Everything about your Smaland Hound

  Smaland Hound is the oldest scent hound and it belongs to Sweden. It is also the shortest Swedish hound breeds. This breed is known for hunting fox and hare. Apart from being a valiant hunter it makes excellent watch dog and bold guard dog.  The breed will catch attention wherever it goes because of its incredibly friendly behavior and gestures. It adores kids and relish times spent with them. 

Overview

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  The Hound Småland (Smålandsstövare) is a breed of dog that originated in Sweden in the 16th century. Thought to be the oldest scent dog breed native to Sweden, was recognized by the Kennel Club of Sweden in 1921. They are the smallest of the Swedish dog breeds, and have black markings and tan similar to Rottweiler. Internationally, it is recognized by a number of kennel clubs and registries, including the FCI and United Kennel Club. It is considered rare, even in his native Sweden, where only around sixty puppies are registered each year.

Breed standards
UKC group: Scenthound Group
Average lifespan: 12-15 years
Average size:33-40 lbs
Coat appearance: Medium length, harsh and close fitting, with a well developed undercoat
Coloration: Black and tan, with or without small white markings on the chest and toes.
Hypoallergenic: No
Comparable Breeds: Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher

History 

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  The Smålandsstövare has a storied past dating back to the 1600s when hounds similar to present day Smålandsstövares were bred to European hounds from Poland, Germany and Baltic regions. These European hounds were brought in to Småland, Sweden after the Great Wars between 1611 and 1718. The resulting dogs from these breedings were then bred to local spitz-type farm dogs to create the foundation stock for the Smålandsstövare. 
  The Smålandsstövare was used to mainly hunt hare and fox but he was also used to hunt other small game. Since the breed was developed mostly by farmers who did not have large kennels full of hunting dogs, the Smålandsstövare needed to be able to hunt alone rather than in a pack. He developed into an all around hunting dog. The breed became virtually extinct in the 20th century but breed enthusiasts fought to restore the breed and his first official standard was adopted by the Swedish Kennel Club in 1921. The number of purebred Smålandsstövares still remained small so breeders began adding dogs of similar appearance and stature in the 1950s. These similar dogs were of unknown ancestry and did strengthen the bloodline and the overall appearance of the Smålandsstövare. The Swedish breed club for the Smålandsstövare began commissioning genetic testing on a large sample between 1994 and 2008. 
  The findings showed no specific genetic health issues that were unique to the breed and deemed this breed to be very healthy. The Smålandsstövare is a still a rare breed but he is recognized by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA), Continental Kennel Club (CKC), Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) and the United Kennel Club (UKC). The UKC recognized the Smålandsstövare in 2006 as the Smaland Hound. 


Temperament

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  A popular Swedish hunting dog, members of the breed can form strong attachments to their master; but are also seen as household pets due to their gentle and protective nature.In hunting, they are used to drive the quarry for the hunter.They are a highly intelligent breed, and require a high level of exercise. 
  They therefore are not best suited to living in a small apartment. Smålandsstövare are wary of strangers and can be territorial, but this can also make a Smålandsstövare a good watchdog.Participation in field trials for Smålandsstövares are becoming increasingly common.They remain active up until around twelve years old.

Health
  The Swedish breed club for the Smålandsstövare commissioned genetic tests on a number of dogs between 1994 and 2008. The tests showed that there were no specific health issues unique to the breed, nor any major generic issues. They recommended that where rare health issues present themselves, that the dog involved should not be bred from in order to prevent that health issue from spreading through the breed. They have an average life expectancy of twelve to fifteen years.

Care

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  Because the Smålandsstövare has a dense undercoat, he will shed seasonally. Regular weekly brushing is ideal to ensure his coat stays shiny and healthy. Use a slicker brush or a hound mitt. 
  When he is shedding seasonally, expect to brush him daily to keep loose hairs from accumulating around the house or on your clothes. A deshedder can be used when he is shedding heavily. He is not a hypoallergenic dog but does not generally have a strong dog smell. The Smålandsstövare does not need many baths unless he has found a mud puddle to play in. 
  Expect to bathe him when he begins shedding to hasten the process. Use a mild shampoo when bathing and try to keep water from getting into his ears. Ears that hang naturally are more prone to ear infections and excess moisture, such as from a bath, can cause an infection to develop. Carefully clean and dry his ears weekly.

Training
  The Smålandsstövare can be trained basic tricks relatively easily since this dog stands out for inquisitive nature and keen mind. Being a typical hound its character also has certain stubborn streak and occasionally it disagrees with the trainer’s opinion and completely ignores his commands. That’s why it’s important to disregard such moods of your pet and keep training sessions sort and fun.
  Remember that this dog can be quickly distracted by some interesting smell so even its favourite treats won’t be able to return its interest back to the lesson. In general, the optimal strategy in the work with this breed is based on using exclusively positive reinforcement.

Exercise

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  The Smaland Hound is a very vigorous and cheerful dog that has be provided with plentiful of daily playtime in a securely enclosed area. Of course the perfect type of exercise for this breed will be chasing a prey in the wilderness but it will be absolutely happy to participate in any outdoor activities with its human family.
  The Smaland Hound easily endures very challenging physical exercises and can tirelessly run beside your bike for several hours. Remember that the dog that has to pass all time doing nothing will soon find its own methods to entertain itself and they surely won’t please its masters.

Grooming 
  It is a low maintenance dog. It sheds moderately. You need to brush its coat once a week to keep it mats and debris free. Bath the dog only when required. Its ears are of floppy shape so it has high chance of getting affected by dirt. Clean its ear regularly with vet approved solution. Trim its nail if you hear clicking sound on the floor. Do not forget to brush its teeth in order maintain a healthy teeth and gums.

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