Does anybody know if an Elkhound can ever learn or be trained to be re-called when out walking off the lead? Are Elhound hounds better in pairs when training and what method is the best kind of obeidence training?

Yes they can and some are obedience trained and also do agility. It takes time they will only respond to training for a short time before becoming bored. So short, kind training methods will win through in most cases, but there are those who are more difficult than others and some who perhaps I would never trust. They are inclind to selective deafness.

Brainless will no double tell you how she trains her bitches who are very well behaved where as mine are not, but that is down to the handler not the hound.

I have Elkhounds(ven from the same breeders as Jackie H I believe) and as she says they are trainable.However I couldn't agree more with what she says about individual dogs being harder than others.
I have 2 males-one is obediant and well behaved.He is keen to please but independant and is reliable off lead.The other is a hooligan!! I worry every time I let him off lead and only do so in confined areas since he is totally unreliable.He is loving but incredibly stubborn.
As Jackie says short bursts of positively reinforced training.They are strong willed and very intelligent-after all why should they do what you want??
They still have a very strong hunting instinct that leads to that selective deafness J mentioned.
Brainless bred a puppy in her 4th litter( I believe) that competes in obedience on a regular basis and I believe is pretty good but I'm sure she'll tell you more.
Regards Archer.

Hi!

In Scandinavia they are used as a big game hunter. Obviously a dog that cannot be recalled will be a nuisance. Training is the key. There are two methods of hunting, Loshond where they hunt loose, where they will be required to hunt away from the handler, returning periodically to check hunters position, and off again. When they have the Moose at bay they will bark until the hunter comes. They are also used to hunt in harness, mainly in smaller lowland areas. Cetainly Loshonds will need to be reasonably obedient, but with the job they have been bred to do it is obvious that they are confident enough to be away from the handler, hunting!

As the others have said a lot depends on ensuring that you put yourself in the position to succeed.

From talking to people who have had problems with recall, and having my youngest not as reliable as I would like (she came back at 8 1/2 months) it is vital to start off lead training, in relatively safe enclose3d places at a young age, before they are too confident.

At this stage they will be babies and be inclined to want to stay closer to you in s=uch a big world. This is when you have to teach the return to check habit. As soon as the pup is a littl distance from you call, give huge fuss, a tit bit maybe, and tell it to go play. Keep reopaeating this, and pretty soon you will find as soon as it gets a certain distance it will turn and come back of it's own accord, praise lavishly.

the next difficulty is distraction, so try and pre empt his actions. As soon as you see something that will tempt hiom, call him to you (an dif it was a person or dog, go over to them and introduce him nicely, ensyring he doesn't jump up. If it is a nice freindly obedient dog, and the owner is willing, let them play a while, and pup will come back when the other dog does, reinforcing the habit.

Never just call the pup back when you weant to take away its freedon, this way it never knows when the end of the walk is coming. sometrimes put the lead oin for a short while, say somewhere where there is too much temptation, and then let free again.

My freind who has had two of mine to do Obedience, and a third from another breeder has no trouble excersising hers on the Quantocks, but they wer stock proofed from an early age, and she doesn't ake any unnecesarty chances around sheep, as farmers aren't going to know her dogs will not worry shepp.

I am extremaely lucky in being close to two country parks, that except for a main road practically run into each other along the river Frome. I also have one recreation ground that is fenced along all most of its area, with just the way into the carpark, which makes a pretty safe area.

You will do far better with training one Elkhound at a time, as they can be crafty, and while you are busy attending to one, will do a sneeky reconoiter ithrough the hedtfe to see what goodies have been put out for the birds (my nearest rec is surounded with hedged gardens, lol, and the Guilty parties are the p9or starved veterans!!! Having another older very obedient dog around is a godsend though.

They are very clever dogs. What you must remember is they are highly curious, and uynlike some breeds that will kepp to the open part of a field, and Elkhound will want to know what is in the hedgerow, and if it finds a gap, then what is on the other side. They also range further ahead of you on a walk than wsay most working breeds. After their initaila run around off lead my three oldest ones probably keep about 30 to 50 feet in front of me. the younger more independant, later tarined and pig headed one will keep a 50 to 100 feet distance! Every now and then they will run off to investigate something that takes their interest, and usually if I spot the intention I can say no come here etc.

The above will make it clear that excersising too close to a road is not a good idea, as you might be too far behind to tell them to wait. On the other hand I can walk the three older ones in a large field bordered by roads, and rely on them not going out of the gates, as I have always, waited to let them off lead once well into the filed, and called them back for leads on before they could get near, but this only after I new they responded well to the wait command, still waiting on this on the youngest one who is now 3, so I use a Flexi on her in this field! The others were all good about this by 18 months to 2 years, and now at 11, 8 and 5 1/2 is habit.

How Old is your Elkhound, or are you still considering one for athe family? I would suggest you meat up with someone who has Elkhounds for a walk. I do this wiht most new owners who haven't had experience of one, so that they can see for themselves what they are like.

I don't think I am particularly unusual, as the vast majority of my puppy owners with greater or lesser success have their dogs off lead.

Edited to add: At the moment there are two of my breeding from my fourth litter working in Novice and A Obedience, one from the Third litter working with an experienced obedience handler who due to poor health confines herself to the Obedience classes at Companion/Exemption show level, but could probably work higher than the aformentioned two. Also one from my first litter was owned and by one of the handlers until her untimely death at 23 months.

In the USA where the obedience competions are more encouraging to have all breeds compete Elkhounds do very well and gain various titles, with 3 having reached their Obedience Champion level. They are also working in increasing numbers in Agility. In UK there is one boy that I know of doing well in Agility, and he is a veteran, and not a small dog either.

I'm still hopeful that my little monster will mature and learn to recall more reliably.As with Brainless' dogs my elder Elk was reliable off lead by about 18 months so theres still time for Kasper.(hes only 14 months)
Asa obviously has a very strong hunting instinct as he does exactly what Brainless describes-he goes off looking for his elk's(which happen to be small,furry,have long tails and climb trees) and will come back periodically to check where I am.When he finds one he stands under the tree and barks until I call him off or go to him and tell him ok.It is wonderful to watch him do what his breed was originally bred for and although he goes out of sight I know when I call he will return.He is totally oblivious to any other dog or human but this was not always this way.
Please register guest(its free) and tell us more about you Elkhound.
Regards Archer

Hi, I have finnally been able to register. I had problem with my email address.

My Elkhound Jasmine has just turned 12 months. Someone told me she would be mature and fully grown a 24 months, is that correct? She definately has key hunting instincts. The featherd variety seem to be her favourite. She will check on me when walking ahead, but I hate loseing sight of her. On the beach is fine because I can always see her and I'm 100% sure she is fine with other dogs and child. The other day in the woods she caught sight of a duck shot off. I called her, she started barking so I thought she's cornered it oh no! Got to her, found her neck high in mud at the end of a reservoir barking at 3 ducks which where all flapping around her. Could I get her out NO!I stood there calling her for 15-30 mins until she finally got tired of barking at them. I love seeing her in action. Especially when she is running up and down the shorline. I just want her to be called off when required. I'm sure like you say it will come in time!!!!

Once she is mature and trained I am very tempted to get another dog of the same breed. Do you find it better with 2? Are they good companions for each other?

Hi
I think most of us Elkie owners are never satisfied with one -they're far too addictive.I have 2 males and another male booked and they get on great.
I think I'm right in saying that most of us tend to stick to the same sex and either keep all males or all bitches.
Different breed lines tend to mature at different rates-my oldest boy is nearly 2 1/2 and just coming to himself.There are other dogs that are mature much earlier.(we had a dog made up to champion at about 14 months of age last year and brainless made up her youngest bitch at the age of about 2-am I right Brainless?)
Where did you get you Jasmine-its quiet likely that she is related to some of the elks us champdoggers own.Hope you don't mind me being nosey but we're a friendly lot us Elkie owners!!
Reagrds Archer

Plenty ot time yet Hall, and all very normal Elkhound behaviour, and normal adolescent behaviour to some extent in a lot of breeds, even htose well known to do well in obedience training!

Do tell us whence your girl came, as we are as Archer has said a freindly (and nosey lot).

As far as we know there is Archer, Jackie H, Purplenemus and myself that own Elkhounds posting on this board, welcome aboard.

I've only ever met one Elkhound, and he was super! My male pups loved him (I used to get dragged towards his house and they'd hang over his gate) and he was a star with them, friendly but not overboard. I was smitten! I know who bred him, but I don't know his registered name, but what an ambassador for the breed!

Entirely the wrong breed for me, but he was great.
:)

Oh I wouldn't say that, your already used to hair, at least the elkie hair is easy to roll off the carpet with the edge of your hand!!!

Yep sounds typical Elkhound male. I was amazed when I went for my oldest as a pup to see that all the dogs were about with the pups, and have found the same with my lot, once they are up and around Mum is quite happy for the others to interact with them.

Some males are frightened of pups until they stop trying to suckle!!!! I will leave that to your imagination. :D

I don't mind saying. She came from the Shetlands (Grunnataing Bilka) and I live in Jersey. She might be the only one in the Channel Islands. I'm not sure? I'm having a bit of a nightmare at the moment as she is on season. So we are keeping a low profile on doggy front.

I grew up with a Japanese Spitz when I was young. I have always been a spitz breed fan. I like the shape coat and looks. We lost our Japanese spitz when she was 15 to cancer. So I was determined when I had settled down and had my own house I would get another dog. I fancied something bigger. I did a lot of reaseach on spitz breeds and ended up on choseing the Elkhound for its lovelable and friendly nature. I went to the British Elkound club and aquired list of breeders and breeders with puppies.

I am so happy with her. She loves all other dogs and especially children (not for dinner). She is easy going yet with a stubborn streak which gives her great character. My husband can't believe how similar we are personaility wise!!!!!!!

We've done obiedence training plus show handling. She's done one show as a puppy and did well plus she really enjoys it. We've got another in June. I'm not sure I will continue to show it depends if she continues to enjoy it. I've just order some books on Elkhounds, do any of recomend any?

Hi again Hal
I would recommend 'the elkhound in the british isles' by Anne Roslyn Williams.Excellent book that covers all aspects of the breed.
Don't know much about your pups affix since I'm new to the breed myself-my oldest boy only being 2 1/2.
Glad your having a go at showing - its not for everyone but I find it a good way of meeting more mad elkie people.
Archer

I knew her parents breeder well, as they were both bred by the late Ann Heward of the Eskamere affix, who sadly died almost two years ago. She was the breeder of my oldest bitch. I have also had litters by her Grandfather twice.

Yeah thats right both her sire and dam are Esakmere affix. I exchange photos regulary with the breeder Jaz really looks like her sire.

I'm so glad my friend told me about this site because it is so helpful to gain info from more people who own Elkhound, especially Jaz being the only one around the Channel Islands. My husband thought he saw another one, but it may of been a Malamute?

So does anybody have top tips for showing Elkounds?

I was looking through some web site photos and found that other Elkhound lie flat out with there legs spead flat behind them. When she first did it I was worried it would give her hip problems, but it seems to common amongst other breeds as well. Is it ok for them to do this?

Eskamere Flikka went to live in Guernsey! She has same Dad as your girls Father, and their Mums are litter sisters.

Her Maternal Grandsire , and Ch Anton Av Eskamere now lives with a freind in Hereford, and has been having a very successful career in Veteran.

Kash has also been a succesful sire. Elkhounds are shown standing free looking at the pocket from where you give them the occasional tit bit. they should trot at a staedy pace on a loose lead!

Thanks for that. I've mainly been training with labs so i guess it pretty much the same.

Dessie, on this website lives in Jersey I beleive, and has Cockers! I wouldn't be surprised if you have met!