50-60 lbs
19-22"
Sweden
The Hamiltonstovare hails from Sweden and is a typical stubborn hound. He was originally bred to hunt fox or hare. He is energetic, loves to run and play and is usually easygoing. The Hamiltonstovare bonds quickly with his family and will adjust almost any type of home. He does need a firm, consistent leader to ensure that he knows his place within the family. It is great to let him play with the children of the family, but he has to understand he is not dominant over the children. Therefore, certain games should not be played with him, such as tug-o-war.
The Hamiltonstovare was originally bred in Sweden as a hunting hound. Count Adolf Hamilton, the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club, is credited with developing the Hamiltonstovare. The Hamiltonstovare was derived from mixing German hounds with English foxhounds and Harriers. He was created to hunt fox or hare in all types of weather and over all types of terrains. He is not suitable for hunting doe or other larger game. The breed was originally known as the Swedish Hound but in 1921, was renamed to honor Count Adolf Hamilton. The Hamiltonstovare is considered to be a rare breed outside his native Sweden. He is beginning to gain popularity within the United States and Canada because of his classic tri-coloring and hound dog personality. It is unknown when the first Hamiltonstovare was imported into the United States.
The Hamiltonstovare looks similar to the English Foxhound, except he has a lighter frame and is shorter at the shoulder. He has a signature white blaze that starts on his face, usually at the front of the muzzle, and continues over the head and down the neck. When the Hamiltonstovare first began competing in the show ring, his breed type was not set. Once his official breed standard was adopted in the 1930s, the Hamiltonstovare became more uniform and his tri-color and blaze became his signature look. He has been officially recognized by the United Kennel Club, the Kennel Club and the Federation Cynologique Internationale. The American Kennel Club has begun accepting the Hamiltonstovare into its Foundation Stock Service.
The Hamiltonstovare has dark brown eyes and a black nose. His expression should be tranquil. He has high set ears that are typical hound and hang down alongside the jaw. He has a short, double coat. The undercoat is short, close fitting and soft to the touch. The undercoat becomes denser in the winter. His top coat is close fitting to his body and is weather resistant. It is harsh to the touch and straight. He is tri-colored, meaning he is black, brown and white in color. The black should form a blanket or saddle over his back and up the upper side of the tail. The black will also come up along his neck. The brown will come up his legs, along his neck and over his rump. He has four white feet and a white tip on his tail. There should be a white blaze that covers the upper part of his muzzle and up over his head. White should also grace the underside of his neck.
The Hamiltonstovare is easy to maintain. He requires at least weekly brushing with a slicker brush or a natural bristle brush. A hound mitt can also be used. Weekly brushing keeps any dead hairs from collecting on carpets, furniture or clothing. Since the Hamiltonstovare loves to play outside, he can have a dog smell. However, constant bathing can cause dry skin so he should be bathed a maximum of once a month using a mild dog shampoo. Trim his nails as needed, generally every two to three weeks. Most hounds do better with a nail grinder rather than nail clippers as they do not like the sound of the nail clippers. His ears should be checked weekly for dirt or moisture to keep infection at bay. A routine dental plan should be put in place. His teeth should be brushed weekly using dog safe toothpaste. A yearly deep cleaning should also be scheduled.
Insuring your Hamiltonstovare as soon as “pawssible” is essential for preventing high vet care costs. Start comparing insurance plans from leading insurers like Healthy Paws and Embrace and save over $270 a year.
The Hamiltonstovare is a high energy dog and was bred to be an endurance hunter. He does require a lot of daily exercise to keep him happy. Being a typical hound, he can be stubborn and it takes a firm, consistent trainer to keep him in line. The Hamiltonstovare is ideal for children and will play for hours with them. He is also very intelligent and excels at puzzle games. Since he has such a high prey drive, smaller pets should never be left alone with him, especially rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets. He needs a sturdy fence to keep him from chasing prey around the neighborhood. He is suspicious of strangers and will sound the alarm when a stranger comes near his property.
Written by Darlene Stott
Published: 10/17/2017, edited: 08/17/2021
More articles by Darlene Stott
hi I would love to know if I can have a hamiltonstovaire in Victoria bc
