Our Norwegian Elkhounds (Norsk Älghund Grå – Gråhund)

Our interest and affection for the breed began in the early 1970’s when Kym of the Hollow joined us at our home in the County of Sussex in England. Little did we know how much she would shape the path of our lives and lead to so many friends and acquaintances around the world.

We were initially pet owners but Kym proved to be a natural in the show ring when she began to be shown as a Veteran. She was a very sound and sensible bitch and we had many good times with her. Her original function was to keep our Beagle happy and stop her from chewing everything in sight whenever we were out. They came to work with us and used to enjoy their walks in the park at lunch-time and hour’s car journey to and fro the office each day.

We would have like to have bred from Kym but work commitments did not allow us to do so. Our interest in the breed grew and we acquired Jan, Brattlid Elena of Naraena bred by the Rayner-Bakers from Kent closely followed by Stej, Laekness Statlig Stej av Naraena who was born in quarantine in Scotland, his dam having arrived in whelp from Sweden. The late Isobel Clarkson (Laekness) and her late sister, Nancy Charleston arranged for Bella to come over having been mated to a well-known stud dog.

Stej and Jan produced the first Naraena litter in 1981 and Naraena Ava became the fourth member of our 4-legged canine companions.  Selective breeding has continued from there and along with our thirst for greater knowledge about the breed, came visits to Scandinavia whenever possible in order to watch the breed at shows and talk to breeders and owners in the Norwegian Elkhounds’ Country of origin. These visits also lead to the import, in 1989, of Bente av Naraena and Bjonn av Barlestone bred by the late Knut & Marie Bjorge.

On two occasions we have travelled to Norway in order to mate our bitches to well-known stud dogs from excellent Show and Hunting lines in our quest to expand the small gene pool in the UK. We are very pleased with our latest litter and will watch the blending of these lines with great interest. Kristina is with us in Sweden but her brothers live in the UK, Knut is part of Vanessa McHugh’s family and has been shown with success, Kristian and Kristoffer are much loved family pets each living with young children.

Bente died earlier this year at the ripe old age of 17½ years and her grand-daughter, Elsa av Naraena (sired by NL Ch. Naraena Einar) and great grand-daughter, Naraena Kristina, are part of our family today and form the future for our breeding programme.

We have participated at shows in Belgium, Holland and Germany since our first visit under the Pilot Pet Travel Scheme in May 2000. We have also participated at shows in Norway and Sweden.

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