The Hamiltonstovare is a native breed of Sweden, where it was founded in the late 1800s by the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club, Count Adolf Patrick Hamilton.
He used English Foxhounds, Harriers, and three now extinct breeds from Germany: the Curlandish Hound, Holsteiner Hound, and Heiderbracke. The hounds credited with founding the Hamiltonstovare breedwere known as Pang and Stella, owned by Hamilton.
The Hamiltonstovare was first shown in Sweden in 1921. They were known as the Swedish Hound then, but the name has since changed to honor the breed founder.
Unlike its English relatives, the breed was not developed to hunt in a pack, but instead used as a solitary hunter or as a pair. To this day, the Hamiltonstovare still performs its original purpose in Sweden, where the breed has a popular following.
Most recently, Hamiltons have started to make an impact around the world outside of Sweden, though they are still very rare in the United States.