Being one of the oldest dog breeds in the world, the Norwegian Elkhound dog breed has archeological remains which verify its existence from as long ago as 6,000 years ago. The dog had a variety of different jobs in its native Norway, which included herding, hunting game and guarding. The Norwegian Elkhound is a breed recognized by the American Kennel Club, the United Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of Great Britain. The Grey Norwegian Elkhound is born black in color, but within a matter of weeks the coat becomes gray colored with varying shades of light silver and black over different parts of the body. If the dog shows any base or overall coat color other than gray, it is grounds for being penalized and disqualified from the show ring.

The Federation Cynologique Internationale is the entity which provides registration for the breed; however, it also recognizes another separate breed, with a coat coloring entirely black. There is not a lot of information known about the black breed, and it is actually rare to see the dog outside of Scandinavia. The black cousin is not as old as its gray counterpart, the breed first showed up around the early 1800's, in Norway. Like the gray version, the black variety is a descendant of the Spitz breed which was used for a variety of jobs including guarding, herding and hunting. The black version is a smaller dog, but more agile; due to the dog being black in color they are easier to spot in the snowy Norwegian landscape.

The Black Elkhound is a hunter by nature and at heart; most often used as a companion when hunting for large game. The dog excels at hunting and tracking, being an adept problem solver in many different situations. The Black Elkhound however, does not make an ideal family pet for those who do not enjoy being in the great outdoors and hunting; however, the dog does form tight bonds with his or her master and is a loving and loyal companion. The breed does encounter problems with other dogs if not properly socialized at a young age, so this is important to bear in mind before bringing the dog into a home with other pets.

Though smaller in structure than a Grey Elkhound, the Black Elkhound is a strong and powerful dog, with a tenacious temperament and strong personality. The dog is actually more determined and strong-minded than its grey cousin, with a high level of intelligence. Some dog experts believe the Black Elkhound is not an ideal pet for a first-time dog owner because it can be a difficult breed to train without consistent firmness and experience. Due to the dog being very smart, a potential owner needs to have a firm grasp of the proper training techniques required to train the dog. A majority of the dogs in the Elkhound family do well when enrolled in an obedience class at an early age. Another consequence of owning a dog of this intelligence level is that the dog requires constant stimulation. This breed is by no means suited for indoor living and craves being in the outdoors, exploring the rugged terrain doing what they love so much.