Serbian Hound (Srpski Gonič)

The Serbian Hound is a sturdy and tough average-sized dog that has been a popular companion of Balkan hunters for several centuries. Apart from its superior hunting prowess the dog is also well-known for its gregarious and gentle disposition, which makes it a great pet for active people. Nonetheless it’s very hard to acquire the puppy of this breed outside its homeland and it will usually cost you a lot of money.

The Serbian Hound is the type of the Scent Hound that can be found in all parts of the Balkan region. The experts are mostly agreed that its present-day variant was developed in the XVIII century. It also may have come to existence much earlier, approximately in the XIV century although there are no actual evidences of this theory.

The most probable progenitors of this dog are various Asian hounds that were brought to this area by travelling Phoenician merchants in about the first century BC. At that point it was recognisable under the name the Balkan Scent Hound and its first thorough description appeared in the book of Frank Laska in the XI century. However the breed’s formal standard hadn’t been written until 1924 and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) began registering its specimens only in 1940. Although its population was distributed fairly evenly throughout the Balkan territories, the Serbian Hound enjoyed the greatest popularity in Serbia. In order to emphasise this fact, in 1996 the FCI decided to change the breed’s name to the Serbian Hound.

The Serbian Hound is notable for unsurpassed sense of smell and equally strong prey drive. It’s famous for its ability to function rain or shine and in a very difficult terrain. Moreover it can effectively hunt both alone and in the company of its counterparts. The primary preys of this dog are rabbit, fox and deer. In its native Serbia its friendly temper and moderate size has also earned it certain popularity in the role of a family companion. Nonetheless in other countries the breed’s number is rather small and it’s not likely to change in the nearest future.

The Serbian Hound shows the utmost resoluteness and inexorability during a hunting expedition but turns into a good-natured and affectionate companion animal inside the house. It usually suffers a lot if separated from its human family and won’t make a good outdoor dog. Make sure to exhibit your puppy to various situations and people of all ages otherwise you will inevitably face issues with unreasonable fearfulness and aggressiveness in the adulthood. The breed is known for its great fondness of children and the kids usually enjoy its invariable playfulness.

Strange people are commonly treated by the Serbian Hound with a great deal of wariness. However its well-trained specimen will never attack without a very serious reason. On the whole this dog prefers to avoid confrontations and therefore won’t become a ferocious guardian. But it usually signals about any suspicious sounds or smells with its loud voice and can be entrusted with the tasks of a watcher.

The Serbian Hound has been profusely used for a pack hunting so it’s totally alright with its congeners. Moreover it likes having a permanent canine companion preferably with a similarly cheerful disposition. This dog will chase any homeless cat or street animal that will catch its eye and should always wear a sturdy leash outside a well-fenced yard. At the same time it will tolerate a particular non-canine pet if you invest enough time into their mutual socialisation.

The most common problems for the breed include:

· ear infections.

The Serbian Hound has a coat that requires very trivial amount of grooming. As a rule only occasional brushing will keep its hair in a tip-top condition. However the owner should still pay proper attention to other essential maintenance procedures.

Trim the nails of this dog monthly and brush its teeth at least once a week. Large floppy ears of the Serbian Hound get infected really easily so it’s necessary to check and clean them on a systematic basis.

The training of the Serbian Hound is the task of reasonable difficulty. This dog wants to know its place in the pack hierarchy and therefore requires a confident handler whom it will perceive as a pack leader. During lessons it should be treated firmly but without excessive harshness.

Be mindful that the Serbian Hound can momentarily switch attention to an interesting smell or sight and practise indulgence to such behavioural patterns, which are typical for any sporting dog. It’s also essential to avoid punishing this dog for its occasional unwillingness to obey since such methods will only make it to ignore all your commands.

The Serbian Hound was developed to endure very intensive physical activity and needs ample amount of physical exercises on a daily basis. This dog can be kept in an apartment if the master is ready to provide it an hour of two of playtime in an area with a high fence.

Active families will like exceptional stamina of this breed as well as its vivacious nature. Remember that the Serbian Hound is prone to become absolutely unmanageable indoors because of the lack of physical or mental stimulation.