Hungarian Hound

The Hungarian Hound, more often called the Transylvanian Hound, is a Hungarian scenthound used mainly for hunting. It comes from Transylvania, once part of the Kingdom of Hungary and now in Romania. It is a strong, medium-sized dog, typically black with tan markings and tan spots over the eyes, and it has a high-pitched bark for its size.

History

The breed is said to descend from hounds that the Magyars brought across the Carpathians in the ninth century and that bred with dogs already living there. In the Middle Ages it was the favorite hunting dog of the Hungarian aristocracy. Two sizes developed and were kept together. The tall hound hunted big game in woodland and grassland: European bison, brown bear, boar and lynx. The short hound hunted fox, hare and chamois in overgrown or rocky country.

As farming and forestry spread, the breed retreated to the Carpathian woods, and by the start of the twentieth century it was close to extinction. In 1941 the breed was registered as the Hungarian Hound and a recovery started with 27 dogs, but the Second World War ended it. In 1947, after Transylvania returned to Romania, the Romanian government had the surviving dogs destroyed as a reminder of the region’s Hungarian past. Some survived in Hungary and Slovakia.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale accepted the breed on 30 March 1963, and new recovery efforts began in the 1960s. Today good numbers of the tall variety live in both Hungary and Romania. The FCI standard describes only the long-legged dog, and the short variety is said not to survive.

Appearance

The long-legged hound stands 56 to 66 cm (22 to 26 in) and weighs 30 to 35 kg (66 to 77 lb). The short-legged hound stands 46 to 51 cm (18 to 20 in) and weighs 22 to 25 kg (49 to 55 lb).

The head is that of a typical scenthound, long without being pointed and free of wrinkles. The ears hang. The body is fairly long but square, with a broad, long chest that is not especially deep. The tail is set low, left undocked, and carried curled at the level of the back when the dog hunts.

The coat is short, straight and close, a little longer in the tall variety. Tall hounds are usually black and tan, or black, tan and white. Short hounds are usually dark red and tan, or dark red, tan and white.

Temperament

The Hungarian Hound is usually obedient, good-natured, tolerant of children and easy to train. As a pack hound it is very friendly with other dogs. Its character is described as reserved, a little suspicious and inward-looking. On the hunt it shows courage and a good sense of direction, along with great stamina and a keen, reliable nose.

Care and health

This is a healthy breed with a longer than average lifespan of 12 to 14 years and no known hereditary disease particular to it.

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