Schillerstovare

Also known as: Schiller Hound

The Schillerstövare is named after Per Schiller, the Swedish farmer who developed the breed in the late nineteenth century by crossing local hounds. It was bred to hunt fox and hare alone rather than in a pack, which gives it an independent, dogged style on a scent trail. The short, dense coat withstands Scandinavian winters and asks for little grooming. An adult male can reach 25 kilograms, lean and athletic, built for long hours of hunting through forest terrain. Outside Sweden the breed is almost unknown and rarely appears at international shows. Its voice on a trail carries far, which makes it a poor fit for a noise-sensitive neighbourhood. Exercise needs run high, and without enough of it the dog can turn destructive at home. Life expectancy runs 12 to 13 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Schillerstovare: how old in human years?

49–61 cmHeight
16–25 kgWeight
12–13 yrsLife expectancy

Swiss Hound

FCI group: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
FCI section: Section 1.2: Scenthounds, Medium sized
FCI: 131
Country of origin: Sweden

Energy level

5/5
Trainability

3/5
Family friendly

3/5
Grooming need

1/5

At a glance

Height

Males 53–61 cm

Females 49–57 cm

Weight

Males 18–25 kg

Females 16–23 kg

Life expectancy

12–13 yrs

Coat

short, dense (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Schillerstovare's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 3/5
Good with children 3/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 3/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 3/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Schillerstovare's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 5/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Schillerstovare's guarding and alertness traits are low.

Guarding instinct 1/5
Watchfulness 2/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

Schillerstovare's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 2/5
Grooming need 1/5

Living with the Schillerstovare

While you're still looking for your coffee cup, a Schillerstovare is already at the door, looking at you as if the day began an hour ago. This is a Swedish hound, bred to follow the trail of a hare or fox fast and far, and to tell the hunter loudly where the action is. Energy and stamina come in large supply, so a quick lap of the block won't touch the sides: he needs long walks, runs beside a bike or, best of all, work for his nose. The hunting drive is very strong, so keep off-lead time for fenced spaces, because once he has a scent, he'll hear your recall roughly when he reaches the next village.

He is clever and quick to understand what you want; whether he does it depends on what smells more interesting at the time. Short, cheerful sessions with treats work far better than a heavy hand, and tracking games are the highlight of his week. His barking is moderate: he doesn't bay for nothing, but when he's excited he doesn't spare his voice.

Indoors, with his exercise done, he is calm and friendly, gets along with the family and other dogs, and greets strangers politely, with neither suspicion nor much enthusiasm. He won't guard anything. A flat feels small to him: he is happier in a house with a garden and with owners who love the woods as much as he does. Small pets, rabbits and cats especially, are likely to look like quarry to him, so that kind of household needs real care.

Grooming and coat

The Schillerstovare's coat is short, dense and close-lying, cut out for running through a Swedish forest on a damp November morning. It asks very little of you: once a week, go over it with a rubber brush or grooming mitt to loosen the dead hair and bring back a soft shine. Shedding is light, so you'll find the odd hair on the rug without needing to vacuum every day. Save baths for the days your dog comes back from the woods having rolled in something you'd rather not bring indoors.

Spend your attention on what hides under the coat and the ears instead. Those drop ears stay warm and damp after wet walks, so lift them once a week and check that the inside is clean and smells of nothing much. After every outing in the woods, run your hands over the whole body and between the toes: ticks, burrs and small scrapes are better found sooner than later. A dog that runs this much usually wears its nails down, but in winter or on soft ground, listen for clicking on the floor.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (25 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 285 g of dry food a day, from €15,58 a month For a neutered, normally active 20,5 kg dog. Calculate for your dog