Serbian hound

Overall description of the breed

Thanks to its morphology and character, the Serbian Hound corresponds in every way to the perfect game tracker. Its ancestors were probably imported from Egypt by Phoenician traders at the beginning of our era. The "Balkanski Gonic", its native name in Serbian, is said to be the descendant of the common hunting dogs from Asia Minor, canids that have been present in the Balkans for hundreds of years. However, its first precise description did not appear until 1905 in a book written by Franz Laska.

In 1924, its first standard was established, but it was not until 1940 that it was adopted by international bodies. Since then, breeding control and entries in the official stud book have been guaranteed by the Yugoslav Cynological Association. Nowadays, this Balkan Hound is still used in bloodhounds in Serbia and Montenegro, but it is not widely distributed outside its borders.

The International Cynological Federation registered the breed definitively on March 30, 1955, and the last update of the official standard was published on March 25, 2003.

The morphology is typical of the Central European Hound, slender, athletic and hardy, a stubborn hunting partner, the Serbian Hound is a medium-sized dog, longer than it is tall, its body is rectangular. The topline is clean, with a strong, firm back, slightly rounded at the loins. The chest and shoulders are well developed, the perimeter of the chest exceeds the height at the withers by 20%, which gives him a strong morphological density and a lot of volume in the trunk.

The head is built lengthwise, with a dry structure, a muzzle of medium length and square shape. The tail is of good length, carried in the continuation of the topline, always pointing upwards when the dog is in action, it is never placed over the back. The Serbian Hound's coat is short, smooth and flat on the whole body. The only coat colour permitted by the breed standard is red, which is very similar to that of the fox, ranging from a yellowish red to a rusty tone, often with a black mantle on top of the body.

The character of the Balkanski Gonic is well balanced and particularly gentle with those close to him, he is a demonstrative companion dog and very affectionate with his adopted family. A loyal companion, he will greatly appreciate the presence of his owners and the moments of play they can share, especially if they are related to tracking or searching for objects.

Although versatile, they are initially programmed for hunting small and large game, and generally speaking, their temperament is rather independent when they take on the role of tracker, their predatory instincts being extremely marked.

This breed needs to be constantly in action, as it is full of energy, and sporting or hunting-related activities must be offered to it and are essential to its mental well-being. Nevertheless, if its energy needs are met, it will be a remarkable daily companion for the whole family.

Adult: The Serbian Hound will weigh approximately 20 kg (44 lbs), with a height at the withers of approximately 46-54 cm (18-21") for males and 44-52 cm (17-20") for females.