Other names: Hamilton Hound, Swedish Foxhound.

The Hamiltonstövare is a breed of dog, bred as a hunting hound. The breed was developed in Sweden by the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club, Count Adolf Hamilton. Its ancestry includes several German hounds as well as English Foxhounds and Harriers.

The breed is known by the white blaze on the head, down the neck, four white paws, and a white tail tip. It differs from an English Foxhound in that its frame is lighter.

Appearance

Head and Skull Head longish, rectangular, with slightly arched and moderately broad skull. Occiput not too prominent. Stop well defined but not over pronounced. Jowls not too heavy. Muzzle fairly long, large and rectangular. Bridge of nose straight and parallel to the line of the skull. Nose always black, well developed with large nostrils. Upper lips are full but not too overhanging.

Eyes Clear and dark brown with tranquil expression.

Ears Set fairly high, when drawn alongside jaw, ears extend to approximately halfway along the muzzle and should be raised only slightly above the skull when responding to call. Soft with straight fall and fore-edge not folded out.

Mouth Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck Long and powerful, merging well into shoulders, skin on neck supple, and close-fitting.

The forequarters Shoulders are muscular and well laid back. When viewed from front forelegs appear straight and parallel. Upper foreleg long and broad and set at a right angle to shoulder blade. Elbows set close into the body.

Body Back straight and powerful. Strong, broad, muscular loin. Croup slightly inclined. Chest deep, ribs moderately sprung, back ribs proportionately long. Belly slightly tucked up.

Hindquarters Strong and parallel when viewed from behind. Well angulated, muscle well developed and broad when seen from the side.

Feet Short and hard. Pads firm and pointing straight forward.

Tail Set on low, in an almost straight continuation of the line of the back. In length reaches the hock. Fairly wide at the base and narrowing off towards tip. Held in a straight position or curving slightly in saber-like shape. Not carried above the backline when moving.

Coat The coat consists of two layers. Undercoat short, close, and soft, especially thick during winter. Upper coat strongly weather-resistant lying close to the body. On the underside of the tail, ordinary hair quite long but not forming a fringe. Ample hair between pads.

Colour The upper side of the neck, back, sides of the trunk, and upper side of tail black. Head and legs, as well as the side of the neck, trunk, and tail brown. White markings as follows: blaze on the upper part of the muzzle, underside of the neck, breast, and tip of the tail, lower legs, and feet.

A mixture of black and brown undesirable, as is a preponderance of any of the three permissible colors.

Temperament

A typical hound in temperament sweet and friendly to all the Hamiltonstövare is also a hardworking hunter. It is happy to be with its family, but it is also happy to be out hunting.

The Hamiltonstövare is its “own hound,” and although it is friendly and gregarious, it naturally defers to doing what it wants rather than what might be requested of it. It takes enthusiasm and praise to persuade the Hamiltonstovare to comply with its owner’s requests, but it’ll do it if it’s inspired.