Hellenic Hound

HarrierHygen Hound

Hellenic Hound – General Description

The Hellenic Hound (Hellenikos Ichnilatis) is a medium sized scenthound used to trail hares and boar. The breed originated in Greece and is also known as the Greek Hound or Greek Harehound. The Hellenic hound is a rare breed of dog that only comes in a black and tan color, originally bred as a scent hound for tracking and chasing hare in Southern Greece. This breed of dog is not well known outside its country of origin.

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Classification and Standards

• FCI Group 6, Section 1.2, #214
• UKC Scenthound Group

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Character & Temperament

The Hellenic Hound has a lively, confident and outgoing temperament. These dogs are skilled, fearless hunters, and have a keen sense of smell as well as excellent strength and stamina. Their activity level is high and require regular physical stimulation and a large space to exercise. The Hellenic Hound is also devoted to its owner, and generally makes a fine family pet, although they are better with older children. Since the Hellenic Hound was originally bred to hunt in packs, it is placid with other dogs, yet they may be wary and suspicious around strangers.

Like other scent hound breeds, the Hellenic Hound is independent and strong-willed at times. Males in particular require a confident owner to be in take charge. These dogs can also be stubborn and impatient at times, so they should be trained at an early age. Positive reinforcements and proper discipline is necessary when training a Hellenic Hound and rough handling should be avoided.[3] Due to their original hunting purposes, the Hellenic Hound is vocal and extremely loud, and may enjoy chasing small animals and moving things. They may also show destructiveness when bored or left alone for a prolonged period of time.

Overall speaking, these dogs can be challenging to train and are not recommended for the inexperienced dog owner as well as apartment life. They are more suitable as hunting dogs than pets.

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History

The Hellenic Hound is an ancient breed of scenthound whose roots date back thousands of years. These dogs are native to Peloponessus or Southern Greece.

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Size & Appearance

The Hellenic Hound is a scent hound with a shorthaired black and tan coat. It is a medium-sized dog, weighing between 17-20 kg. Males and females should have a height of 47-55 cm and 45-53 cm at the withers respectively.[1]

The skull, which is relatively flat, is the same or slightly shorter than the muzzle’s length. Its forehead is generally broad. The Hellenic Hound has powerful jaws. Its teeth should either be in a scissor or pincer bite and evenly spaced.[2] This breed possess bright brown-colored eyes that are medium-sized. The eyes should neither be set too deep or bulging. The ears are set high, and should hang down halfway along the head. The Hellenic Hound has a short, dense coat that has a slightly hard texture. Its coat is usually only black and tan in color, yet a small white patch may be present in some individuals.[2] No trimming or stripping is required. The tail’s length should not exceed the point of the hock. It is set high, thick at the base and tapering by a little at the tip. Their voice is resonant and harmonious.

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Health & Maintenance

The Hellenic hound is a healthy breed with no known genetic defects. But like other dogs with pendulous ears, their ears are more prone to infections and need to be cleaned frequently.

Their life span is around eleven years.

References

1. “The Furry Critter Network: Hellenic Hound” – http://www.furrycritter.com/resources/dogs/Hellenic_Hound.htm
2. “United Kennel Club: Hellenic Hound” – http://www.ukcdogs.com/WebSite.nsf/Breeds/HellenicHoundRevisedJuly12009?OpenDocument&Click=
3. “Dr. Doogle: Hellenikos Ichnilatis” – http://www.drdoogle.com/hellenikosichnilatis.html

Photo Credits

1. Georging [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
2. Florian Bausch (F.K.Bausch@gmx.de) (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

This article is licensed (except where noted) under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia article Greek Harehound

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Breed Standard

Hellenic Hound

FCI-Standard N° 214 / 19. 03. 1996 / GB

TRANSLATION : Mrs Peggy Davis.

ORIGIN : Greece.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 16.10.1959.

UTILIZATION :

Hound with a fine sense of smell and of great resistance; he is an active hunter either alone or in a pack and responds completely in all terrains of lowland or mountains and even in the more rocky and unworkable terrains; his voice is resonant and harmonious.

F.C.I. CLASSIFICATION :

• Group 6 Scenthounds and related breeds.
• Section 1.2 Medium sized Hounds.

With working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE :

Medium-sized dog, short-haired, black and tan, strong, vigorous, lively, keen.

HEAD :

Long, its total length corresponds to the height at the withers as 4.35 : 10. The width of the skull must not be more than the half of the total length of the head, i.e. the total cephalic index must be less than 50. The upper lines of the skull and of the muzzle are divergent.

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Its length is equal or little less than the length of the muzzle; of fairly flat shape. The occipital protuberance is only slightly protruding. Forehead quite broad. Medial furrow not very marked. Superciliary arches high.
Stop : Not very pronounced.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : On the muzzle line, overhanging the forward vertical lip line, humid, mobile, black. Nostrils open.
Muzzle : Its length is equal or a little more than that of the skull. Nasal bridge straight or, in males, slightly arched.
Lips : Rather developed.
Jaws/Teeth : Strong jaws meeting perfectly either in scissor or pincer bite. Strong, white teeth.
Eyes : Normal size, neither deep set nor prominent, brown colour with lively and intelligent expression.
Ears : Of medium length (almost half the length of the head), set on high, i.e. above the zygomatic arches, flat, rounded at the lower extremity and hanging vertically.

NECK :

Powerful, muscled, without dewlap, descending harmoniously towards the shoulders. Its length corresponds to the total length of the head nearly as 6.5 : 10.

BODY :

The length of the body is 10% more than the height at the withers.
Topline : Straight, slightly convex at the loins.
Withers : Slightly raised above the backline.
Back : Long, straight.
Loins : Slightly arched, short, strong, well muscled.
Croup : Long, broad, well muscled, slightly sloping.
Chest : Well developed, deep, let down at elbow level. Ribs slightly sprung.
Belly : Lean, slightly tucked up.

TAIL :

Not long, reaching at maximum the point of the hock; set rather high, thick at the root and tapering slightly towards its tip; in movement carried sabre-fashion.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :

Good straight legs seen from the front and in profile, well muscled and robust.
Shoulders : Sloping, well muscled and close to the thorax.
Arm : Oblique, muscular, robust.
Forearm : Straight, long, well boned.
Pastern joint : Lean, not prominent.
Metacarpus (Pastern) : Of sufficient length, strong, rather straight, never hollow.
Forefeet : Rounded, compact; strong toes, close, arched; strong nails, curvec, black; pads large, hard, tough.

HINDQUARTERS :

Well straight and vertical seen from behind and in profile; well muscled and robust.
Thigh : Long, strong, well muscled.
Leg : Slanted, long, strong.
Hock joint : Lean, strong, medium height, bent.
Hock : Strong, lean, quite long, almost straight, without dewclaws.
Hind feet : Same as the forefeet.

GAIT/MOVEMENT :

Swift and light.

COAT

HAIR :

Short, dense, a little hard, close fitting.

COLOR :

Black and tan. A small white patch on the chest is tolerated. The visible mucous membranes, the nose and the nails black.

SIZE AND WEIGHT :

Height at the withers : For males : 47-55 cm.
For females : 45-53 cm.
Tolerance of more or less 2 cm.
Weight : 17-20 kg.

FAULTS :

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

• Muzzle short and broad.
• Ears too long or too short, pointed, twisted.
• Neck too short.
• Upper line convex or concave.
• Loins flat, narrow.
• Croup short, narrow, not sloping.
• Lower line very let down or too drawn up.
• Tail long, heavy, curly.
• Pastern and hocks too short or too long, thin, hollow.
• Cow-or barrel hocks.
• Harefeet.

ELIMINATING FAULTS :

• Aggressive or overly shy.
• Convergence of the upper longitudinal axes of the skull and the nasal bridge.
• Nasal bridge concave, muzzle very pointed.
• Over-or undershot mouth.
• Ears semi-erect.
• Tail curved up.
• Legs out of vertical.
• Dewclaws.
• Other color that the specified for the coat, the nose, the eyes and the nails.
• Total depigmentation of the visible mucous membranes.
• Height at the withers over or under the indications of the standard.

SCALE OF POINTS

QUALIFICATION

Excellent : points not less than 90 points
Very good : points not less than 80 points
Good : points not less than 70 points
Fair: points not less than 60 points

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

© Fédération Cynologique Internationale