Serbian Hound

Balkan Hound, Balkanac, Balkanski Gonic

He is not widespread elsewhere on the planet and is only known within Serbia's borders. Although the Serbian Hound is an excellent hunting dog and life companion, specimens are becoming increasingly rare. Even though he excels at hunting wild boar, deer, fox and hare, and hase some very fine qualities that make him a great life companion, numbers are declining. He is present in Serbia and has unfortunately never managed to gain popularity outside his country.

Height 44 to 54 cm
Weight 19 to 20 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 13 years
Home country Serbia

Quick Overview of the Serbian Hound

Temperament

  • Confident and lively
  • Very tenacious and daring
  • Sociable with all
  • Loving and gentle in family

Appearance

  • Strong and resistant frame
  • Beautiful silhouette
  • Great energy and liveliness
  • Truffle always black

Health

  • No particular pathology
  • No diseases affect the race
  • Generally enjoys good health

Temperament of the Serbian Hound

The Serbian Hound is confident, lively, tenacious, bold, hardy and has an outstanding sense of smell.

He's sweet and gentle with his family. Sociable with everyone, he is not dangerous for children, he loves everyone.

He is endowed with a strong temperament and requires a good education.

Breed Appearance

Serbian hound

The Serbian Hound is medium size. His robust constitution is endowed with a strong and resistant bone structure.

He has a beautiful silhouette, revealing his great energy and vivacity.

Height

Between 46 and 54 cm (18.11 to 21.26 inches) for the male
Between 44 and 52 cm (17.32 to 20.47 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 19 and 20 kg (41.89 to 44.09 pounds) for the male
Between 19 and 20 kg (41.89 to 44.09 pounds) for the female

Color

His dress has an auburn or bright red background. A black dress is sometimes found on the upper part of the trunk, reaching up to the head with black spots on the sides of the temples.

Hair

His short, glossy coat is dense and a little coarse and also has an undercoat.

Morphology

His head has a slightly domed skull and a faint stop. His medium size eyes are oval-shaped and very dark.

His ears are well set and moderate size, hanging down. His nose is always black. His tail, carried above the back line, is curved slightly upwards.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 6, section 1 and is #150

Tips About this breed

He is not adapted for city life and prefers the countryside and its wide open spaces.

He is a hunting dog at heart and as he needs a lot of exercise, city life is not recommended in his case.

He is a tireless working dog that adapts easily to all climates and terrains. Even if he is sensitive to cold, he can still work in all conditions.

The Serbian Hound is intelligent, obstinate, courageous and tireless. He is a born worker.

He's very sociable and loves everyone, which makes him a poor guardian.

His socialization does not cause any problem but his education must be firm as the master must show authority in order to make him an obedient and docile dog.

Health of the Serbian Hound

No particular pathology or disease affects the race. This robust dog generally enjoys excellent health and life expectancy.

GROOMING

His drooping ears require monitoring, especially after hunting, and it is best to brush his coat regularly. No other special care is necessary.

History of this breed

Probably imported into Europe around 1000 BC by the Phoenicians, one would  have to look for his very first origins among the hounds of Asia Minor. He has existed for a very long time but Frank Laska described him in 1905 for the first time and it was only in 1924 that the Serbian Hound received his first standard.

Then, in 1940, he was recognized by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale). As he was widespread in the Balkans, he was then called the Balkan Hound. Later, in 1996, the Yugoslavian Cynological Association, which controls the entries in the Book of Origins, asked for his name to be changed to Serbian Hound. The request was accepted and since then, he has carried the name that still identifies him today.

This Serbian Hound is not very widespread outside Serbia, but in his home country he is appreciated for his excellent hound skills. He is specialized in hunting deer, wild boar and hare. The breed is nowadays increasingly rare and numbers have greatly diminished.

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