Istrian Coarse-haired Hound

Istarski Oštrodlaki Gonič
Istrian Coarse-haired Hound

Istrian Coarse-haired Hound
Other names	Istrian Rough-coated Hound
Origin	Croatia
Classification / standards FCI Group 6, Section 1.2 Scenthounds: Medium-sized #152 standard UKC Scenthound standard
Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound (Croatian: istarski oštrodlaki gonič, Slovene: istrski ostrodlaki gonič) is a dog breed from Croatia, developed in the mid-19th century for hunting fox and rabbit. It is a rough-coated scent hound still kept primarily as a hunting dog rather than as a pet.

Description

Appearance

Dogs of this breed can vary considerably in size, as the dog is still bred primarily for hunting, so more emphasis might be placed on performance than on specific appearance requirements. It can range from 25 to 56 lb (16 to 26 kg) and stand 17 to 23 inches (44 to 58 cm) at the withers.

The breed's wiry coat is weather resistant for hunting. The topcoat is 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) long and it has a woolly undercoat. The color is white with yellow or orange markings, usually on the ears. The ears are broad and hang flat with a long upstanding curved inwards tail.

Temperament

Again, because the Istrian Coarse-haired Hound has been bred primarily for hunting rather than as a companion, it tends to be willful and hence more challenging to train than many other breeds.

History

Croatian and Slovene breeders created the Istrian Coarse-haired Hound in the mid-19th century by crossing the French Griffon Vendeén with the Istrian Shorthaired Hound, a smooth-haired hound developed from both sight hounds and scent hounds. The breed first took part in a conformation show in Vienna in 1866.

The origin of the Istrian Coarse-haired Hound has been disputed since the 1960s, with competing claims from Croatia and Slovenia. In 2003 the Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognized the breed as originating in Croatia.^[1]

The dog is still used for hunting fox, rabbits, hare, and wild boar.

See also

• Istrian Shorthaired Hound (FCI No. 151)
• Posavaz Hound (FCI No. 154)

References

1. "Istarski gonič ipak je hrvatski pas". Index.hr (in Croatian). 13 April 2003. Retrieved 18 August 2015.

• Fogle, Bruce D.V.M; The New Encyclopedia of the Dog, Dorling Kindersley Books, 2000. ISBN 0-7894-6130-7
• Cunliffe, Juliette; The Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds, Parragon Publishing, 2004. ISBN 0-7525-8276-3