Back

Hungarian hound

Hungarian hound's for Sale| Hungarian hound Kennels & Breeders | Hungarian hound Photos

Hungarian hound Litter Annoucement | Hungarian hound Puppies for Sale | Hungarian hound Started Dogs | Hungarian hound Finished Dogs | Hungarian hound Stud Dogs

Description

Commonly referred to as the Transylvanian Hound, the Hungarian Hound is a medium-sized hunting dog breed that almost resembles a skinny Rottweiler. Weather-tolerant, hardy, and fiercely loyal, these rare traditionally hunting dogs are a joy to have as family pets.

Keep on reading to find out more about the Hungarian Hound, including the breed's history, description, temperament, health, and grooming suggestions.

About and Brief History of Hungarian Hound
Call it the Transylvanian ScentHound or simply the Transylvanian Hound, the Hungarian Hound is thought to have existed for over a millennium, brought to Hungary by invading Magyar tribes around the 19th century. Even though the breed's exact origin is still a subject of debate, it's fairly certain that it was developed from cross-breeding Magyar Agár (Magyar Hound) with Hungarian local dogs (i.e., ancestors of Kuvasz, Vizsla, etc.) and Polish hounds in the Medieval Ages.

Formerly, there were 2 varieties, the short and the tall variety, both of which were bred to hunt game animals but for different hunting terrains and situations. The short Transylvanian ScentHound was bred and trained to flush out and hunt chamois, hare, and fox in rocky or overgrown terrains. On the other hand, the tall variety was developed to be an avid hunter of grassland and woodland big game like lynx, boar, bear, and European bison.

The early dogs of this breed were highly popular among the Hungarian elite during the Middle Ages when it peaked in popularity. With the increasing popularity of agroforestry, however, the Hungarian Hound population declined dramatically and at one point the breed was only found in the Carpathian woodlands.

By the turn of the 20 century, the Transylvanian Hound had almost become extinct, with the short variant disappearing altogether. It wasn't recognized by the FCI until the early 1960s, with dramatic efforts being made to revive the breed in the later years of the decade. Today, only the long-legged, tall variant is still around but still rare, mostly found in Hungary and its immediate neighbor Romania.

Appearance
Hungarian Hound is a medium-sized dog breed with an athletic body, noble appearance, and a characteristically straight topline. The dog has a muscular back, profound withers, and a slightly deep chest with a projecting sternum. If you're too keen, you will notice that its body is a touch longer compared to its height.

These hunting dogs are pretty active and energetic for their size. They stand between 22 and 26 inches at the withers, but the bitches tend to be longer than their male counterparts. They can weigh anywhere from 55 to 77 pounds.

As far as the coat goes, the breed has a shiny, dense yet coarse coat, with both an undercoat of down-hairs and guard hairs for the topcoat. The coat may sport ridges and so-called 'cowlicks' while their straight fur always lies flat.

The coat is sometimes longer on the tail's underside, upper thigh's back, withers, neck, and a few other body parts. Fur covers the whole body, including around the ears and the belly. FCI defines the dog breed's coat as "sparse, soft, and wiry".

The dog's dense coat is typically black with tan markings on eyebrows, legs, and muzzle. The tan spots are distinctively different from the black coat, although white markings may appear on the tip of the tail, lower limbs, chest, neck, forehead, and nose. The skin is medium-thick and has a noticeably dark pigment.

The Hungarian Hound has an almost round-tipped set of ears that usually hang unfolded close to the cheeks. They've got almond-shaped, dark brown eyes, as well as a short muzzle and black nose with wide-open nostrils. The hound's strides are long with a galloping gait, especially when the dog is running or walking.

Temperament, Personality, and Demeanor
The existing long-legged Hungarian Hound is a fairly intelligent hound breed that was originally bred to hunt big game. So, expect them to be loyal, highly protective, and energetic family pets. They're still avid hunting dogs though, in which they're the "jack of all trades" - they are known to track, point, drive, and even retrieve game!

They have a somewhat high-pitched, ringing bark.

As for personality, these hunting dogs are enduring, courageous, and good-natured, but they can be lively and joy to be around at home.

Health
Hungarian hound is considered a hardy and healthy dog breed with a life expectancy of between 10 and 12 years. As with all hounds, however, some minor health complications might crop up, such as elbow and hip dysplasia.
Proper weight control, diet, and plenty of exercises can help keep these common health issues at bay.

Grooming and Care
Hungarian hounds have a short coat with occasional shedding, so they're low maintenance. Grooming including regular bathing, brushing (using a firm-bristle brush), and sporadic combing will keep their natural coat looking great.

Colors

•  Black
•  Brown