General Description: The Estonian Hound is medium-sized, well-muscled dog with solid bone structure and a sturdy body. The breed’s eyes are dark brown in color, and the tail is evenly covered with thick hair. Their skin is tight and their ears are dropped. They have a short-haired coat that is shiny and rough in texture. Black patches are usually present. While the tip of this breed’s tail is always white, other coat colors may exist across the dog’s body and face. These colors may include blackish-brown, red, or a saddle-like patch on the dog’s back.
Character: The Estonian Hound is a good-natured, cheerful breed with an even temper and mild-mannered disposition. They are balanced, intelligent, and they have a good amount of energy. In order to prevent the onset of timid behavior, the Estonian Hound should be properly socialized from an early age. These dogs are usually friendly and social, but they may have trouble adjusting to new things. This breed is very affectionate and does not like to be left alone for extended periods of time. They are usually good with dogs and other household pets. This breed has natural hunting instincts that allow it to catch onto a work routine very quickly. The Estonian Hound has a distinctive, melodic voice that is beautiful to listen to.
Size: 17 – 21 inches
Weight: 33 – 44 pounds
General Health: There are no reported health concerns or issues for the Estonian Hound. This breed typically lives for 12 to 15 years.
History: The Estonian Hound is the only breed to be developed in Estonia. For this reason, many consider the Estonian Hound to be the national breed of Estonia. Until the year 1914, English Fox Hounds and Russian-Polish Hounds were the only types of hunting dogs used in Estonia. Crossbreeds of these two types produced a variety of local hounds that were exclusive to this country. In the 1920’s, Finnish Hounds were imported to Estonia, and the local hounds began breeding with them. The look and working abilities of the local dogs changed as a result. On July 1st, 1934, a law was issued that set the breeding of an Estonian Hound in motion. The law specified certain physical characteristics of hunting dogs in Estonia. In order to develop an Estonian Hound breed that was appropriate for the region (both in working ability and appearance), Beagles, Swiss Hounds, Luzern Hounds, and Bern Hounds were introduced to the local hounds of Estonia. The product of these crossings served as the foundation for the Estonian Hound. On December 27th, 1954, the Main Government of National Parks and Hunting Economy of the Agriculture Ministry of the Soviet Union approved the breed’s standard. The Estonian Kennel Union is presently working on the recognition of the breed by the FCI.
Maintenance: The short-haired, rough coat of the Estonian Hound is easy to groom and maintain. This breed should be bathed only as necessary. They are moderate shedders.
Ideal Environment: The Estonian Hound is comparatively inactive indoors if it is given plenty of daily exercise. This breed isn’t suited to life in an apartment, and they need at least an average-sized yard. They should receive at least an hour or two of physical activity per day. They have a large amount of stamina and possess great working abilities, so they shouldn’t be cooped up in a kennel or confined to a small space. Because of this breed’s propensity to chase, the Estonian Hound should always be kept on a leash.
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Estonian Hound information.