Jamthund Care

The Jamthund, sometimes called the Swedish Elkhound or Norwegian Elkhound, is a Spitz breed very similar in appearance to a wolf--and like wolves, these dogs are athletic, independent, and often skittish and defensive. Overall Jamthund care will take a bit of work, and will need to include daily exercise and early training and socialization.

Below you'll find details on caring for a Jamthund including puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For answers to your questions about raising these somewhat primitive dogs, keep reading!

This is a hunting and sledding breed with a strong work ethic, so Jamthund exercise requirements are pretty extensive. These dogs will need a variety of activities that condition them physically (walking, jogging, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (hunting, canine sports). They make good bicycling companions as well.

The typical adult Jamthund, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need at least an hour of proper exercise each day. You can start exercising your Jamthund puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the puppy grows. And these early walks are a good chance to start leash training: make sure your puppy walks beside or behind you on the leash instead of being allowed to lead or "tug" on it. This, in the puppy's mind, establishes you as the leader, and will make training and discipline easier as the dog matures.

A few things to keep in mind with Jamthund exercise: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't do too much jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as these can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, all Jamthunds must be leashed when in public! With their history as large game hunters, these dogs have very high prey drives, and will instinctively chase animals (both large and small) if allowed; Jamthunds will also be confrontational with other dogs if the situation arises. A leash will help you control the dog in these circumstances. Even when exercising in your own yard, the area will need to be securely fenced to keep these dogs from running away.

Precautions aside, exercising your Jamthund every day is simply a must. These energetic dogs have relatively primitive instincts, and without consistent activity they'll become highly destructive and possibly aggressive, and may even try to escape to freedom. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Two 20-minute walks (or 15-minute jogs or bike rides) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs normally love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Tug-of-War: Great indoor activity; use a rope or old towel
• Hunting: Puts these dogs in their natural element
• Canine Sports: Jamthunds can excel in agility trials, rally, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

If your Jamthund spends time indoors, give the dog access to balls or toys that will let it burn excess energy. It's also a good idea to have a daily exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks, jogs, or bike rides after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need moderate to frequent care. Norwegian Elkhound shedding is fair for most of the year, but heavy during the twice-yearly shedding seasons; drooling isn't an issue.

Jamthunds have medium-length, thick double coats that shed moderately for most of the year--but during the spring and fall, when they blow their undercoats, the shedding is heavy. Owners can brush their Jamthunds 2-3 times per week with a pin brush to keep the shed to a minimum, and hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary about once a week. (Brushing and cleanup will obviously be needed more frequently during shedding season. Owners can also use a shedding tool like an undercoat rake to help remove dead hairs.)

A Jamthund rarely drools, though. If your Jamthund is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The Norwegian Elkhound diet will need to include animal proteins and carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and omega fatty acids. This means the best food for Jamthunds is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients. Some owners and breeders do prefer feeding dogs of this breed a diet of raw, fresh food--but premium dry food is still the more popular choice.

Jamthunds will do best with food formulated for active breeds. Recommended brands include Royal Canin, Diamond, and Dr. Tim's.

The typical adult Jamthund will need about three cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. Jamthund puppies will need about 2¼ cups per day, divided into three meals until six months old.

For more info on feeding a Jamthund, reference this Jamthund feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition o adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a bit more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

If constantly overfed, these dogs will become obese--and a fat Jamthund will have major health problems and a shortened lifespan. You can help control your Jamthund's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time..

If you're worried your Jamthund is overweight, give the dog this test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise.