Smålandsstövare

The Smålandsstövare, or Smaland Hound, is a scenthound from Sweden that goes back to the 16th century. It is thought to be the oldest scenthound native to the country and is the smallest of the Swedish hounds. Its black-and-tan coat often gets it mistaken for a Rottweiler.

History

The breed takes its name from Småland in southern Sweden. In the days of the Swedish Empire, soldiers came home from the wars with hounds of various kinds. These were bred with local spitz-type dogs, and their offspring became the foundation of the Smålandsstövare.

Swedish farmers could often afford to feed only one hunting dog, so they wanted an all-rounder. The breed learned to hunt hare, squirrel, fox and birds as well as bigger game such as elk. In those early days it came in many colors and sizes and with tails of different lengths, and selective breeding did not begin until the 19th century. In the early 20th century breeders worked to bring back the old type with its naturally short tail. Baron Frederik von Essen bred the short-tailed dogs, which were first developed in Jönköping County.

The Swedish Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1921, when the first standard was written. It allowed both long and short tails. The current standard dates from 1952, around the time dogs of similar type were last brought in to add new blood. The United Kennel Club recognised the breed as the Smaland Hound in 2006. Only about sixty puppies a year are registered in Sweden, and the breed is seldom seen elsewhere.

Appearance

The Smålandsstövare is tough, compact and almost square, with good muscle throughout. It stands 16 to 21 inches (41 to 53 cm) at the withers and weighs about 33 to 44 pounds (15 to 20 kg). Males are slightly bigger than females.

The topcoat is of medium length over a shorter, dense undercoat, with longer hair on the thighs and the fringed tail. Most dogs are mainly black with tan markings that run from amber to reddish brown. The tail is a natural bobtail. The skull is lean with a clear stop, the nose is black with wide nostrils, and the eyes are usually dark brown. The ears are set fairly high, have rounded tips and hang flat against the head.

Temperament

In the hunt the Smålandsstövare drives the quarry toward the hunter. It can form a strong bond with its owner, and its gentle, protective nature has also made it a household pet. It is wary of strangers and can be territorial, which makes it a good watchdog. It is highly intelligent and needs a lot of exercise, so it is not well suited to a small apartment. More and more of the dogs take part in field trials.

Care and health

The Swedish breed club had dogs genetically tested between 1994 and 2008 and found no health problems particular to the breed. Life expectancy is twelve to fifteen years, and the dogs stay active until about twelve.

Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.