Hamiltonstovare

The Hamiltonstövare hails from Sweden where they have always been highly prized for their hunting and abilities. They share a common ancestry with English Foxhounds Harriers and other German hounds all of which were used to create this handsome dog. They were bred to hunt alone rather than in packs although they are often seen working in pairs and as such they generally get on well with other dogs but having hunting in their ancestry they do have a high prey drive.

Hamiltons are handsome dogs and they are known to be intelligent however they are the sort of hound that needs to be kept busy for them to be truly happy. In short they are better suited to people who lead active outdoor lives and who live in a country environment. With this said Hamiltonstövare although great companions and family pets are not a good choice for novice dog owners.

Also known as a Hamilton Hound the Hamiltonstövare is highly prized in Sweden although they are a far lesser known breed elsewhere in the world. There is very little information both about the breed and the man who developed the Hamilton. With this said they are not native to Sweden having been imported from other European countries from a north German province known as Schleswig-Holstein which at a specific time in history namely 1480 to 1860 was a region of Denmark.

As such German Hounds are the descendants of these short-legged hounds with long ears that were called Leithunde. There are records of the hounds in a book written by Gaston Phoebus during the 14th Century called Le Livre de Chasse which translated means “The Book of Hunting”. They were known as Leithunde because these hounds were held on a long lead by their handlers as they tracked down their prey.

King Karl XII owned these hounds during his reign which lasted from 1682 to 1718 and right up until the end of the 18th Century only royals and the nobility were permitted to hunt using these hounds. After this farmers and the poorer Swedish people could hunt with hounds and as such each region of the country developed their own versions of what were referred to as Stö- var which meant there were many different types of hounds around at the time. This resulted in a breed standard being drawn up for the Svenske Stövare a type of hound that had been developed by introducing English Foxhounds and Harriers into the mix by crossing them with German Hounds.

German Hounds were first introduced to Sweden by Baron von Greiff the Royal Gamekeeper with 2 of them having been acquired by the Baron de Geer af Leufsta. However the man who was supposed to take the dogs to the baron kept them for a while and bred from them creating two famous lines namely the Filholmer and the Säby-Ängsö. It was during this time in history that Count Hamilton became involved in the development of the breed and over the following years established a breeding programme to develop his own bloodline with some people believing that his dogs came from both an English and Scottish lineage.

With this said there are those people who believe that the count used other dogs to develop his bloodline which included Finnentroper-Olper hounds and various Swiss hounds. By 1921 he introduced Harriers and Foxhounds into his breeding programme and at the time his hounds were known as Hamilton Stövare A Class. However over the following years it became hard to differentiate between the two “types” and as such in 1933 a decision was made to class them all under the same category calling them Hamiltonstövare. However crossbreeds were still being registered in the breed’s studbook right up until 1952 at which time the book was ended.

Over time and through careful selective breeding the Hamiltonstövare was to become one of the healthier hound breeds around and one that boasts a superb hunting instinct. This is just one of the reasons why these handsome gundogs remain so highly prized in their native Sweden and elsewhere in the world including here in the UK. However they are less well known with people who are looking to share their homes with a canine companion although they do make great family pets and companion dogs but only if these high energy dogs are given the right amount of daily exercise and a ton of mental stimulation.

Interesting facts about the breed

• Is the Hamiltonstövare a vulnerable breed? No although they are very rare in the UK and finding well-bred puppies can prove challenging with waiting lists being long
• Hamiltons were first exhibited in Sweden in 1886
• They excel at all sorts of canine sports which includes agility
• Hamiltons don’t “bark” as such with many owners stating that their pets “sing”
• The breed was developed by using English Foxhounds and Harriers which were crossed with German Hounds
• The Hamiltonstövare is the most popular hound breed in their native Sweden
• The breed was named after the man who developed these hounds Count Hamilton who was one of the people who founded the Swedish Kennel Club

Height at the withers: Males 53 - 61 cm Females 49 - 57 cm

Average weight: Males 23 - 27 kg Females 23 - 27 kg

The Hamiltonstövare is a very handsome dog that's instantly recognisable thanks to their charming “hound-like” looks. They resemble English Foxhounds which were used to create the breed and they boast having a tremendous amount of presence which adds to their overall appeal. They have quite long rectangular heads which are slightly arched. Their skulls are moderately broad with occiputs not being too prominent but stops are well defined. They have nicely formed jowls that are not overly heavy and their muzzles are quite long rectangular and large. A Hamilton's nose is always black with dogs having well developed large nostrils.

They are eyes are dark in colour with dogs always having a calm intelligent expression in them. Ears are set quite high and drop down with dogs only holding them slightly raised when alert. The Hamilton has a strong jaw with a perfect scissor bite where their upper teeth neatly overlap their lower ones. They have powerful long necks that merge smoothly into the shoulders with the skin on their necks being nice and supple.

Shoulders are well laid back and muscular with dogs having straight well-muscled front legs. They have deep chests and straight powerful backs with strong muscular and broad loins. Ribs are quite well sprung with dogs showing a slight tuck up which adds to their athletic appearance. They have powerful strong back legs and their feet are short with dogs having firm pads and strong nails. Tails are set low being thicker at the base before tapering to the tip. Dogs hold their tails either straight or slightly curved.

When it comes to their coat the Hamiltonstövare boasts having a double coat that consists of a short close and soft undercoat which is typically that much thicker during the colder winter months and an extremely weather resistant top coat that lies close to the body. The hair on the underside of a dog's tail is longer and they have a lot of hair growing between their paw pads. The accepted breed colour Kennel Club registration are as follows:

• Tricolour

It is worth noting that the accepted breed colours for Kennel Club registration can differ from those set out in the breed standard which are as follows:

• The upper side of a dog’s neck their back the sides of their trunks and the upper sides of their tails are black. A dog’s head legs side of the neck trunk and tail are brown. Dogs have a white blaze on the upper part of their muzzles and white on the underside of their necks breasts and on the tip of their tails lower legs and feet.

It is worth noting that any mixture of black and brown in a dog’s coat is highly undesirable and too much of any of the three “permitted” colours under the Kennel Club standard is also undesirable.

Gait/movement

When a Hamiltonstövare moves they do with a free striding gait covering a lot of ground with their long reach and showing good drive from behind.

Faults

The Kennel Club frowns on any exaggerations or departures from the breed standard and would judge the faults on how much they affect a dog's overall health and wellbeing as well as their ability to perform.

Males should have both testicles fully descended into their scrotums and it is worth noting that a dog can be a little lighter or heavier as well as slightly taller or shorter than set out in the Kennel Club breed standard which is only given as a guideline.

The Hamiltonstövare is an even-tempered dog and one that makes a wonderful companion but only if they are given the right amount of exercise and enough mental stimulation for them to be well-rounded characters. Their instinct to hunt remains exceptionally strong even in a home environment and as such they do a lot better living with people who live in the country and who lead active outdoor lives. Because they form strong bonds with their owners the Hamilton does not like being left on their own for extended periods of time which could result in them developing some unwanted and destructive behaviours. As such they do better in households where one person usually stays at home when everyone else is out of the house.

These handsome dogs are not the best choice for first time owners because they need to be socialised trained and handled by people who are familiar with the particular needs of this type of high-energy intelligent dog and one that boasts such a high prey drive. They have a tremendous amount of stamina and will happily follow their noses for hours if allowed. As such they need to be given a tremendous amount of daily exercise which has to include indulging these dogs in the thing they do best - namely hunting.

They tend to be a little wary of people they do not know but rarely would a Hamilton show any sort of aggressive behaviour towards a stranger preferring to keep their distance until they get to know a person. With this said the Hamilton is known to be a trustworthy and reliable dog by nature which is why they do make good family pets in households where the children are slightly older and therefore know how to behave around dogs.

They are known to be quite social dogs and having been bred to work in pairs as long as a Hamilton has been well socialised from a young enough age they generally get on well with other dogs. It cannot be stressed strongly enough the importance of socialising a Hamilton puppy as early as possible so they grow up to be more confident and trustworthy mature dogs.

Are they a good choice for first time owners?

Hamiltons are not a good choice for first time dog owners because they must be socialised handled and trained by people who are familiar with the needs of an intelligent energetic hound that likes to be kept busy and a dog that needs to know their place in the “pack”.

What about prey drive?

Although Hamiltons are social by nature they are keen hunting dogs and as such they have a very high prey drive. As such care should always be taken as to where and when a dog can run off the lead more especially if there is wildlife and/or livestock close by.

What about playfulness?

Hamiltons have a very playful side to their natures and love to entertain and be entertained. They are known to be a little mischievous when the mood takes them and being so clever they quickly learn what pleases an owner and how to get their own way when they want something more especially when they are young.

What about adaptability?

A Hamiltonstövare is better suited to people who have well-fenced secure back gardens a dog can safely roam in whenever possible to really let off steam. As such they are not a good choice for anyone who lives in an apartment because these dogs need to be kept busy and enjoy being in the great outdoors doing something.

What about separation anxiety?

Hamiltons form strong ties with their families and dogs are never very happy when they find themselves left on their own for longer periods of time. They are better suited to people who either work from home or in households where one person stays at home when everyone else is out so they are never alone for any length of time which could see a dog suffering from separation anxiety. This can lead to them being destructive around the home which is a dog's way of relieving any stress they are feeling and a way to keep themselves entertained.

What about excessive barking?

Hamiltons are known to like the sound of their own voices a little too much which is something that needs to be gently nipped in the bud when a dog is still young being careful not to frighten them. However even with the best training some dogs just cannot resist barking at the slightest thing just for the sake of it.

Do Hamiltonstövares like water?

Most Hamiltons love swimming and will take to the water whenever they can more especially when the weather is hot. However if anyone who owns a dog that does not like water should never force them to go in because it would just end up scaring them. With this said care should always be taken when walking a dog off the lead anywhere near more dangerous watercourses just in case a dog decides to leap in and then needs rescuing because they cannot get out of the water on their own.

Are Hamiltonstövares good watchdogs?

Hamiltons are not natural watchdogs although this is not to say a dog would not be quick off the mark to let an owner know when there are strangers about although they would rarely do this aggressively preferring to keep their distance and bark which as previously mentioned is something they enjoy doing.

A Hamiltonstövare 's training has to start early and it has to be consistent throughout a dog's life so they understand what is expected of them. Like many other hound breeds they are sensitive by nature and as such a Hamilton does not respond well to any sort of harsh correction or heavier handed training. They do answer well to positive reinforcement and it's important to pay particular attention to the "recall" command because a Hamilton's strong hunting instinct.

The key to successfully training a Hamiltonstövare is to keep training sessions short and interesting so dogs remain focussed on what is being asked of them. It's also essential to gently curb their strong hunting instinct rather than to try and prevent one of these handsome dogs from doing what comes so naturally to them. In short it's best to enrol a Hamilton into activities that involve tracking and scenting so they get to use their skills and indulge this breed’s strong desire to follow their noses.

Hamilton's are never happier than when they know their place in the pack and who they can look to for direction and guidance which in short means they need to know who the alpha dog is in a household. If allowed a Hamilton would quickly take on this role which can make them that much harder to manage and live with.

Like all puppies Hamiltons are incredibly cute when young and it is all too easy to spoil them when they first arrive in new homes. As soon as a puppy is nicely settled owners must start out as they mean to go on by laying down ground rules and boundaries so that a puppy understands what is expected of them. It helps establish a pecking order and who the alpha dog is in the household. The first commands a puppy should be taught are as follows:

• Come
• Sit
• Stay
• Heel
• Quiet
• Leave it
• Down
• Bed

Hamiltons are known to love people and they thrive in a family environment. They are gentle characters by nature and in particular when they are around children. However they can be a little boisterous which means they are not the best choice for families where the children are still young and any interaction between toddlers and a dog should always be well supervised by an adult to make sure things stay calm and nobody gets knocked over albeit by accident.

Having been bred to work with other dogs the Hamilton is known to be good around them more especially if they have been properly socialised from a young enough age. If they have grown up with a family cat in a household they usually get on well together. However a Hamilton would think nothing of chasing any other cats they come across. Because of their strong hunting instincts care has to be taken when a Hamilton is anywhere near smaller animals and pets because they may well see them as prey so any contact is best avoided.

The average life expectancy of a Hamiltonstövare is between 10 and 13 years when properly cared for and fed an appropriate good quality diet to suit their ages.

Hamiltons are known to be healthy and they don’t seem to be affected by the hereditary and congenital disorders that afflict many other pure breeds. However the conditions that are known to affect the breed are as follows:

• Hip dysplasia – dogs should be hip scored by a registered BVA vet
• Elbow dysplasia – dogs should be hip tested by a registered BVA vet
• Epilepsy – dogs known to suffer from the condition should not be used for breeding purposes
• Cancer
• Bloat

What about vaccinations?

Hamiltonstövare puppies would have been given their initial vaccinations before being sold but it is up to their new owners to make sure they have their follow-up shots in a timely manner with the vaccination schedule for puppies being as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

There has been a lot of discussion about the need for dogs to have boosters. As such it's best to talk to a vet before making a final decision on whether a dog should continue to have annual vaccinations which are known as boosters.

What about spaying and neutering?

A lot of vets these days recommend waiting until dogs are slightly older before spaying and neutering them which means they are more mature before undergoing the procedures. As such they advise neutering males and spaying females when they are between the ages of 6 to 9 months old and sometimes even when a dog is 12 months old.

Other vets recommend spaying and neutering dogs when they are 6 months old but never any earlier unless for medical reasons. With this said many breeds are different and it is always advisable to discuss things with a vet and then follow their advice on when a dog should be spayed or neutered.

What about obesity problems?

Hamiltons are known to love their food and are extremely “food oriented” which means great care must be taken as to how much they are fed and the amount of daily exercise they are given. As with other breeds some Hamiltonstövare gain weight after they have been spayed or neutered and it's important to keep an eye on a dog's waistline just in case they do. If a dog starts to put on weight it's important to adjust their daily calorie intake and to up the amount of exercise they are given. Older dogs too are more prone to gaining weight and again it's essential they be fed and exercised accordingly because obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years. The reason being that it puts a lot of extra strain on a dog's internal organs including the heart which could prove fatal.

What about allergies?

Hamiltonstövares are not known to suffer from allergies but it's important for a dog to see a vet sooner rather than later if one flares up. Allergies can be notoriously hard to clear up and finding the triggers can be challenging. With this said a vet would be able to make a dog with an allergy more comfortable while they try to find out the triggers which could include the following:

• Certain dog foods that contain high levels of grains and other cereal-type fillers
• Airborne pollens
• Dust mites
• Environment
• Flea and tick bites
• Chemicals found in everyday household cleaning products

Participating in health schemes

All responsible Hamiltonstövare breeders would ensure that their stud dogs are tested for known hereditary and congenital health issues known to affect the breed by using the following schemes:

• Hip scoring through the Animal Health Trust (AHT) or by a registered BVA vet
• Elbow testing through the Animal Health Trust (AHT) or by a registered BVA vet

What about breed specific breeding restrictions?

Apart from the standard breeding restrictions that are in place for all Kennel Club registered breeds there are no other breed specific breeding restrictions in place for the Hamiltonstövare.

What about Assured Breeder Requirements?

The Kennel Club strongly advises that all breeders follow their breeding guidelines which are as follows:

• Bitches under 2 years old should not produce a litter
• Bitches must not produce more than a single litter in any 12-month period

As with any other breed Hamiltons need to be groomed on a regular basis to make sure their coats and skin are kept in top condition. They also need to be given regular daily exercise to ensure they remain fit and healthy. On top of this dogs need to be fed good quality food that meets all their nutritional needs throughout their lives.

Caring for a Hamiltonstövare puppy

Hamilton puppies are boisterous and full of life which means it's essential for homes and gardens to be puppy-proofed well in advance of their arrival. A responsible breeder would have well socialised their puppies which always leads to more outgoing confident and friendly dogs right from the word go. With this said any puppy is going to feel vulnerable when they leave their mother and littermates which must be taken into account. The longer a puppy can remain with their mother the better although it should never be for too long either.

It's best to pick a puppy up when people are going to be around for the first week or so which is the time needed for a puppy to settle in. Puppy-proofing the home and garden means putting away any tools and other implements that a boisterous puppy might injure themselves on. Electric wires and cables must be put out of their reach because puppies love chewing on things. Toxic plants should be removed from flowerbeds and the home too.

Puppies need to sleep a lot to grow and develop as they should which means setting up a quiet area that's not too out of the way means they can retreat to it when they want to nap and it's important not to disturb them when they are sleeping. It's also a good idea to keep "playtime" nice and calm inside the house and to have a more active "playtime" outside in the garden which means puppies quickly learn to be less boisterous when they are inside.

The documentation a breeder provides for a puppy must have all the details of their worming date and the product used as well as the information relating to their microchip. It is essential for puppies to be wormed again keeping to a schedule which is as follows:

• Puppies should be wormed at 6 months old
• They need to be wormed again when they are 8 months old
• Puppies should be wormed when they are 10 months old
• They need to be wormed when they are 12 months old

Things you'll need for your puppy

There are certain items that new owners need to already have in the home prior to bringing a new puppy home. It's often a good idea to restrict how much space a puppy plays in more especially when you can't keep an eye on what they get up to bearing in mind that puppies are often quite boisterous which means investing in puppy gates or a large enough playpen that allows a puppy the room to express themselves while keeping them safe too. The items needed are therefore as follows:

• Good quality puppy or baby gates to fit on doors
• A good well-made playpen that's large enough for a puppy to play in so they can really express themselves as puppies like to do
• Lots of well-made toys which must include good quality chews suitable for puppies to gnaw on bearing in mind that a puppy will start teething anything from when they are 3 to 8 months old
• Good quality feed and water bowls which ideally should be ceramic rather than plastic or metal
• A grooming glove
• A slicker brush or soft bristle brush
• Dog specific toothpaste and a toothbrush
• Scissors with rounded ends
• Nail clippers
• Puppy shampoo and conditioner which must be specifically formulated for use on dogs
• A well-made dog collar or harness
• A couple of strong dog leads
• A well-made dog bed that's not too small or too big
• A well-made dog crate for use in the car and in the home that's large enough for a puppy to move around in
• Baby blankets to put in your puppy's crate and in their beds for when they want to nap or go to sleep at night

Keeping the noise down

All puppies are sensitive to noise including Hamilton puppies. It's important to keep the noise levels down when a new puppy arrives in the home. TVs and music should not be played too loud which could end up stressing a small puppy out making them withdrawn timid and shy.

Keeping vet appointments

As previously mentioned Hamilton puppies would have been given their first vaccinations by the breeders but they must have their follow up shots which is up to their new owners to organise. The vaccination schedule for puppies is as follows:

• 10 -12 weeks old bearing in mind that a puppy would not have full protection straight away but would only be fully protected 2 weeks after they have had their second vaccination

When it comes to boosters it's best to discuss these with a vet because there is a lot of debate about whether a dog really needs them after a certain time. However if a dog ever needed to go into kennels their vaccinations would need to be fully up to date.

What about older Hamiltonstövares when they reach their senior years?

Older Hamiltonstövares need lots of special care because as they reach their golden years they are more at risk of developing certain health concerns. Physically a dog's muzzle may start to go grey but there will be other noticeable changes too which includes the following:

• Coats become coarser
• A loss of muscle tone
• They can either become overweight or underweight
• They have reduced strength and stamina
• Older dogs have difficulty regulating their body temperature
• They often develop arthritis
• Immune systems do not work as efficiently as they once did which means dogs are more susceptible to infections
• Older dogs change mentally too which means their response time tends to be slower as such they develop the following:
• They respond less to external stimuli due to impaired vision or hearing
• They tend to be a little pickier about their food
• They have a lower pain threshold
• Become intolerant of any change
• Often an older dog can feel disorientated

Living with a Hamiltonstövare in their golden years means taking on a few more responsibilities but these are easily managed and should include looking at their diet the amount of exercise they are given how often their dog beds need changing and keeping an eye on the condition of their teeth.

Older Hamiltons should be fed a good quality diet that meets their needs at this stage of their lives all the while keeping a close eye on a dog's weight. A rough feeding guide for older dogs is as follows bearing in mind they should be fed highly digestible food that does not contain any additives:

• Protein content should be anything from 14 – 21%
• Fat content should be less than 10%
• Fibre content should be less than 4%
• Calcium content should be 0.5 – 0.8%
• Phosphorous content should be 0.4 – 0.7%
• Sodium content should be 0.2 – 0.4%

Older Hamiltons don't need the same amount of daily exercise as a younger dog but they still need the right amount of physical activity to maintain muscle tone and to prevent a dog from putting on too much weight. All dogs need access to fresh clean water and this is especially true of older dogs when they reach their golden years because they are more at risk of developing kidney disorders.

The Hamiltonstövare boasts having a double coat which consists of a soft dense undercoat and a harsher extremely weather resistant topcoat and their undercoat tends to grow a lot thicker during the colder winter months than the rest of the year. However these handsome dogs are low maintenance on the grooming front and only really need to be brushed on a weekly basis to remove dead and loose hair. Wiping a dog's coat over with a chamois leather helps keep a nice sheen on it too.

It's also important to check a dog's ears on a regular basis and to clean them when necessary. If too much wax is allowed to build up in a dog's ears it can lead to a painful infection which can be hard to clear up. In short prevention is often easier than cure when it comes to ear infections.

The Hamilton is a high energy intelligent dog and as such they need to be given the right amount of daily exercise and mental stimulation for them to be truly happy well-rounded dogs. As such they need a minimum of 2 hour's exercise a day with as much off the lead time as possible. If they are not given the right amount of mental stimulation and exercise every day a Hamilton would quickly get bored and could even begin to show some destructive behaviours around the home which includes digging and chewing anything they can find.

A shorter walk in the morning would be fine but a longer more interesting one in the afternoon is a must with as much off the lead time as possible. These dogs also like to be able to roam around a back garden as often as possible so they can really let off steam. However the fencing has to be extremely secure to keep these energetic dogs in because if they find a weakness in the fence they will soon escape and could get into all sorts of trouble.

With this said Hamiltonstövare puppies should not be over exercised because their joints and bones are still growing. This includes not letting a dog jump up and down from furniture or going up or down the stairs. Too much pressure placed on their joints and spines at an early age could result in a dog developing serious problems later in their lives.

If you get a Hamilton puppy from a breeder they would give you a feeding schedule and it's important to stick to the same routine feeding the same puppy food to avoid any tummy upsets. You can change a puppy's diet but this needs to be done very gradually always making sure they don't develop any digestive upsets and if they do it's best to put them back on their original diet and to discuss things with the vet before attempting to change it again.

Older dogs are not known to be fussy eaters but this does not mean they can be fed a lower quality diet. It's best to feed a mature dog twice a day once in the morning and then again in the evening making sure it's good quality food that meets all their nutritional requirements. It's also important that dogs be given the right amount of exercise so they burn off any excess calories or they might gain too much weight which can lead to all sorts of health issues. Obesity can shorten a dog's life by several years so it's important to keep an eye on their waistline from the word go.

Because Hamiltons have been known to suffer from bloat it is really important for them to be fed twice a day instead of just one larger meal a day. It's also a good idea to invest in a stand for their feed bowls which makes it easier for these large dogs to eat comfortably without having to stretch their necks down to reach their food. Dogs should never be exercised just before or just after they have eaten either because this puts them more at risk of suffering from gastric torsion.

Feeding guide for a Hamiltonstövare puppy

Puppies need to be fed a highly nutritious good quality diet for them to develop and grow as they should. As a rough guide a Hamilton puppy can be fed the following amounts every day making sure their meals are evenly spread out throughout the day and it's best to feed them 3 or 4 times a day:

• 2 months old - 251g to 276g depending on puppy's build
• 3 months old - 303g to 338g depending on puppy's build
• 4 months old - 326g to 366g depending on puppy's build
• 6 months old - 334g to 467g depending on puppy's build
• 8 months old - 290g to 386g depending on puppy's build
• 10 months old - 240g to 330g depending on puppy's build
• 12 months old - 236g to 299g depending on puppy's build
• 13 months old - 236g to 299g depending on puppy's build

Once a puppy is 14 months old they can be fed adult dog food.

Feeding guide for an adult Hamiltonstövare

Once fully mature an adult Hamiltonstövare should be fed a good quality diet to ensure their continued good health. As a rough guide an adult dog can be fed the following amounts every day:

• Dogs weighing 23 kg can be fed 248g to 326g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 25 kg can be fed 264g to 348g depending on activity
• Dogs weighing 27 kg can be fed 291g to 379g depending on activity

If you are looking to buy a Hamiltonstövare you would need to register your interest with breeders and agree to being put on a waiting list because very few puppies are bred and registered with The Kennel Club every year. You would need to pay anything upwards of £500 for a well-bred pedigree puppy. The cost of insuring a male 3-year-old Hamiltonstövare in northern England would be £55.98 a month for basic cover but for a lifetime policy this would set you back £110.54 a month (quote as of May 2018). When insurance companies calculate a pet's premium they factor in several things which includes where you live in the UK a dog's age and whether they have been neutered or spayed among other things.

When it comes to food costs you need to buy the best quality food whether wet or dry making sure it suits the different stages of a dog’s life. This would set you back between £40 - £50 a month. On top of this you need to factor in veterinary costs if you want to share your home with a Hamilton and this includes their initial vaccinations their annual boosters the cost of neutering or spaying a dog when the time is right and their yearly health checks all of which quickly adds up to over £1200 a year.

As a rough guide the average cost to keep and care for a Hamiltonstövare would be between £100 to £170 a month depending on the level of insurance cover you opt to buy for your dog but this does not include the initial cost of buying a healthy well-bred Kennel Club registered Hamiltonstövare puppy.

When visiting and buying any puppy or dog there are many important things to consider and questions to ask of the breeder/seller. You can read our generic puppy/dog advice here which includes making sure you see the puppy with its mother and to verify that the dog has been wormed and microchipped.

Hamiltonstövares are rare in the UK and finding well-bred puppies can prove challenging which means they can often command a lot of money. As such with Hamiltons there is specific advice questions and protocols to follow when buying a puppy which are as follows:

• Beware of online scams and how to avoid them. You may see online and other adverts by scammers showing images of beautiful Hamiltonstövarepuppies for sale at very low prices. However the sellers ask buyers for money up front before agreeing to deliver a puppy to a new home. Potential buyers should never buy a puppy unseen and should never pay a deposit or any other money online to a seller. You should always visit the pet at the sellers home to confirm they are genuine and make a note of their address.
• As previously touched upon because few Hamilton puppies are bred and registered with the Kennel Club every year waiting lists tend to be long and puppies can be expensive. As such some amateur breeders/people breed from a dam far too often so they can make a quick profit without caring for the welfare of the puppies their dam or the breed in general. Under Kennel Club rules a dam can only produce 4 litters and she must be between a certain age to do so. Anyone wishing to buy a puppy should think very carefully about who they purchase their puppy from and should always ask to see the relevant paperwork pertaining to a puppy's lineage their vaccinations and their microchipping.
• All responsible Hamiltonstövare breeders will not sell their puppies until they are between 10 to 14 weeks old because they need to be well-handled and socialised before they go to a new home.