Transylvanian Hound  

                                  

       

                                      

  History 

The Transylvanian Hound, an extremely rare Hungarian hunter newly imported to the United States. This is a medium-sized, short-haired ancient Hungarian breed. Until recently these dogs were unknown outside Hungary. This scent hound was bred in Hungary and was used extensively by Hungarian kings and princes to hunt bear, stag, boar, wolf, and lynx in the mountains. This is a dog without exaggeration, moderate in bone and head with tight skin and medium flat ear. When the Magyars invaded the Carpathian Mountains of eastern Hungary in the ninth century, they brought hounds with them. Crossbred with native or Polish dogs, the Transylvanian basis was formed. The Carpathians are heavily forested, so thick that by the time a young hunter on foot walked through the woods, he would be an old man. Therefore, the dogs of the area were strong, bred to go after game following mounted riders.Heavywinter snows and sultry summers required hounds that were particularly adapted to extremes of climate. In the past, they were used extensively by Hungarian kings and princes for hunting wolf and bear in the mountains. In more modern times, the long-legged variety was used on stag, lynx and boar, while the shorter legged version kept pace with the fox and hare.The Transylvanian is known for its keen sense of direction and orientation to the environment, vital in mountainous and forested cover. This is a dog without exaggeration, moderate in bone and head with tight skin and a medium flat ear. Prized as an obedient, trainable, good-natured hound who is an easy keeper, he was never known outside Hungary. Recent reports indicate that the Transylvanian dogs face extinction, with their numbers dangerously low.

 

 
GENERAL APPEARANCE   The shape and the carriage of the head, the body proportions, the strong muscular limbs and the tail set of the Hungarian Hound correspond to the characteristics of the Mid-European type of Hounds. It is medium sized. The body formation of the Hungarian Hound has adapted to the work over long distances. He is athletically built, neither coarse nor fine boned.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS  The ratio of the length of the skull to the length of the muzzle is approximately 1:1. The ratio of the height at the withers to the length of the body is 10:11.

NECK * Very muscular, of medium length. The skin forms slight folds on the throat. A slight dewlap is permitted but not desirable.


 

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT    Good-natured, courageous, enduring. The basic character of the Hungarian Hound is quiet, even, but also determined and lively. He even stands extreme weather conditions.

HEAD *  It is a longish but not pointed Hound head ; the difference between the sexes is distinct.

CRANIAL REGION **  The skin on the head is close-fitting and free of wrinkles.

Skull * Slightly domed. The occiput is not pronounced. The superciliary ridges are slightly developed.

Stop * Barely pronounced.

 

 

FACIAL REGION    Nose * The nose is not too bluntly cut off, the colour is black. The nostrils are mobile and wide.

Muzzle * Bridge of nose straight.

Lips * Dry and tight fitting. The colour of the mucons membrane is black.

Jaws/Teeth * The jaws are strong. The teeth are strong and well developed. Complete scissor bite, according to the dentition formula.

Cheeks *Rounded, only slightly developed.

Eyes * Of medium size, almond shaped, slightly oblique. The colour is dark brown. The lids are close-fitting to the eyeball.

Ears * Set medium high, not too heavy, hanging closely to the cheeks without being folded. They widen from the base and then taper towards the rounded tip. Pulled forwards, the leathers cover the eyes but normally do not reach further.

 

 

BODY   The body has the shape of a prone rectangle.

Topline * Straight.

Withers * Pronounced.

Back * Straight behind the withers with well developed muscles.

Loin * In bitches a slightly longer loin is permitted.

Croup * Slightly sloping.

Chest * The sternum does not protrude. The brisket is broad, long and not too deep. In cross section, it is oval, nearly rounded, to ensure easy breathing.

Underline and belly * Belly only slightly tucked up.


 

TAIL  Set on at medium height, strong. In repose, the lower third of the tail is curved slightly upwards. It reaches, preferably, one to two cm beyond the hocks. When excited, the dog carries his tail curved, yet not curled, over the back. The tail is not docked.

Forequarters * Seen from the front, the front legs are parallel and, as a result of the broad chest, adequately far apart.

Shoulders * Shoulder blade well muscled, adequately long and moderately sloping.

Elbows * Close-fitting to the ribcage.

Forearm * Straight and symmetric.

Forefeet * Large with well knit, strong, arched toes. The pads are large, firm and well cushioned. Nails strong and as black as possible.

 

 

Hindquarters    When standing, the hind legs are slightly overstretched beyond the rear; well muscled

Upper thigh * Long.

Hock * Low set.

Metatarsus * Straight and parallel.

Hind feet * Toes well knit and strong. Pads large, firm and well cushioned. Nails strong and as black as possible. Dewclaws should be removed.

GAIT / MOVEMENT ** The stride is long and ground covering, never mincing. The trot is ground covering. When at work, his gallop is extremly enduring.

SKIN * The skin of the Hungarian Hound is medium thick. Especially in the throat region it is a little loose but never folded. It has a dark pigment. Bare areas of skin are black.

 

 

COAT    Hair * The whole body, even the underside of the belly, is covered by short, straight, dense, flat coat. On the neck, the withers, the back of the upper thighs and the underside of the tail, the coat is longer than on the other parts of the body. Cow-licks and ridges may occur. The coat is coarse to the touch and shiny. Undercoat under the topcoat.

Colour ** The primary colour of the Hungarian Hound is black. There is always a not too dark tan point on each eyebrow. Tan markings on muzzle and legs. The tan is distinctly demarcated from the black. On the nose, a white marking may occur, possibly extending to a blaze on the forehead, to a collar around the neck, to the chest, under the chest and to the lower parts of the legs and the feet. A white marking may also occur on the tip of the tail. White on more than one fifth of the whole body is undesirable.

 

 

SIZE AND WEIGHT    Size * Ideal height at withers * 55 to 65 cm.

The decisive criterion is the overall balance rather than the mere measure in cm.

Weight * Minimum 25 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.


 

ELIMINATING FAULT    Cranial or facial region too narrow, 

too long or rounded.

Stop very slight or too pronounced.

Short muzzle.

Faulty bite.

Light ears, Terrier or Sighthound like ears.

Wiry coat, soft, wavy or sparse coat.

Brown or blue colour with markings.

Aggressiveness, nervousness

 

 

Faults      Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriosness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree

Note** Male animals should have two apparently noemal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

 

 

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