Hamiltonstovare Dogs

History

The Hamiltonstovare, also known as the Hamilton Hound or sometimes simply Hamilton, originate from Sweden. They were developed by their founder of the Swedish Kennel Club, Adolf Hamilton. They are a combination of several German hunting dogs along with Harriers and English Fox Hounds. All of these combined result in a well-rounded and independent hunting dog. They have a tonne of stamina and can happily wander around for miles on end. They are a fairly common sight in their home-country of Sweden and are starting to become popular around other areas in Europe.

Behaviour

This good-natured, friendly breed has a willingness to work and craves human companionship. They make for good pets, but their sometimes boisterous ways can be a bit much for smaller children. They tend to be friendly with everyone they meet, but they will bark when someone is at the door. If socialized from a young age they will be gentle with other dogs as well. Hamiltons will form a close bond to their family, it is important to let them meet other people outside of the family, as they can become rather overprotective of their loved ones. They will be fine with cats if brought up together. Bear in mind that this is a hunting breed, pets such as rabbits will trigger their natural instinct to hunt and kill. They need daily exercise to prevent them from becoming fidgety and destructive in the household. If all their needs are met they will make a great addition to the family.

The hunter instinct in them is still strong and they may run off in pursuit of a scent for hours. Once this dog has set off you have no chance of catching them. They almost always come back, but this is in their own time. It is best to walk them either in a secure area or on a leash. No matter how good their recall is once they’re off, they’re off. They make good jogging partners. They need a long walk/run each day paired with several play sessions to really fulfill their needs.

Basic obedience training should be started from an early age. This is a larger breed who can pull you over when on a lead. Walking to heel and other basic commands should be taught first. Positive reinforcement and food treats will work well, but a “well done” and some physical contact seemingly works even better. These dogs absolutely crave human contact. Harsh criticism will cause the dog to withdraw and will only prolong the basic training process. The major downside is their recall, half the time it works and half the time they just choose not to listen. The tracking and hunting instincts are strong in this breed. A calm yet confident leadership is the best approach when teaching this smart, yet sometimes stubborn dog.

They have short coats which require little grooming. A weekly brush to remove loose hairs will be enough.