Hamiltonstövare
- Origin
- Sweden
- Type
- Scenthound
- Size
- Medium
- Height
- 49–61 cm (19–24 in)
- Weight
- 23–27 kg (51–60 lb)
- Coat
- Short and close, with a soft undercoat that thickens in winter
- Colors
- Tricolor: black, tan and white
- Status
- Recognised by the FCI; in the AKC Foundation Stock Service
The Hamiltonstövare, or Hamilton Hound, is a Swedish scenthound bred to hunt hare and fox. It is named for the man who created it, Count Adolf Patrick Hamilton, a cavalry officer who was also the founder and first president of the Swedish Kennel Club. It is a popular hound in Sweden but rare outside Scandinavia.
History
Scenthounds have been used in Sweden since at least the 1500s, when hounds from Eastern Europe are thought to have reached Scandinavia. Authorities disagree about exactly which dogs went into the Hamiltonstövare. Those proposed include native Swedish hounds, Swiss and German hounds such as the Holstein and Hanover hounds, the now extinct Curland hound of Latvia, the English Foxhound and the Harrier.
In the late 19th century Count Hamilton set out to breed a hound that would excel at hunting and tracking. At a dog show in 1886 he presented two dogs that are regarded as the first of the breed. The result was a robust hound fit for the varied Swedish countryside.
The breed was at first simply called the Swedish hound. In 1921, when the Swedish Kennel Club recognised it, it was renamed for its creator. The FCI recognised it in 1955, and it is now part of the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service.
In Swedish folklore the elf Tomten has a Hamiltonstövare named Karo as his helper.
Appearance
The Hamiltonstövare is a medium-sized hound with a well-balanced, muscular frame and an elegant gait. Males stand 53 to 61 cm (21 to 24 in) tall and females 49 to 57 cm (19 to 22 in). The usual weight is 23 to 27 kg (51 to 60 lb).
The coat is short and dense. The outer coat lies close and stands up well to weather, and the soft undercoat grows especially thick in winter. The color is always a tricolor of black, tan and white.
Temperament
This hound has a keen nose and was bred to follow a scent by itself across forest, open field and rough mountain country. It has also been bred to refuse the scent of deer.
At home it is friendly and sociable. For all its strong hunting instinct, it is a loyal, affectionate dog that bonds closely with its family and is generally good with children. It can be stubborn.
Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.