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.
