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Hamiltonstovare Temperament: Is the Regal Hamilton Hound a Good Match for You?

The well-rounded Hamiltonstovare temperament makes this breed an excellent multi-purpose dog.

Hamiltonstovares, also known as Hamilton Hounds or Swedish Hounds, make fabulous hunting dogs, show competitors and family pets.

Hamiltons, as they are affectionately known, are scent hounds. They love to follow their noses!

These dogs were developed in Sweden by the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club, Count Adolf Patrick Hamilton, and that is where they get their name.

Today these dogs are rare but people who know about their great qualities love them!

If you are thinking about adding a Hamiltonstovare to your household, this article will provide you with an introduction to the most common Hamiltonstovare behaviors and traits.

Understanding the Hamiltonstovare Temperament and Personality: 5 Common Traits

In this section, you will learn about the most common components of the Hamiltonstovare personality.

However, it is important to keep in mind that there will always be some individual variation within any breed of dog.

Therefore, your Hamiltonstovare may differ in some ways from this description.

1. They Love to Follow Their Noses

The scent-oriented Hamiltonstovare temperament makes this dog a scent hound through and through!

Hamiltons have very powerful noses.

If they catch a whiff of something interesting they will take off after that scent.

Even a well trained Hamiltonstovare might not heed your commands when he is on the trail of a particularly good smell.

This can be extremely dangerous if your Hamiltonstovare wanders across a busy road or travels so far from home that he gets disoriented and lost.

For this reason, it is important to keep your Hamiltonstovare on a leash at all times unless you are in a securely fenced in area.

Make sure that your dog is microchipped and wearing an identification tag at all times—just in case.

2. Hamilton Hounds Make Excellent Hunting Companions

The hard-working Hamiltonstovare temperament makes this breed an outstanding hunting dog.

Hamiltons can be used for hunting rabbits, foxes, and other small game animals. One thing that makes them different from other hounds is that Hamiltons hunt by sight and scent.

However, Hamilton Hounds do not hunt deer. They have been selectively bred to ignore the scent of deer.

If you do not hunt, you can still participate in similar activities with your Hamiltonstovare.

Hamiltons also make excellent competitors in canine sports such as tracking and nosework.

They also excel at Search and Rescue work.

Hamiltons are very happy when they have a job to do!

3. They Need Daily Exercise

The active Hamiltonstovare temperament means that these dogs need daily physical exercise.

Hamiltonstovare exercise can take many forms. For example, if you enjoy walking, your Hamiltonstovare will happily accompany you on multiple vigorous walks per day.

If you are looking for a jogging companion, your Hamiltonstovare will make a great jogging buddy.

Hamiltons also enjoy hiking, biking, and romping with other dogs at the dog park.

In fact, your Hamiltonstovare will be happy doing just about any outdoor activity with you.

If your Hamiltonstovare does not get enough daily exercise, he could develop nuisance behaviors such as digging or chewing.

If your dog develops these bad habits, you most likely need to increase his exercise.

You should consider a dog walker or a doggie daycare if you work long hours. This will help you provide enough daily exercise for your Hamilton during the work week.

4. They Like to “Sing”

Hamiltons can be barkers, but true Hamilton lovers call it “singing.”

Like most hounds, the Hamiltonstovare has a loud, musical baying bark.

If you are not a fan of barking, there are some things you can do to reduce barking and howling such as providing plenty of mental enrichment.

However, Hamiltons are a vocal breed. Therefore, if you cannot tolerate barking, this probably is not the breed for you.

Likewise, Hamiltons are not good candidates for apartment living. They do better in areas where they have more space to run, play and bay to their heart’s content!

5. Some People Call them Stubborn

The obstinate Hamiltonstovare temperament can make this breed a challenge to train.

Like most hounds, Hamiltons have an independent streak.

Although they can learn the basics, they are not frequently seen as competitors in competitive obedience trials.

There is no doubt that the Hamiltonstovare temperament will keep you on your toes. They do best with owners who have some prior experience with hounds.

A Brief Account of Hamiltonstovare History

The origins of the Hamiltonstovare date back to the 1800s in Sweden.

Count Adolf Patrick Hamilton created the breed by crossing English Foxhounds, Harriers, and three (now extinct) German breeds.

The goal was to create a solid hunting hound that could pursue game in harsh conditions.

The breed was originally called “The Swedish Hound” but the name was changed to honor the founder of the breed.

The first Hamiltonstovare appeared in the show ring in Sweden in 1921.

Today the Hamiltonstovare is still very rare in the United States, but it is starting to gain more popularity in the European countries surrounding Sweden.

Hamiltonstovare Size and Appearance

The breed standard for the Hamiltonstovare states that these dogs should be, “rectangular, well-proportioned, and never heavy.”

The average Hamiltonstovare height range is between 19 and 24 inches at the withers.

The typical Hamiltonstovare weight range is between 40 lbs and 75 lbs. Males are significantly larger than females in this breed.

Hamiltonstovare colors are always tricolor (white, brown and black). No other colors or patterns are permitted.

Their ears are droopy and their tails are long and sometimes described as “sabre-like.”

Hamiltonstovare Training

The stubborn traits of the Hamiltonstovare temperament can make training this breed a challenge.

If possible, it is best to start from an early age and sign your puppy up for a puppy kindergarten class.

Puppy Pre-K is a great way to start obedience training early, and it is also an excellent opportunity for your young dog to learn vital canine social skills.

If you adopt your Hamiltonstovare as an older dog, you can still start his training right away by signing up for a basic obedience class.

Make sure you find a trainer that uses force-free, positive training methods.

Steer clear of old-school trainers that use dominance, pain and fear. Never use painful training tools such as shock collars or pinch collars on your Hamiltonstovare.

These tactics are unnecessary and will damage the bond between you and your dog.

Instead, find a trainer that uses positive, science-based methods. Keep training sessions short, upbeat, and variable to prevent your Hamiltonstovare from boredom.

Once you master basic obedience commands, you and your Hamiltonstovare can enroll in advance training such as nosework, agility, tracking, rally obedience, barn hunt, lure coursing, weight pull, or search and rescue.

Helpful Dog Training Resource:

For help with training your Hamiltonstovare dog, you should take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.

A Guide to Hamiltonstovare Grooming

When it comes to grooming, Hamiltons are very low maintenance.

They do not require professional grooming. You can care for their short, sleek coat at home.

All they need is occasional brushing and bathing.

Hamiltons do shed twice a year, but it is not excessive.

Clean and regularly checked their floppy ear for infection.

Like all dogs, they should receive nail trimmings and teeth cleanings at regular intervals.

The Hamiltonstovare is not a hypoallergenic breed. If you are looking for a hypoallergenic pet, please check out this article.

Staying Healthy: Hamiltonstovare Health Issues

As a breed, Hamiltons are fairly healthy. Still, they can be prone to some genetic health conditions. If you acquire your dog from a breeder, you can ask the breeder about genetic testing for some of the following conditions. Also speak with your veterinarian about these conditions to make sure you can handle them if they arise:

Note: Don't let the many issues above scare you. The best way to approach health problems is to prevent them in the first place. The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health is a great place to start. Get a copy to keep at home. It will help you prevent the painful health issues that can plague your lovely Hamiltonstovare pet from expressing his winning personality and maximizing his life expectancy.

Like all dogs, your Hamilton should visit a licensed veterinarian at least once per year for an annual physical exam and yearly vaccinations.

It is extremely important for your Hamiltonstovare to be on flea prevention, tick prevention, and heartworm prevention at all times. Speak to your vet about the best options for your dog.

Spaying and neutering is highly recommended to prevent unwanted puppies from adding to the pet overpopulation problem in this country. Speak with your veterinarian about the ideal time to schedule this procedure.

With good nutrition and health care, the Hamiltonstovare lifespan is generally between 14 and 17 years.

Hamiltonstovare Rescue and Adoption

Hamiltons are rare in the United States, so finding one will likely be a challenge.

One option is to look for a Hamiltonstovare for adoption.

Adoption is a great way to add a new dog to your family for many reasons. First of all, there are already a lot of homeless dogs in this country, so it is preferable to give a home to one of these animals rather than bring more puppies into the world.

Additionally, dogs that are available for adoption are usually a little bit older and calmer than puppies. They are also usually past the destructive teenage phase, and sometimes they come with some prior training.

The adoption fee for a rescue dog is substantially less than the fee that you would pay to purchase a Hamiltonstovare puppy from a breeder. Rescue dogs usually come already spayed, neutered, vaccinated and sometimes microchipped.

If you decide that you would like to adopt a Hamiltonstovare, a good starting point is the Hamiltonstovare Club of America Rescue Page.

You can also found Hamiltons and other similar hounds for adoption on Petfinder.com, Adoptapet.com, Getyourpet.com and Facebook.

Facebook especially has numerous “hound networking groups.” There are all kinds of hounds and hound mixes listed on these networking pages, including puppies.

Do not forget to visit your local animal shelter or humane society. You can fill out an application and leave it on file in case a Hamilton becomes available for adoption in the future. The staff might also be able to call you about available dogs with similar personality traits.

Finding a Hamiltonstovare for Sale from a Reputable Breeder

There are very few Hamiltonstovare breeders in the United States, so finding a puppy for sale will take time and patience.

A good starting point is the Breeders Page for the Hamiltonstovare Club of America.

Do not be surprised if you have to wait months or even years to obtain a Hamiltonstovare puppy from a high-quality breeder.

Another option is to travel internationally to obtain one of these puppies if you are willing to go through the challenges of travelling internationally with a puppy.

Whatever you do, make sure that you do not ever order Hamiltonstovare puppies online or purchase them through a pet store. Those puppies are from irresponsible sources such as puppy mills or backyard breeders.

Make sure you find a breeder that is committed to the health and temperament of the breed.

Always visit the breeder in person so you can make sure the breeding operation is humane and the breeding dogs are happy and healthy specimens of the breed.

A good Hamiltonstovare breeder will ask you questions to make sure you are prepared to provide a lifelong home for one of their puppies. They will probably ask you to sign an agreement promising to return the puppy to their care if you cannot keep it for any reason.

How much does a Hamiltonstovare cost?

Since Hamiltons are so rare, they are also expensive.

When you purchase a Hamiltonstovare puppy from a high-quality breeder, the Hamiltonstovare price will be between $1000 and $3000.

This price is prohibitive for many people. If you cannot afford the price tag for a purebred Hamiltonstovare, please consider adopting a lovable hound mix from a shelter or rescue organization. These dogs make lovely pets for a fraction of the cost.

Conclusion: Why the Hamiltonstovare?

The all-around great qualities of the Hamiltonstovare temperament make this breed a fabulous working dog, show dog, and pet. Although they are scarce, they are much beloved by their admirers.

Of course, the Hamiltonstovare temperament is not for everyone.

Before you bring one of these dogs into your life, make sure you have the time, energy and space to give your Hamilton Hound what it needs.