HAMILTONSTOVARE

COUNTRY: Sweden WEIGHT: 50-60 pounds HEIGHT: 18-23 Vi inches COAT: Short; very thick with lots of undercoat in the winter COLOR: Tricolor: golden tan with black mantle, white on breast, muzzle, on feet and tip of tail; a partial collar is now permitted. No color should predominate. OTHER NAMES: Hamilton Hound REGISTRY: FCI, TKC GROUP: Hound

About 100 years ago, Count A,P. Hamilton created the breed that carries his name. The Count was the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club and a connoisseur of hounds. His dog and bitch, "Pang" and "Stella," were basically of English Foxhound and/or Harrier breeding. Hamilton imported German hounds, like those of Hanover, Holstein and Curlandia, to cross with his British-bred dogs. From these hybrids came the Hamiltonstovare. Today it is a favored hunting dog in Sweden. Since 1968, a few have been imported into Britain, where they are slowly gaining a pawhold.

The Hamilton is always hunted singly, like the brackes of Germany. He accompanies the hunting parties into the vast Swedish pine forests, where he finds and flushes game back towards the guns, baying to indicate his whereabouts. Also adapted to snow cover, he is robust enough to trail large game.