Hamiltonstövare
A handsome tricoloured Swedish hound with a friendly, steady nature and the stamina to track hare and fox all day.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 53–61 cm · Females 49–57 cm
- Weight
- Males 23–27 kg · Females 20–25 kg
- Life expectancy
- 11–13 years
- Exercise
- 90–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Double coat, short
- Colours
- Tricolour
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent
- Country of origin
- Sweden
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 132 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 4/5 – High |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want an active, sociable dog for long walks
- are interested in tracking or hunting
- have a secure garden
Think twice if you …
- want a dog that stays close off lead
- live in a small flat with little time
- share your home with cats
Care
Temperament
Friendly, even-tempered and affectionate with family and visitors. Focused and determined when it picks up a scent.
Exercise
Needs at least an hour or two of activity daily; long walks, jogging, scent work and tracking keep it content.
Grooming
Weekly brushing is enough for the short, dense coat; expect seasonal shedding.
Training
Responds well to kind, consistent training, but recall around game needs ongoing practice.
Health
Generally robust; hip dysplasia and occasional epilepsy are reported, so breeding dogs are usually hip scored. Ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Hamiltonstövare was created in Sweden in the 1800s by crossing English Foxhounds and Harriers with German and Swiss hounds. It is named after Count Adolf Hamilton, who founded the Swedish Kennel Club and helped shape the breed.
In Sweden it is one of the most popular hunting dogs, used singly to find and drive hare and fox towards the hunter. At home it tends to be friendly, gentle and sociable, and many live as family dogs. Its striking black, brown and white coat draws attention, but owners need to remember that this is a hound that wants to run and follow scent.
Did you know?
It is named after Count Adolf Hamilton, founder of the Swedish Kennel Club in 1889.