At a glance the quick version
Range from Wikipedia; not in the FCI standard.
Coat and looks how to spot one
short, dense, harsh
A rectangular, athletic hound with real strength and stamina. The weatherproof coat lies close, and is short and smooth on the head, ears and front legs.12
Personality what they are like
Sociable, steady and dependable, with a bit of hound independence. On the trail it is persistent and vocal; at home it is a calm, pleasant companion.123
Daily activity how busy a day looks
High: the Royal Kennel Club suggests more than two hours of exercise a day.2
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Easy care: a weekly brush keeps the short coat in good shape.2
Company who they like around
Hunts on its own rather than in a pack and is friendly with people, making a reliable family companion.23
The story where it all began
Count Adolf Hamilton, a founder of the Swedish Kennel Club, created the breed by mixing English Foxhounds and Harriers with German and Swiss hounds. His dogs Pang and Stella, shown at Sweden's first dog show in 1886, are regarded as its founders, and the breed took his name in 1921.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
Two dogs called Pang and Stella, shown in 1886, are counted as the first Hamiltonstövare.1
- 2
It was simply called the Swedish hound until it was renamed after Count Hamilton in 1921.3
- 3
It is bred to hunt hare and fox and to ignore deer scent.3
- 4
In the US it has also worked as a service dog since the late 1990s.4
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 132, Group 6 Scent hounds, Section 1.2 Medium-sized hounds, with working trial; FCI recognition 1955 per Wikipedia.1
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Hound group; not a vulnerable native breed.2
- AKC
- Foundation Stock Service.3
- Swedish Kennel Club
- Named Hamiltonstövare in 1921.1
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Hamiltonstövare. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
- Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 7every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI standard no. 132 Hamiltonstövare fci.beused for origin, recognition, height, coat, colour, temperament, history
- The Royal Kennel Club: Hamiltonstovare royalkennelclub.comused for group, exercise, grooming, lifespan, history
- Hamiltonstövare (Wikipedia) en.wikipedia.orgused for weight, recognition dates, history, facts
- AKC: Hamiltonstovare akc.orgused for uses, service work
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.