Schillerstövare

Print my Pet · 20. October 2026 · 3 min čítania·Aktualizované 20.10.2026

A male called Tamburini and his litter sister Ralla I stand at this breed’s beginnings. Both belonged to the farmer Per Schiller, and both attended Sweden’s first dog show in 1886. Their owner gave the Schillerstövare its name.

FCI	Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds, Standard No. 131, with working trial
Country of origin	Sweden
Size (height at the withers)	Males 53 to 61 cm (ideal 57 cm), females 49 to 57 cm (ideal 53 cm)
Weight	not specified in the FCI standard
Life expectancy	no reliable study figure found (N/A)
Coat	harsh, not too short, very close-fitting; short and smooth on head and ears
Colours in the standard	tan from golden to deep, with pronounced black mantle over neck, back, sides and upper tail; small white chest and toe markings permitted

From Kaflås estate to a distinct breed

Tamburini and Ralla I descended from the famous Kaflås estate hounds, probably rooted in southern Germany: fairly small, tan dogs with black mantles and little white. Swiss hounds and a considerable contribution from English hounds, especially Harriers, also entered the breed. The Swedish Kennel Club recognised it in 1907, the FCI in 1955. Meet one ancestor in the Swiss Hound entry.

A solitary tracker

Lively and attentive: that is all the standard says about temperament. Its use reveals more. The Schillerstövare is a vocal tracking hound for hare and fox, hunting neither in packs nor pairs and never deer. It therefore searches alone and voices the trail, bringing that independence into daily life.

Built for speed

Well proportioned, slightly rectangular, sinewy and imposing, giving an impression of speed and strength: that is its intended appearance. The deep chest reaches the elbows, males show a distinctly arched neckline, and movement is powerful and ground-covering. An indistinct mantle mixed with tan is a fault. Its relative, the Hamiltonstövare , is the same size but wears three colours.

Daily life without hunting grounds

A dog bred for fast, lengthy searches along hare trails wants to run and sniff daily. Long hikes, tracking and mantrailing are good matches. A long line is its friend, as hunting instinct runs deep. The harsh, close-fitting hair needs only weekly brushing; check ears regularly.

A rare breed, few figures

We found no disease studies on the Schillerstövare, and McMillan and colleagues did not analyse it. In 2009, the four largest Swedish pet insurers mostly placed it in the lowest veterinary-cost category (Jansson and Laikre 2014). A small breed’s genetics are more difficult: Sweden’s stud book held 4.778 living Schillerstövare in 1980, but only 1.699 at the end of 2012. Mean inbreeding coefficient in 2012 was 0,068, 19,4 per cent of founder alleles remained, and conservation status was critical (Jansson and Laikre 2018). Choose a breeder who discusses inbreeding openly and provides hip results.

Who enjoys this dog

Hunters needing a fast solo worker for hare and fox, and sporty people with plenty of outdoor time who hear field baying as music. A kindly raised Schillerstövare gets on well with older children.

When to steer clear

If you live in a city, work long hours, consider off-lead freedom essential or seek a dog content with a weekend walk. An under-stimulated Schillerstövare finds its own trail, across neighbouring hunting grounds if necessary.