The Serbian Hound ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, srpski gonič, separator=" / ", српски гонич), previously known as the Balkan Hound ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, balkanski gonič, separator=" / ", балкански гонич), is a
breed
A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slig ...
of
scent hound
Franz Rudolf Frisching in the uniform of an officer of the Bernese Huntsmen Corps with his Berner Laufhund, painted by Jean Preudhomme in 1785
Scent hounds (or scenthounds) are a Dog type, type of hound that primarily hunts by scent rather than ...
from
Serbia
Serbia (, ; Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), officially the Republic of Serbia (Serbian language, Serbian: , , ), is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe, Southeastern and Central Europe, situated at the crossroads of the Pannonian Bas ...
.
Description
The Serbian Hound is a medium sized hound breed, the
breed standard
In animal husbandry or animal fancy, a breed standard is a description of the characteristics of a hypothetical or ideal example of a breed. The description may include physical or morphological detail, genetic criteria, or criteria of athletic ...
states dogs should stand between with bitches being slightly smaller, standing between , and they typically weigh around . The breed has a short, dense coat that is a distinctive reddish tan in colour, sometimes described as "fox coloured", with a large black saddle and black markings above the eyes. They have a broad skull which narrows evenly to the nose and medium-length, hanging ears. The breed's body is slightly longer than they are tall, they have a broad, straight back and a straight or slightly curved tail.
The Serbian Hound is described as well-disciplined, energetic, tenacious and lively in nature, they both track game and capture it; when hunting they have a distinctive high-pitched voice. The breed is known for its great stamina and ability to hunt over difficult terrain.
History
There is a long tradition of hunting in South East Europe and the Serbian Hound is one of several regional hound (and horse) breeds that were bred to suit the hunting requirements of the region. The Serbian Hound is a centuries old breed, it is believed to be a composite of hound breeds that were traded around the Mediterranean, with European and North African dogs contributing to its ancestry. The Serbian Hound is traditionally kept as a pack hound, with its usual quarry being
wild boar
The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The species is ...
,
deer
Deer or true deer are hoofed ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. The two main groups of deer are the Cervinae, including the muntjac, the elk (wapiti), the red deer, and the fallow deer; and the Capreolinae, including the reindeer ...
,
fox
Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush'').
Twelve sp ...
and
hare
Hares and jackrabbits are mammals belonging to the genus ''Lepus''. They are herbivores, and live solitarily or in pairs. They nest in slight depressions called forms, and their young are able to fend for themselves shortly after birth. The ge ...
.
Previously known as the Balkan Hound, Balkanski Gonič (балкански гонич), in 1996 the
Fédération Cynologique Internationale
The Fédération cynologique internationale (FCI) (English: International Canine Federation) is the largest international federation of national kennel clubs. It is based in Thuin, Belgium.
History
The FCI was founded in 1911 under the auspices ...
officially changed the breed's name to the Serbian Hound, Srpski Gonič (Српски гонич).
See also
*
Dogs portal
*
List of dog breeds
This list of dog breeds includes both Neontology#Extant taxa versus extinct taxa, extant and extinct dog breeds, Designer breed, varieties, landraces, and dog types. A research article on genomics, dog genomics published in Science/AAAS defines m ...
References
External links
{{Hounds
FCI breeds
Scent hounds
Dog breeds originating in Serbia