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Home > Dogs > Dog Breeds > Hamiltonstovare Dog Breed Guide: Info, Pictures, Care & More!

Hamiltonstovare Dog Breed Guide: Info, Pictures, Care & More!

Hamiltonstovare

The Hamiltonstovare is an uncommon dog breed that is loved for its versatility, which allows it to excel at everything from pet to service dog and everything in between. This breed is sometimes referred to as the Hamilton Hound and the Swedish Foxhound. All three breed names are accepted within the dog breeding community.

Breed Overview

Height:

19 – 24 inches

Weight:

40 – 75 pounds

Lifespan:

14 – 17 years

Colors:

Tri-colored

Suitable for:

Active families, dog sports, service dog work

Temperament:

Loyal, regal, versatile, low maintenance, trainable

This handsome breed is a scent hound that is more trainable than most other scent hounds due to their desire to please their handler. That isn’t to say they’re easy to train, though, thanks to their hound stubbornness. They also tend to have a higher sight-driven prey drive than most scent hounds. When combined with their scent hound tendencies, it can be a challenge to keep a Hamiltonstovare securely enclosed in a yard.

Hamiltonstovare Characteristics

Energy:
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability:
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health:
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Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Lifespan:
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Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Sociability:
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

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Hamiltonstovare Puppies

To acquire a Hamiltonstovare puppy, you can expect to wait years on a waiting list before your turn to get a pup comes up. And when a pup becomes available, you can expect quite the price tag.

In some rural areas, these dogs may end up in shelters.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Hamiltonstovare

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Thanks to its loyalty and loving personality, the Hamiltonstovare is a fantastic family dog. They tend to be wary of strangers and protective of their people and home. They can be quite stubborn, though, and it’s important to teach your Hamiltonstovare to view children as people to be obeyed. Without proper training and boundaries, these dogs may become dominant and show dominant tendencies toward children. This behavior can translate to snapping and generalized disobedience when not adequately monitored.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Hamiltonstovares can be hit or miss with other dogs. To give yourself the best chance of your Hamiltonstovare getting along with another dog in the home, they should be introduced early and given proper boundaries and time to decompress. They may view other dogs as competitors for resources due to their high prey drive and stubbornness, so be prepared to prevent undesirable behaviors like resource guarding.

Unfortunately, due to their sight and scent-based prey drive, keeping a Hamiltonstovare in a home with other types of pets, especially small pets, can be dangerous. These dogs were bred to pursue and assist in capturing small game, like rabbits. This can lead to hunting behaviors occurring toward cats, pet rabbits, and other small animals. Proper introductions and adult supervision are a must to keep all pets in the home safe.

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Things to Know When Owning a Hamiltonstovare:

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

High-quality dog food is important for your Hamiltonstovare to maintain overall health and a good weight. Working dogs may require more nutrient-dense food that contains more protein and calories than most dog foods. For pet and show Hamiltonstovare, though, high-quality dog food will work perfectly. They are prone to overeating, so properly measured portions are necessary to maintain a healthy weight in your dog.

Some sources report that some Hamiltonstovare may be sensitive to certain types of grains in their food. While this may be the case, it’s important to talk to your vet before transitioning your dog to a grain-free diet. There are some serious medical concerns associated with grain-free diets in dogs, and while the verdict is still out on the exact cause of these issues and how it relates to the diet, it’s a risky game to play with your dog’s life without being well-educated on the subject first.

Exercise 🐕

This breed can be pretty lazy, but it’s a good idea to provide your dog with physical and mental activities every day to keep their excess energy stores burned down. Otherwise, your dog may become destructive, anxious, and disobedient. The Hamiltonstovare is an excellent breed for participating in dog sports, especially lure coursing and other sports that tap into the breed’s hound instincts. At a minimum, your Hamiltonstovare will likely appreciate a walk or jog every day, but remember to keep an eye on the temperature outside since they are sensitive to heat.

Training 🎾

Hounds, in general, can be a challenge to train due to their stubborn nature and instinct-driven behaviors. However, this breed is extremely loyal and aims to please, making them easier to train than most hounds. It’s essential that you set rules for your Hamiltonstovare while still a pup and ensure the entire household is on board with the rules and daily training exercises. Without adequate reinforcement from household members, you may encounter training difficulties.

These dogs are intelligent, so turning training into entertaining games and fun activities can really make training your Hamiltonstovare easier on you.

Grooming ✂️

This is a low-maintenance breed when it comes to grooming. They have a short single-coat with straight hair, so they will rarely, if ever, need professional grooming. Routine brushing can help remove dead hairs, lessening the amount that your Hamiltonstovare may shed in your home. This is a moderate shedding breed, so be prepared to sweep up short dog hairs regularly. Routine baths and brushing will reduce this, though.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Minor Conditions
  • Heat intolerance

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Male vs Female

Female Hamiltonstovare may be more standoffish with strangers and visitors than males. They are more likely to make better watchdogs, although males will also alert you to visitors on the property. Females may be more independent but easier to train than males, especially when they are young.

Males may be more accepting of visitors and strangers, although they are likely to be still somewhat aloof and distrusting at first. They’re more likely to be more loving and present than a female, although their occasionally lazy nature may mean your dog disappears to nap in a room by himself. While still young, males may be more challenging to train than females, but this tends to get a little easier as they age.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Hamiltonstovare

1. The Hamiltonstovare originated in Sweden.

This breed was developed specifically for the Swedish Kennel Club for hunting foxes and wild hares. It was developed in the late 1800s by the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club, Count Adolf Hamilton. The Hamiltonstovare were produced by crossing multiple existing breeds, including Harriers, English Foxhounds, and multiple types of German hounds.


2. This breed will not hunt deer.

Although they are often large enough to hunt deer, the Hamiltonstovare can rarely be used for this activity. In fact, the breed was developed with the distinct characteristic of ignoring the scent of deer. This helps prevent them from picking up an inappropriate trail while hunting for other types of wild game.


3. They have poor heat tolerance.

While they’re short-haired dogs, the Hamiltonstovare is not tolerant of high temperatures. This is likely due to its original breeding being intended for the cooler climate of Sweden. These dogs are very intolerant of temperatures above 80°F. They do not make good outdoor dogs in areas with hot summers, and should not be left out in hot temperatures for more than a few minutes at a time.

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Final Thoughts

The Hamiltonstovare is a beautiful dog breed that is very uncommon in the United States. It can be difficult to acquire this breed, and they tend to be expensive. However, the Hamiltonstovare is worth the wait (and the price). These dogs are loyal and enthusiastic, and they can be wonderful dogs for active families and people interested in participating in dog sports.

This stubborn dog tends to be more trainable than most hounds, although they are still very instinct-driven, so leash training and high fences are necessary to keep your Hamiltonstovare safe and secure. They are an overall healthy breed with few breed-related medical conditions, but they are heat intolerant. This means they are better suited to cooler environments and may not be good candidates for living outdoors or in areas with warmer summers, like the Southern United States.


Featured Image Credit: Somo_Photography, Pixabay

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