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Patron to Patron in correspondence
Ralf Campbell - Michael Sharman 25th January to 25th March 2025
Michael to Ralf .. 25th March 2025
Yes, Christian is well known to us especially as we were instrumental in bringing him to UK for judging the club CH. Show, If I remember correctly, he stayed with Brian and Vi Nichols for his visit.
Yes (again), we have your father's book on the shelf, you gave a copy signed by you to Wendy when you came to the Norwegian Elkhound world congress in Holland. She mentioned that if you have stocks to be sold, she is happy to promote/advertise them in UK.
The comments you make on the conformation it seems are common around Europe.
Maggie Mott and partner now reside in the UK and already their breeding is having an influence. From what I see from afar in photos, their influence is proving to have a beneficial effect. Breeding in the UK is totally different to what it was going back in time, small kennels (only a hand full) of 3 or 4 dogs rather than the larger ones of yester year with those interested in the breed not being that much interested in the history. I swear that some have asked me how tall an Elg is for the dog to jump and bite its neck!!!!!
Our general Championship shows seem to suffer from 'Show and Go' rather than the banter we used to have around the benches, Crufts will be different, you are corralled until 5pm.
I can't remember how many pages there are in the book, we are in France at the moment, and the book is in Sweden however, I will look and see how much web space there is available to me if you are happy for me to reproduce it in my Archive when we get back.
best
Michael
Ralf to Michael .. 24 March 2025
Hello Michael,
I know that changing the name of a breed is difficult, especially when it has been in use for so long as that of the Norwegian Elkhound. Father tried in vain to convince the Elkhound clubs on both sides of the Atlantic of what he was convinced was the correct term, and I supported him. He even used the term «Elghund» consequently in his book «My 60 years with Norwegian Elghunds».
Last Saturday I attended a local show at Tretten, just north of Lillehammer where I had made an appointment with another judge, Christian Vole (he judged in England many years ago) to sit ringside and study the dogs together and listen to the judge commenting on the quality of each dog (straight from the shoulder) on the loudspeaker. Altogether 169 entries representing five of the nine breeds used for hunting «elg" were judged in two rings. The majority (97) were Norwegian Elkhounds in one ring, of which there were 56 males (15 in the Hunting class) and 41 females (also 15 in the Hunting class). Some were «løshunder» (hunting loose) and some « bandhunder» (hunting on a leash). Most foreigners, even some Elkhounders in Britain and USA seem to be ignorant of the fact that there are two methods of hunting «elg», and that there is no preference for either type.
On the whole the quality of the dogs was not outstanding in any way, but the class winners were of excellent quality. Size wise most of them were very close to the breed standard (everyone measured of course). They exhibited typical heads, but some had somewhat big ears. Almost 100% had dark eyes and scissors bite. Some premolars (P1) were missing but this is never penalized in Norway. On the whole backs were short and straight, but some were too long in the loin. The most common fault was slanting croup and low set-on of tail in addition to poor tail carriage which is a universal problem in the breed. The exhibits on Saturday were no exception in this respect. About 10% got a comment on "tail too much on the side» or "too loosely curled". Some tails were also too short.
This summary could almost be a blueprint of the good and bad points of the dogs I had in the ring when I judged in Narvik four weeks ago. Just a wee difference, my BOB in Narvik (see photo) became BOS at the Lillehammer show.
Best regards
Ralf
21st March 2025 Michael to Ralf
Such a comprehensive email covering the history of the breed, thank you.
Had me panicking there for a moment referencing missing Journals 1947 and 1985! I went investigating and I see that 1946 is the 17th edition and 1948 is the 18th so I guess that a 1947 was never produced. There is a note on the 1986 Journal that there was not a 1985 issue (phew) had me worried there for a moment.
As you know the breed was known in the UK as Elkhound and in 2003 after a movement orchestrated by Wendy a change of name at the KC came to fruition, Norwegian Elkhound, as she wanted the name to reflect the country of origin. She also had some tea mugs made commemorating the change of name for each (then) member.
I have to admit that the members today seem to be little interested in the history and development of the breed, a great pity but today is very much fast and based around social media it seems to me. We try to educate them that the dog does not try to attack the Elg but having found the Elg barks, distracts, annoys and makes a nuisance of itself in order that the hunter can dispatch it.
When I come across articles or publications which I think are worth preserving I run them through the book scanner that I bought, easy peasy!
Your reference to Kenya is almost certainly down to Margaret Harper (nee Lovell) under the kennel name Ravenstone who lived there and subsequently exported from UK (all over the globe) to there when she returned, I have no doubt that the same would apply to S.Africa and Zimbabwe which was originally Southern Rhodesia where there was a great influx of British after WW2. Mostly ex RAF and Scottish it seemed, my aunt married a Scottish ex RAF and lived there. My family almost moved there after a visit by my mother in the 70's but father and I foresaw troubles in the future!
Some question the need for our dogs in the UK (happened to me at Elverum) I have always told them that the dogs were so efficient in hunting hence no Elk in the Uk, just like the Irish Wolfhound in Ireland!
best
Michael
20 Mar 2025 – Ralf to Michael:
Good evening from Norway,
Thank you for keeping me updated on NECGB. I have always been fascinated by the history of the Norwegian Elkhound, not only in the country of its origin, but also internationally, and how the breed has been spread across the world. An important factor in this respect is the British Empire. Wherever the Brits settled they brought their pets with them, mainly Australia, New Zealand and Canada, but also India and Africa, and from the early 1900s astonishingly many of them were Norwegian Elkhounds. The first time I became aware of this was in 1970 when I judged at Scandia’s 20th Jubilee Show in the Netherlands. My BOS was to my surprise an import from Kenya! Top notch quality, the breeder had an English name.
On a tour in South Africa in 2000 I did not see any Elkhounds at shows, but stud books in the archives of the South African Kennel Club in Cape Town, where I spent a whole day, revealed that the breed had been quite numerous there until the 1960s. The majority of owners had English or Scottish names, few of them were Boers (of Dutch descent). This also applied to Zimbabwe which shared stud books with SA. All dogs were imports or offspring coming from members of the predecessors of NECGB. The fact that this is the oldest breed club outside Norway gives the appointment of patron an extra dimension for me.
You have an impressive collection of Year Books/Journals, a lot larger than mine, and now I have skimmed through most of them. Very interesting! It goes without saying that they contain a most valuable part of the history of NECGB. As far as I can see only two issues are missing, the ones from 1947 and 1985. I am sorry I cannot help you, otherwise you could have had mine.
NKK`s Standard Committee have meetings every two weeks. Our main task is to translate into Norwegian the standards of new breeds (they never stop coming) and upgrade old ones when a breed club in a faraway country with a tongue twisting language has decided on changing a term/sentence (always something new). As more than 400 breeds are registered in FCI by its 97 member countries the job resembles that of Sisyphus in Greek mythology. However, we find it interesting, cooperate well and enjoy our work. As opposed to the KC the official name of each breed registered in FCI is what it is termed in the country of its origin, e.g. Norsk Elghund Grå, Bouledogue Francais, English Bulldog, Nederlandse Kooikerhondje etc.
The name Elkhound, which is used in the English speaking world, is really a misnomer, but how many know that it came about due to a coincidence of unfortunate circumstances? If the KC had not tampered with two letters in 1874 when the first specimen was registered in the KC stud book the breed would most likely have been called Norwegian Elghund today. The dog was Feordig, which was a misspelling of «Færdig» meaning «Ready» in Norwegian. The «æ» in the Norwegian alphabet is identical to the Old English letter with which Alfred (Ælfred) the Great spelled his name, but this was unknown to English "scribes» in the KC one thousand years later. Hence the confusion.
Feordig was registered as an « Elbehund", a misspelling of « Elghund". For unknown reasons the KC changed it to Elkhound not knowing that the word «hund» means dog in Norwegian, just as it did in King Alfred`s England. The fact that «dog» took the place of the Old English word «hund» in the Middle Ages, and that «hound» in the same period became synonymous with a dog baying on the trail is another story. The animal which the Anglo-Saxons called « Elch" became extinct in England about 1000 BC but survived on the Continent. The name was borrowed from Old German, and the « ch» was pronounced as «loch» in Scottish. By the Middle Ages the pronunciation had become «Elk».
In 1913 the American Kennel Club faced a problem when they had to find a name for a new breed, a Norwegian import, a dog used for hunting "elg" in the country it came from. They knew there were such dogs in England, so they contacted the KC, and hey presto, Elkhound became the name of the breed in USA too. I wonder if ever the KC and the American Kennel Club will change two, just two small letters of «our» breed name to make it correct?
Kind regards
Ralf
PS
Photo text: 6.30 a.m. yesterday five minutes by car from our home in Ski. This scenario is an example of how to prepare my leash dog for the hunting season in October. It is important to let it see as much "Elg" as possible, get accustomed to them, be alert and attentive, and at the same time 100% quiet. I can walk quietly about in everybody`s forest in Norway without asking permission with my leash dog all the year round (no signs of "No trespassing"), just keeping a low profile in the fawning season, which is roughly from the end of May till the end of June. However, those who hunt with their dogs loose face more restrictions. as loose dogs are strictly forbidden between 1st April an 20th August (Restraining order imposed by the Government).
15th March 2025 .. Michael to Ralf:
Hei,
Jeg håper du holder deg frisk.
Whilst I am no longer an officer or committee member Linda had forwarded your email to committee members and Wendy has shown me.
The only reason for the SGM is that the treasurer was unable to submit the accounts to the auditor in time for the auditor to complete for the AGM. Our year end is 31st December and the AGM early February. During my time as treasurer (35 years) I always found this time schedule difficult to keep to but managed it mainly by working through the Christmas and new year period and insisting the auditor put us top of his list! I have Christmas and new year back now!!!
It is the above explanation that I feel should be given to us Patrons as a matter of curtesy.
A very interesting email (as usual!) from you and it shows that our clubs face the same cost problems, mainly around printing and postage. The Necgb shows seem to pretty much break even whilst the publications are, like yours, the main items of expenditure. Our Journal as you know has been published annually since the first dated 1924 except for the war years, this is a publication which I know we are all insistent in keeping up despite its printing and postage costs. Our magazine for 2024 was the first to go 'online' with a few printed copies being sent to those who either do not have an email or have not given it to the club. In addition Wendy has been preparing some bulletins for the members which Linda has emailed out covering various Elkhound functions, the last, covering the AGM and Contest of Champions, proved problematical (too large!) to email and can be found on line along with earlier ones - www.Necgb.net - do have a look.
The problem now though is the cost of web hosting as more and more is put 'online', we swap one cost for another. I favour 'flip book' presentations rather than flat Pdf however these flips devour mbits as if they are going out of existence which increases the hosting costs, seems we can't win. My answer is a web host and a separate book host but….
med beste hilsener
Michael
25th January 2025 .. Ralf Campbell wrote to our secretary
Herr Ralf Campbell wrote to our Secretary:
Good afternoon from Norway,
Thank you for keeping me updated on events in the English Elkhound world. I have studied the AGM Agenda with great interest and look forward to reading the minutes and the result of the SGM in April.
Money is frequently the main issue at the NEKF (Norske Elghundklubbers Forbund) General Meetings as well as the 23 regional clubs. The latter have on the whole a sound economy but the cost of the club journal, «Elghunden» (70-80 pages) is high and the postage is killing. It is published three times annually and contains reports on the approximately 40 shows (all CC) in addition articles of general interest. Several regional clubs voted for digital issues of the club journal at their AGM in February.
One of them was Nord-Hålogaland Elghundklubb, one of the smallest but still one of the most active NEKF clubs. I judged at their show in Narvik three weeks ago, and in the evening I had the privilege of attending their AGM. The reason was that the board had asked me to give a lecture on the history of «show business» in the Elkhound ring after the formalities were over. The discussion about whether «Elghunden» should go digital or not revealed that the total sum of membership fees, in addition to the surplus of their annual show (50-70 entries), 8-10 loose dog trials, 2-3 leash dog trials, 18-20 tracking trials and 13-15 fresh track trials can barely cover the expenses of the club. If there is a majority for the proposal of «Elghunden» going digital at NEKF`s AGM (meeting of representatives) in April the paper issue will be history from 2026. In that case I will miss it, but the majority rules.
Regards Ralf
PS
At the first Elkhound show in 1877 the breed was called «Bjørn- og Elghund», and 150 years later the Elkhound/ Elghund is still used for hunting bear (bjørn).
Martin Brenne and his talented Gråhund Grom, who is now the first to
become a bear hunting champion in Sweden.