Nebolish Mastiff vs Hamiltonstovare - Breed Comparison

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.

With the Mastiff breeds, the rarest and the smallest is the Nebolish Mastiff. Bred to be more agile than the giant mastiffs, the Nebolish was developed in Canada. They were developed by crossing several breeds, such as the English Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeux, Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, Boxer, St. Bernard, and Deutsche Dogge. Perhaps there was some Great Dane as well. It was also hoped that they would have better health than the rest of the Mastiff breeds.

There are also those who believe the Nebolish Mastiff is not a Canadian crossbreed but rather the re-creation of the giant dogs that lived with the soldiers of Alexander the Great. Still others believe the breed is still being developed and no standard is yet true. They believe the dog is a hybrid. No one knows the exact breeding lines today and not many are breeding the Nebolish today. Thus, the dog is extremely rare.

Only the American Breeder Association (ABA), the Canada Molosser Association (CMA) and the Dog Registry of America Inc. (DRA) recognize the Nebolish Mastiff as a separate breed.

These dogs are courageous, loyal and dignified like all Mastiffs. They are protective of their families or their flocks. They are loving, intelligent and even-tempered. They are known to be great with kids since they are patient and calm – easy to train.

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 Nebolish Mastiff is very much like all other mastiffs with the exception of height and weight. He has a large head, long legs, strong neck, oval shaped paws, wide chest and large bones. He has solid muscles, large ears and a wide snout. They usually weigh anywhere between 43 and 82 kg. They tend not to slobber like the other mastiff breeds as a result of their breeding. They have a black mask and tail may or may not be docked.

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.

Children friendliness

Yes, they are very good with children.

Special talents

Agility and swimming

Adaptability

No – they don’t do well with apartments and small spaces. They need a large fenced in yard.

Learning ability

High but can be stubborn

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.

Bred to be much healthier than other mastiff breeds, the Nebolish has very few health concerns. They live twice as long as most other Mastiff and giant breeds at up to 14 years. The most often reported health issue is:

bloat – where the intestines and stomach organs are twisted or distended. Bloat can be deadly so don’t hesitate on treatment. Avoid it by not overfeeding after or before exercise.

Test for Hip dysplasia as it can cause lameness or arthritis.

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.

Feeding the puppy

Don’t overfeed and don’t feed too much protein in the first year. Feed 1-2 cups in two meals.

Feeding the adult

bloat – Tendency to become obese so don’t over feed. About 2-3 cups in 2 meals per day.

Points for Good Health

agility and flexibility

Games and Exercises

This intelligent breed actually enjoys training, toys and all kinds of mentally stimulating puzzles. They love water and are very good swimmers. They need an average amount of exercise - a couple walks per day. Need a large fenced yard. They make great therapy dogs and play catch.