Some puppies of this breed are born with short tails. The FCI standard accepts both naturally short and long tails, recalling that some of the old Småland dogs were also born without a long tail.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds, Standard No. 129, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Sweden |
| Size (height at the withers) | males 46 to 54 cm (ideal 50 cm), females 42 to 50 cm (ideal 46 cm) |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | medium length, rough and close-fitting; short, dense, soft undercoat |
| Colours in the standard | black or liver with amber to chestnut markings; small white markings on chest and toes allowed |
Soldiers’ hounds and farmers’ Spitz dogs
In the 19th century, Småland had a great variety of hounds. According to the standard, some ancestors had returned with soldiers bringing German, Polish and Baltic hounds home from the major wars between 1611 and 1718. Crosses with local Spitz-type farm dogs, influenced by English hounds, produced the Smålandsstövare. In the early 20th century, the old type was deliberately revived, favouring short tails. The first standard dates from 1921.
Almost square, rough-coated and black and tan
The body is nearly square; the desired dog is robust yet quite elegant, powerful but not heavy. A long back and rectangular build are faulty. This distinguishes the breed from the larger, slightly rectangular sister breeds, the Hamiltonstövare and the Schillerstövare.
Composed at home, vocal in the woods
Composed, friendly, loyal and enthusiastic: that is the standard’s temperament description. At work, this is a scenthound for hare and fox, giving tongue while following the trail. This is not a pack hound and is never used on red deer.
What satisfies them without hunting
A dog not working in a hunting area needs alternatives: long hikes, tracking on a long line, mantrailing or searching games in the countryside. Off-lead exercise is often safe only in fenced areas. Similarly guided by the nose is the Beagle.
Coat care with a brush
The rough coat and soft undercoat need little: weekly brushing, more often during shedding. Dense hair grows between the pads, so inspect the paws after snowy walks.
A small population with little data
We found no disease study; McMillan and colleagues list the breed but do not analyse it. In 2009, most of Sweden’s four largest pet insurers assigned these dogs to the lowest veterinary-cost category (Jansson and Laikre 2014). The greater concern is numbers: at the end of 2012, Sweden’s studbook had only 977 living Smålandsstövare, with a mean inbreeding coefficient of 0.063 and just 16.8 percent of founder alleles remaining (Jansson and Laikre 2018). Ask about the litter’s inbreeding coefficient and the parents’ hip results.
Who they suit and who they do not
They suit hunters and very active countryside residents who take scent work seriously and appreciate the voice. They are the wrong choice for thin-walled flats, long days alone and anyone wanting off-lead walks through every wood. Provide work and you gain a loyal, calm companion from a breed whose survival depends on every carefully planned litter.
The breed quiz helps you assess whether a vocal hound fits your daily life; our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) offers detailed guidance. For the early weeks with a young dog, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Black with warm markings looks striking as a magazine cover on canvas or among our dog portraits from your own photo.
Further reading
- Beagle: a nose with a dog attached, and what that means day to day
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
- Autumn shedding in dogs and cats: what is normal and when it is not
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 129 Smålandsstövare (fci.be, German version dated 26.09.2018, valid standard published on 22.08.2017, original language English) and FCI breed page No. 129; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Jansson M, Laikre L, Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 2014; Jansson M, Laikre L, PLoS One 2018.
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