I’ll show you two Norwegian Elkhounds, 100 years apart and you will swear they are father and daughter, or easily could be.

Champion Skrub AV Glittre 6687 ancestor to Revna

Yes, 100 years. Talk about a consistent genetic far superior to other breeds. The old boy Champion Skrub AV Glittre 6687. He was whelped on Jan 25, 1923. This is one of the serious dark old boys that came from the old country and passed down a heritage of great dogs.

These particular dogs were the larger darker hunting males and found in the interior regions of Norway, Sweden and Finland.

This particular lineage of Norwegian Elkhounds had a lot of influence from the Swedish regions, the Elghunds there were larger, darker and taller.

Revna, ancestor today of this old boy above

Yes, there is little doubt that this female today could easily be a daughter of that stunning male above. She is one of the most striking females alive today and one of the very few that has held true to her ancient roots due to careful breeding and selection.

Kamia Kennels, as those select breeders between the old Champion and Revna we breed for preservation, not change. Big difference in practice and application of breeding concepts and planning. That old dog above was a flawless big fella, we want to have that EXACT dog available today. No changes if we can help it.

I’ll show you an uncle to Revna, again, you will swear you are looking at the same dog.

Jaegar – Uncle to Revna

Yes, the same deep dark patterns, the dark down the front legs, the black saddle and dark outer guard hairs much longer creating the deep dark color. Interior dogs all have coats much tighter to the body, indicating centuries of inland breeding. Taller legs and slightly longer appearance but totally uniform. Bigger males, stronger, even stance, flat strong backs.

I’ll show you another old boy, see what you think, he could be the father of Revna too!

Champion Merkel of the Hollow ancestor to Revna

Here again another great male Norwegian Elkhound from the early days of showing Norwegian Elkhounds at Crufts. These boys were from all those original imports they brought in.

Many of you know that these old bloodlines are extremely hard to find anymore and most breeders today do not follow the old world principles in North America. This particular lineage and style of Norwegian Elkhound in actuality was not favored as they were in somewhat of a “Color” contrast to other lines which made it difficult for judging uniformly. Go figure right, this is when the “New Breed Standards” started to take shape.

You all know that these dark boys are founding dogs of many lines early on, but they were phased out and only serious hard core preservation breeders have these remaining awesome bloodlines. They are known today as foundation lineages.

Champion Merkel of the Hollow and Revna – Same exact heads

Revna could have been a daughter of the ancient old boy Merkel of the Hollow, who was winning a Championship in 1934 at Crufts. Kamia Kennels has striven to breed for preservation, I truly believe that is the only way the breed continues without flaws and deviation.

The old breeders knew that the dogs they had were already thousands of years of excellence and knew they should not change this dog. This dog was already flawless. Nothing needed to be altered or adjusted.

Breeding for preservation is careful selection of genetics so as to match the old dogs and to carefully bring forward the EXACT same dog for future generations.

Revna can trace directly to these two magnificent males. Find another breed that can show you lineage going back 5 generations, let alone going back 100 Years, and she can actually trace further, photos just get a bit tough to find. But she can go to foundation females/males. Right to the start.

I have much more to write on Revna and will do more posts shortly. She has a wealth of genetic history far exceeding most Norwegian Elkhounds. I’ll continue over the next while to share her famous background and quality.

Revna is up with our great co-breeders Sarah and Michael and family, they are old school and old world in principles just working to raise the best dogs they can. We are proud of our association with them.

Revna will be having a litter this spring, a chance for long time Elkhound lovers and first timers as well to experience a rich deep history of excellence in a new pup from Revna. A link to a time gone by, yet still fully here due to careful preservation of the breed.