Jamthund Dog Breed

The Jamthund is a rare breed in most parts of the world. It is not officially recognized by the American Kennel Club, but the Federation Cynologique Internationale (or FCI, an international federation of kennel clubs) categorizes the breed in its Nordic Hunting Dogs group. This breed is most popular in Sweden, where Jamthunds have existed for centuries as hunting and sled dogs. As a somewhat wild breed descended from wolves, Jamthunds are only suited for owners with plenty of outdoor space that will allow the dog room to roam.

A few facts about Jamthunds: they're a large-sized breed (height at the shoulders is 20-26 inches, and weight is 50-75 pounds), with double-layered, weather-resistant, short- to medium-length coats that exist in varying shades of gray. Here are some advantages and drawbacks of owning this rare breed:

PROS:

• Intelligent and resourceful
• Extremely active and athletic
• Affectionate and well-balanced
• Great work ethic
• Excellent watchdog capabilities
• Normally socializes well with other dogs
• Courageous and loyal
• Adept in numerous outdoor activities
• Healthy and hardy
• Good with children

CONS:

• Very high exercise requirements
• Lots of outdoor space needed; not at all suited for apartment life
• Independent and willful; training may be difficult
• Due to high prey drive, will chase and possibly injure cats and other smaller pets
• Not suitable for first-time owners
• Rare and difficult to obtain, and thus expensive to purchase
• Frequent grooming required

The Jamthund is a Spitz dog in every sense: an athletic working dog with a thick coat, pointy ears, and quite an adventurous spirit. Dogs of this breed have been utilized for centuries in Sweden as hunters of large game, and Jamthunds' bold, independent temperament is perfect proof. While they are affectionate, playful, loyal, and will make good family pets, their ideal environment is in the woods, where they can scamper about in search of large animals. The English name for these dogs, Swedish Elkhound, exists for a reason! They're the canine version of outdoorsmen, for sure.

Jamthunds are quite intelligent, but since they're descendants of wolves, their intellect is more primitive than many other dog breeds. They are good at learning commands, but tend to be independent and willful, which can make training quite a task. These dogs' "pack mentality" will require a trainer able to establish firm control over the dog; best results, in other words, come when the Jamthund sees the trainer as the "alpha" leader. Firm (but not cruel), consistent training methods work best.

As expected, a Jamthund will need a huge amount of physical activity. It's best if a dog of this breed has a large, rural outdoor space in which it can explore, and afterwards it will be a calm, leisurely indoor companion. Needless to say, keeping a Jamthund cooped up in a pen or indoor space is just asking for trouble! These dogs turn destructive and even aggressive when bored or confined, and will require a lot of freedom.

Overall, Jamthunds are extremely healthy and hardy; even so, dogs of this breed are susceptible to issues including:

• hip dysplasia
• hearing loss
• skin allergies
• liver problems.

Oddly enough, despite their high activity levels Jamthunds are prone to obesity; with the excess weight comes the possibility of health issues like diabetes and heart disease.