100% |
A guide, from the same rule of thumb our puppy growth predictor uses — each age is that share of the way to maturity for a medium breed. Puppies grow fastest early, so a real puppy usually sits a little above the middle rows. Weigh yours and ask your vet if the number worries you.
Complete dog foods that suit a Norwegian Elkhound
Complete foods from our range, matched to a Norwegian Elkhound's size band and what the breed typically needs. Stock levels and delivery dates are live on each product.
Burns Adult/Senior Weight Control Chicken and Oats
A low-fat weight control dry food for adult and senior dogs, oat-based
£35.99
Simpsons Dog Sensitive Lamb Potato
A grain-free lamb and potato dry food for dogs with sensitive skin or digestion
From£17.05
Forthglade Cold Pressed Natural Turkey
Cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs from 2 months, soft enough to mix with water for young pups
£45.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Salmon
Cold-pressed grain-free dry food for dogs, built on fresh and dried salmon
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Duck
Cold-pressed grain-free duck food with fruit and botanicals, in two bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Chicken
Cold-pressed grain-free chicken food with fruit and botanicals, in three bag sizes
From£16.99
Forthglade Complete Meal Lightly Baked Turkey
A lightly baked complete dry food, 50% turkey, for adult dogs of any breed
From£12.49
Forthglade Cold Pressed Grain Free Turkey
Grain-free cold-pressed turkey kibble for dogs, gentle on sensitive stomachs
£69.69
Forthglade British Classics Chicken Family Lunch
Complete Forthglade wet dog food with 75% chicken in a 395G tray
£2.45
Harringtons Puppy Turkey & Rice
Complete turkey puppy food with 30% protein and feeding bands by adult weight
£6.49
Harringtons Just 6 Dry Dog Food Lamb
Grain-free lamb dry dog food in 2KG and 12KG sizes, with size-specific formulas
From£13.99
Burns Puppy Original Lamb & Rice
Complete Burns lamb and rice puppy food in a 2KG bag for up to 12 months
£14.99
A working breed's build and energy needs
Originally bred in Norway for hunting large game like elk over long distances in harsh conditions, this breed carries a naturally athletic, sturdy build and a genuinely active temperament even as a companion dog today. A food with reasonable protein content, suited to an active medium breed, tends to fit better than a low-energy formula built for a more sedentary dog.
Like many breeds developed for sustained outdoor work, Elkhounds generally have a robust appetite and a solid, straightforward digestion, without the particular sensitivities that shape feeding advice for some other breeds.
The dense double coat is the breed-specific detail
Norwegian Elkhounds carry a thick, weather-resistant double coat that sheds heavily, particularly during the seasonal blow-outs common to spitz breeds. A food with good named protein and added omega fatty acids supports the skin underneath that coat, which affects how well it holds condition between the heavier grooming sessions this breed needs during shedding season.
This is a genuine, breed-specific reason to look at skin and coat support in their food, distinct from general marketing — a coat in good condition is easier to manage through the seasonal shed than one starting from poor skin health.
Joints worth keeping an eye on
As with many active, medium-to-large working breeds, joint wear becomes more relevant as an Elkhound ages, and a food with added glucosamine, or a separate joint supplement introduced as they get older, is a sensible precaution given how much use their joints get through an active life.
Keeping a Norwegian Elkhound at a healthy weight through adulthood also matters for their joints just as much as any supplement, since this is a solidly built breed and extra weight adds real, avoidable strain on top of the normal wear that comes with an active life.
Common questions
- Do Norwegian Elkhounds need a high-protein food?
- A reasonable, good-quality protein content suited to an active medium breed fits this dog better than a low-energy formula, given their working heritage and generally active temperament, though the exact level should still match your individual dog's activity and life stage.
- Does diet help with an Elkhound's heavy shedding?
- Diet will not reduce the seasonal blow-out this spitz breed is known for, since that is driven by coat type and season rather than food. A food with good skin and coat support can help the coat's overall condition, which makes managing the shed with regular brushing somewhat easier.
- Are Norwegian Elkhounds prone to joint problems?
- They are not among the breeds most associated with joint issues, but as an active, working-type breed, general joint wear with age is still worth a precaution. A food with added glucosamine, or a supplement introduced in later years, is a sensible ongoing measure.
- How much exercise affects an Elkhound's feeding needs?
- Quite a lot, given their active, working background. A genuinely active Elkhound getting long daily exercise will typically need more food than a less active one of the same weight, so use the feeding guide on the pack as a starting point and adjust for body condition.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.