The Swedish Elkhound or Jämthund is a Spitz type hunting dog that originated a few thousand years ago in Jämtland, a province in central Sweden. It is quite obvious that its Swedish name was given after the name of this province. This is one of three Elkhounds – other two being the Norwegian Elkhound and Black Norwegian Elkhound – and is the biggest of them, but it’s also the least favorite of them. It is interesting to know that before 1946, when the breed was finally recognized, the Jämthund and Norwegian Elkhound were considered the same breed. Well, although they’re quite different in look, it is not that surprising since these dogs were developed from the same ancestors. Together with the Swedish Lapphund, Finnish Lapphund, and Lapponian Herder, these two breeds were developed through hybridization of female wolves and male dogs. This interbreeding had occurred after their domestication. The Swedish Elkhound is in the FCI included in the Nordic Huntig Dogs group in the class of primitive dogs. Continue Reading →