Pumi vs Hamiltonstovare - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Bred as a hunting hound, the Hamiltonstovare hails from Sweden, being founded in the late 1800s. He was first exhibited in Sweden in 1886.

Known also as the Hamilton or the Swedish Foxhound, the dog was developed by Count Adolf Hamilton who was also the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club. The dog’s ancestry includes some German Hounds as well as Harriers and English Foxhounds, and this has ensured he has excellent hunting instincts.

This dog breed got the name Hamiltonstovare in 1921 as a tribute to the person who created the breed and also the founder of the Swedish Kennel Club, Count A.P. Hamilton. The Hamiltonstovare isn’t recognized by the AKC but is recognized by the FCI and is also a member of the Foundation Stock Service. He is recognized by the Kennel Club in the UK as a Hound.

The Pumi is a small to medium sized dog which comes from Hungary. They have always been used for guarding livestock.

It was in 2004 that the the Pumi was accepted by the American Kennel Club Foundation Stock Service program. Also in the country of the dog’s birth, the Pumi Club was founded, and in 2011, the dog was also accepted into the AKC into the Miscellaneous class and into the herding group too.

In the UK in 2015, the Kennel Club also accepted the breed standard

The Hamilton Hound is a good looking, well proportioned dog with an attractive, 2-layered, shortish, smooth, tri-colored coat of tan, black and white.

These dogs stand at about 49-61cm in height and they weigh 23 – 27kg. The eyes are brown and the ears are floppy. He is a deep chested dog with a long tail which he carries straight or which is somewhat curved. He has a longish head with a skull that is slightly arched and broad.

Temperament:

Friendly, social and amicable, the even-tempered Hamiltonstovare is a dog that loves to be with his human family. When you look at him you look at him as a friend as he has a calm, intelligent expression about him.

He is a stubborn, non-aggressive dog that is intelligent and this makes it easy to have him trained and socialized to make him obedient and to follow some easy instructions.

He is a very active dog and will love an owner who leads an active, outdoor life. Most Hamiltons love swimming too and he will be thrilled if you plunge in with him on a hot day.

He has always been a hunting dog, and while they love spending time with their human family, he loves the thrill of the hunt. He is a playful dog too, loving to entertain and be entertained, and he gets on well with children.

The Pumi stands at between 38 and 47cm in height and weighs between 8 and 15kg.

The coat is a fawn, greyish silver or sandy color. The grey Pumi's are thought to be the more common color.

The medium length coat is thick and curly with the top coat being fairly harsh to the touch.There is very little shedding. The dog has semi-erect, semi-floppy ears which are high set. The eyes are small and dark.

With his tight curly coat, his kinky tail and bright expression, you’d think the Pumi was just for entertainment and a playmate, but he is a serious worker too, loving to be busy, whether for work or play.

Temperament:

The Pumi is lively and bold and always ready for fun and action. He is intelligent too, and early training and socialization will be important to keep him manageable and a pleasure to have around. Because he is smart he won’t have trouble learning. They’re good with children and other dogs in the family.

Hamiltonstovares make wonderful companions simply because they’re friendly dogs with stable personalities.

He is actually an ‘all-rounder’ dog – well proportioned and good-looking and with a solid personality to match.

He is lithe and muscled and as a multi-purpose dog, he has been used to follow scents and hunt down prey. These skills as well as his loyal characteristics have made him a versatile, sought after pet.

Another bonus when you own a dog like this is that he is also a low maintenance dog, shedding very little. He is intelligent too and easy to train, and all these qualities make him a wonderful pet to own.

The Pumi is a comical looking dog which some people assume makes him a bit of a lapdog, but this isn’t true. Yes, he loves to receive love and attention from his human family, but he isn’t a lapdog.

He likes to be busy if he can. He is smart and quick to learn and is affectionate, playful, loyal and loving.

His small size allows him to adapt easily to life in the city or the countryside, but he will need to be exercised. If you’re looking for a lively, amicable pet and companion, the Pumi can make an excellent family pet.

Every dog has different genetic make ups that affect them and they have different susceptibilities to illnesses. The average life expectancy of a Hamiltonstovare is between 10 and 13 years when he is looked after and well nourished with top quality food.

Some things to look out for are hip dysplasia, cancer, bloat and obesity.

Obesity:

Look out for obesity in your pet because just like with people, obesity leads to other diseases and complications in dogs such as diabetes, respiratory disorders, osteoarthritis and hypertension.

If your dog needs to lose weight, and you just don’t know how you’re going to deny him the treats he loves, speak to your vet who can even work out a weight management program for him.

Cancer:

Cancer is a formidable threat to all dog breeds. The most obvious sign that your dog could have cancer is abnormal swelling that gets larger under the skin. The idea is get get the lump removed and biopsied as soon as possible. Loss of appetite, weight loss, sores that don’t heal and bleeding or discharge are all signs of cancer.

With the Pumi, you’re really getting a robust little dog. With good care, he can push to 14 years of age and even much older. Of course, as with all other dogs, he is prone to some of the more common dog illnesses.

Hip dysplasia is nearly always one that needs to be listed as it is really a common dog ailment that can lead to lameness.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is an abnormal formation of the hip socket which in its severest form can lead to lameness. Luckily there are advances in veterinary medicine that make it possible for a dog with hip dysplasia to be happy and pain free.

Degenerative Myelopathy:

This is an incurable, progressive disease which effects the spinal cord of your dog and is found mostly in older dogs. It’s very sad because as the disease progresses it can lead to loss of coordination in the hind legs, difficulty with supporting weight with the hind legs and also urinary and fecal incontinence.

This is an inherited disease that sadly might require you saying goodbye to your beloved 4-legged family member.

Grooming:

The Hamiltonstovare has a double coat but even so, he is a low maintenance breed that will simply require a brush twice a week to remove dead and loose hair.

Because he has floppy ears, it is important to check his ears because too much wax and debris can lead to a painful infection.

Exercise:

This is a high energy dog who will need the right amount of exercise as well as mental stimulation to be at his best. A nice walk every day will be excellent for him as well as the usual ball games in the garden.

Feeding:

If you get your Hamilton puppy from a breeder, it would be wise to stick to the same food they were feeding your puppy with. Suddenly changing his good could cause digestive upsets.

Every Hamilton requires top quality food that meets all his nutritional requirements. If you give him commercially manufactured food, make sure to follow the instructions with regards to the amount of food you give him as he can put on too much weight.

These dogs are known to suffer with bloat, so rather give him smaller meals than one large meal a day. Your Hamilton should never be exercised immediately after eating a meal. Remember to always ensure a bowl of fresh, cool water is always available.

Diet:

You can never be slack when it comes to choosing food for your pet. If you can provide him with wholesome food then you will be promoting health and longevity.

If you choose one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure it is the high quality ones full of vitamins and minerals and free from all kinds of colorants and fillers.

Certainly provide him with some home-made food too, but keep it simple and tasty. An excellent home-made diet is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach, all chopped up and mixed in twice a week with the dry kibble.

Every now and again, if you can afford it, you can also give him some raw meat added into the kibble. Plain and simple, your pet will thank you for providing him with an uncomplicated diet, gentle on his digestive system.

Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water available to him.

Exercise:

Energetic and lively, the Pumi is going to need regular exercise as well as mental stimulation. Show him a tennis ball and his eyes will light up as he just loves a game. Take him on a walk and include him in your ball games.

Grooming:

The Pumi’s coat is medium length and curly and he will need it combed to keep it free of matting. The coat will also need to be trimmed if you don’t want it becoming unruly.He isn’t a heavy shedder but will need his coat being attended to twice a week.