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.
