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Among Europe’s oldest dogs, Norwegian Elkhounds are known for their intelligence and athleticism. 7-year-old “Nija” (CH Rijeka Just Play It Again Nija UDX PCD OM2 BN RN) is no different, earning her Championship title in 2021 from the Topeka Kennel Club. “Nija loves to learn, and her favorite obedience exercise is heeling,” says owner and handler Renee Schmidt. “She just lights up when she’s heeling.”
Since Norwegian Elkhounds aren’t usually fond of repetition, and obedience requires mastery of a specific skill set, Schmidt tries to keep Nija’s training sessions short and full of praise. “I’ve always tried to teach my elkhounds that repetition is a good thing as in, you’re so good that we get to do this again,” she says. “I want my dogs thinking that obedience training is the best thing they could ever do.”
Nija and Schmidt will showcase their skills at the 2024 AKC National Obedience Championship (NOC) in Wilmington, Ohio. It’s a special event for Schmidt who was invited to the very first NOC with Nija’s father. 15 years have passed since one of her Elkhounds competed at the NOC, so she’s excited to get back in the ring, this time with Nija.
A Love for Norwegian Elkhounds
Schmidt has always admired Northern breeds for their temperament and stunning silver-grey coat, which gives them a wolf-like appearance. After attending a dog show, she found a breeder and got her first Norwegian Elkhound puppy in 1983. “He ended up being a great pet, but I didn’t do a lot with him in terms of obedience,” she recalls.
Since then, she’s had seven more Norwegian Elkhounds, but not all at once. “I train them and show them, and when they retire, I end up getting a puppy,” she says. Currently, she has Nija along with her mother, “Justi.”
Nija was born in 2017 from Schmidt’s first and only litter. It was a frozen semen breeding that was 25 years in the making. “The fact that she’s even here and has picked up so many of her father’s great qualities is pretty amazing,” she says. Like both of her parents, Nija is a breed champion.
“Norwegian Elkhounds are extremely loyal and intelligent,” Schmidt says. They’re great with kids, so long as they’re supervised. They can coexist peacefully with other dogs, “but that has to be managed because some dogs just don’t get along,” she says. If you’re new to the breed, her advice is to do your research and be prepared for how much they shed.
Getting Started in Obedience
Two years after getting her first Norwegian Elkhound, Schmidt got a second puppy that she describes as unruly and not well-behaved. “She’s the one I took obedience classes with as a puppy and got hooked on the sport,” she says. “Back then I didn’t know there was such a thing as obedience competitions and was just trying to have a pet.”
Before long, Schmidt discovered obedience trials and has been competing ever since. She started by taking classes and seminars, but then people started asking her for help with their dogs. “A few nights a week, I help people with obedience in the Kansas City area,” she says. “I have a building in my backyard where we train, so for the past 40 years it’s grown to this.”
Schmidt’s own dogs have competed in conformation when they’re eligible, and she’s also tried other sports like AKC Rally, agility, and tracking. But, she remains steadfast in her love for obedience.
Building their Obedience Career
In 2019, Schmidt started taking Nija to practice shows and matches. She earned her Beginner Novice from the Greater Kansas City Dog Training Club that year. The following year, Nija earned her Companion Dog and Preferred Companion Dog.
Just as they were making progress, many shows were canceled or postponed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first show they were able to attend was in summer 2021. Schmidt knew from experience what it takes to compete at a high level. Nija’s half-sister, “Javik,” was the fifth obedience trial champion and the last ACH Norwegian Elkhound in the history of AKC.
Even though Schmidt had faith in her training program, she didn’t expect much from Nija because they hadn’t been able to prepare adequately for competition. Plus, Nija tends to get nervous around big groups of dogs. “I thought, if Nija qualifies in Novice, that will be great,” she says. “But she blew me away with how good she was that day.”
Her first qualifying score in Novice was 198.5. When they got to the next ring, Nija went to Preferred Novice and ended up with a 199. “No one was more surprised than I was when she’d done so well,” Schmidt says. “She’s a really special dog and was high in trial in Novice at our Elkhound national specialty.”
Next, she advanced to Open, earning her Companion Dog Excellent from the North County Obedience Training Club. “When we did utility, I thought maybe this is when the wheels fall off because utility is difficult,” she says. “And again, she surprised me.” Nija got her Utility Dog in 2023 and Utility Dog Excellent in 2024. Their recent win at a utility class brings them to 80 OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) points.
Being Careful Not to Overdo Training
Typically, Schmidt and Nija’s train two or three times a week with 10 to 15 minute-long sessions. “I want to keep her fresh, happy, and challenged to the point where she’s still sharp in the ring,” she says. They compete at least twice a month throughout the year.
Schmidt’s preference is to attend shows with multiple trials in one day. “Nija definitely has the energy to compete in two trials a day and does not get tired,” she says. “She absolutely loves competition and is very fun to compete with.”
Besides Norwegian Elkhounds, Schmidt has also owned Border Collies. “You could train Border Collies for hours on end, and they would love it,” she says. “That’s not the case with Norwegian Elkhounds because they will get bored and start inventing things that I would prefer they didn’t.”
Her hope for Nija at this year’s NOC is to be relaxed and give it her all. “When she’s relaxed, she’s pretty amazing,” she says. “But when she’s worried about other dogs, she can kind of fall apart. So, I try to support her as much as I can within the rules.”
Nija in Her Downtime
When they’re not competing, Schmidt loves taking Nija to parks and hiking trails. They also go for walks around their 10-acre property in Gardner, KS. “I don’t want her to feel like she’s in competition all the time,” she says. “I want her to enjoy being a dog and getting to sniff anything she wants to.” True to the breed, Nija is a hunter. It’s a trait she inherited from her father. “I always have to keep her on a leash, or she would take off and go hunting little animals,” she says.
Whatever Schmidt is doing, Nija wants to be included, especially if it involves staying at a hotel. “As soon as I open the car door, she is barking, like ‘Take me with you,'” she says. “She loves going in the car, knowing that wherever we’re going, it’s going to be an absolute adventure. I’ve never owned a dog like this, so that’s pretty fun.”
Don’t miss the AKC National Obedience Championship on July 20-21 in Wilmington, Ohio! You can livestream all the action day-of through AKC.tv.