Smalandsstovare vs Polish Hound - Breed Comparison

The Smålandsstövare has got quite a long history and dates back to the 1600s. He is the smallest of the Swedish hound breeds. This is a scenthound.

Hounds similar to the Smålandsstövare were bred with European hounds and then brought to Småland and bred with local spitz-type farm dogs to create the foundation stock for the Smålandsstövare.

The dog was used to hunt but nearly died out in the 20th century, but breeders restored it and the first official standard emerged by the Swedish Kennel Club in 1921.

The Smålandsstövare is a rare dog breed but it is recognized by the American Rare Breed Association as well as other major kennel clubs, one of which is the Federation Cynologique Internationale as well as the United Kennel Club.

It is thought that Polish Hounds descended from the Kostroma Hound. Other experts believe that the dogs were developed through crossbreeding of Bloodhounds with local Polish hounds.

The idea was to get a more lighter-boned, more athletic Bloodhound type of dog. In fact, this new standard was adopted in 1983 as the guide for the ideal Polish Hound.

The World Wars caused the numbers of these dogs to be drastically reduced, and attempts were made to revive the breed. The dog is rare outside his native country.

The Smålandsstövare is a muscled, compact looking dog. The double coat is shortish to medium length and is thick and quite coarse to the touch. He sheds seasonally. The coat is usually black with tan markings.

The high set ears are medium length and floppy, the head is slim and the tail can be naturally short. Sometimes the tail is long and can be slightly curved in the spitz-like sabre fashion.

The eyes are brown and friendly. The height of these dogs is about 46 to 54cm and he weighs anything from 15 to 18kg.

Temperament:

Usually a well behaved, quiet, calm, gentle dog, the Smålandsstövare takes his role as guard dog seriously, wanting to protect his family.

His good temperament ensures he gets on well with all members of the family. He is full of energy and will need to be exercised well, whether it be ball games in the garden, a walk around the block, a run in the park or joining his family on hikes and camping trips.

It is why he won’t settle down well on a small property in the city. He needs larger premises to expend his energy, and if in cramped premises without exercise, he may resort to barking and whining and this may well drive your neighbors bats.

Training and socializing your Smålandsstövare will be necessary and it should be easy as he is intelligent.

The Polish Hound is a nice, big, solid looking dog. He stands at between 55–65 cm in height and weighs between 20 to 32kg, both male and female. If you were to try and think of him, you could think of a Labrador/Beagle/Bloodhound mix.

He is a medium to large sized dog. The coat is short to medium in length and is thick and hard with a soft, dense undercoat. The color of the coat is brown and tan and black and tan. The dog’s tail is set low and is thick and long.

Temperament:

This dog is a wonderful dog known to be clever and eager to please. He also has other attractive characteristics such as being energetic, gentle and he has an urge to protect his human family.

He is also loved because he is reliable and gentle around children who know how to treat dogs with respect. Some people who have owed this dog say that there is just one small fault – the dog’s bark – it is deep and mellow – and its why he isn’t suited to life in the city.

He is a rural dog, loving wide open spaces. It is why the dog will be an excellent pet if he is trained and socialized, becoming obedient and well balanced.

The Smålandsstövare is a robust dog with a lot of stamina. He will be wanting a lot of exercise and is ideal as a pet in the suburbs or the countryside but not ideal for city living.

He makes a wonderful family pet, forming strong bonds with his owners. He makes an excellent watchdog too wanting to protect his family, and with this amicable, calm dog, you’re going to have a true friend.

As a family pet, the Polish Hound just loves his human family, particularly when they are outdoor, active types. Your Polish Hound just loves spending time with his human family.

This is a wonderful dog as a family pet. More so when he has been trained and socialized. In exchange for the the wonderful companionship this dog offers you, you owe it to him to keep him happy and content.

The Smålandsstövare is a rare dog breed and not much is known about congenital conditions to which he may be particularly prone.

With good care he can reach 14 or 15 years of age. The floppy ears put him at risk for ear infections, while other conditions to watch for include hip dysplasia, cancer, bloat and obesity.

Ear Infections:

If you see your dog shaking his head or pawing at his ears, look inside because the ears may be red and inflamed. It is important to get help quickly for ear problems in dogs.

Ear canals are sensitive so if you don’t want to clean the ear and work on it yourself it is important to get your pet to the vet. The vet will clean your dog’s ears and also prescribe antibiotics.

For future treatment, you will need to clean your dog’s ears and keep them dry. If you don’t want to do this yourself, make sure to get him to professional groomers who will do this for you.

The Polish Hound has a reputation for good health. That doesn’t mean you can just leave your pet. Good preventative healthcare is still vital if you want to prevent your pet being attacked by fleas, ticks, worms and mosquitoes.

You need to be careful with the Polish Hound because it's a deep chested dog, and these kinds of dogs are more prone to bloat. This is a deadly disease when the stomach twists and gas can’t escape. Untreated, bloat can be a killer. Take immediate action when you see your dog with a swollen stomach, restlessness and drooling.

Choosing a good diet is imperative for the Smålandsstövare. Choose a commercially manufactured dog food high in vitamins and minerals.

Give your dog a treat by providing him with some home-made food. It can be added into the dry kibble about twice a week as a treat. Boil brown rice and chicken in a pot and add in sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. Chop all this up and give it to your dog in small portions. Also try to include some raw meat into the diet.

Never leave your pet without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

The Smålandsstövare is a very energetic breed and he is going to require some vigorous exercise every day. Take him for walks, allow him to run with you when you cycle or jog or take him swimming.

Exercise:

As a working dog, the Polish Hound is used to being busy and will be relying on you for a good dose of exercise. He loves the chance of a walk or a run and will be happy to run alongside you while you cycle or jog. Don’t forget ball games too.

Grooming:

The thick coat of the dog will need to be brushed twice a week to remove all that loose hairs. He is a moderate shedder so the coat becomes dull if not regularly brushed.

During the brushing session, check your dog over for fleas and ticks, and any odd lumps that weren’t there before. Trim your pets nails if they don’t wear down naturally. This is a floppy eared breed, so you will need to check the inside of his ears for dirt, wax and bacteria.

Pay close attention to your dog’s teeth.Bad teeth can cause a lot of pain but also be very detrimental to your dog’s health.

Diet:

Just like humans, dogs rely on quality food for good health and longevity. There are many good commercially manufactured dog foods, but avoid the ones with low quality ingredients as these can make your dog ill.

Check the ingredients-list carefully so that you can be sure your pet is getting the right balances of vitamins and minerals. Home-made food is also important as it is nutritious and tasty. You can add it into the dry kibble as a treat sometimes. The simpler the better as dogs don’t like spicy, exotic foods.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrot can be chopped up and given to your pet. Also try and include some raw meat as this is beneficial for health. Fresh, cool water must be made constantly available.