shop


The Furry Critter Network

Greek Harehound Breed Description

Back to Canine Breed Menu


thm-img


Breed Organization

United Kennel Club (UKC)

Native Country
Greece

Other Names
Hellenic Hound, Greek Hound, Hellenikos Ichnilatis

Life Expectancy
Approximately 10-12 Years

Litter Size
No Information Available

Breed Group
FCI Hound

General Description

The Greek Harehound 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 Greek Harehound is also devoted to its owner, and generally makes a fine family pet, although they are better with older children. Since the Greek Harehound was originally bred to hunt in packs, it is placid with other dogs, yet they may be wary and suspicious around strangers.

Like other scenthound breeds, the Greek Harehound is independent and strong-willed at times. Males in particular require a confident owner to be in 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 Greek Harehound and rough handling should be avoided. Due to their original hunting purposes, the Greek Harehound 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.

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 house pets unless the owner is willing to exercise appropriately.


Breed Standard

Head: Long. Flat skull. Stop not very pronounced. Straight or slightly curved nosebridge. Strong jaws. Fairly developed lips.
Ears: Medium-sized, set on high, flat, rounded at the tip, pendulous.
Eyes: Normal in size, brown.
Body: Slightly longer than it is tall. Mesomorph. Neck powerful, muscular, without dewlap. Well-developed chest. Slightly circular ribs. Slightly arched, short, strong, well-muscled loin. Slight tuck-up. Long, straight back. Croup long, broad, nearly level.
Tail: Short, thick at the base and tapering slightly toward the tip. In action, carried in saber fashion.
Hair: Close-lying, dense, somewhat hard.
Coat: Black and tan. A small white spot on the chest is tolerated. Visible mucosa, nose, and nails are black.
Size: Dog: 47 to 55 cm. (18.5-21.5 in).Bitch: 45 to 53 cm. (17.5-21 in).
Weight: 17 to 20 kg (37-44 lb).

History

This very ancient breed indigenous to Greece is believed to be descended from hounds brought from Egypt by the Phoenicians. The Hellenic Hound is not very well-known outside his native land.

Behavior

Very hardy, vigorous, and lively, the Hellenic Hound has a subtle nose and a far-reaching, melodic voice. Skilled in hunting on rugged terrain, he is a speedy and light-footed tracker of all game alone or in small packs. He is not well-suited to being a pet. He needs firm training.

He needs space and a lot of exercise. Regular brushing.

Function

Hunting Dog Pet.

Health

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.


Back to Canine Breed Menu

Featured Rescues

"Don't Shop ... Please Adopt"

laptop pro

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.

Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country.

The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”


laptop pro

Petfinder

If you can’t find the pet you’re looking for on Petfinder, don’t give up. Some shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds, so don’t be afraid to ask! There are also breed-specific rescues for just about every breed, and most of them post their pets on Petfinder. (Petfinder can even e-mail you when a pet that fits your criteria is posted — just click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results page.)


laptop pro

Rescue Me

Jeff Gold, Founder, Rescue Me! Animal Rescue Network

Jeff Gold lives in Watkinsville, Georgia on the same property as Rescue Me's Animal Rehabilitation Center, with 18 rescue animals. Shown with him in the photo to the left are Maggie, Izzie and Cortez. In 2003, after learning there was nobody doing boxer rescue work in Georgia, Gold founded Boxertown, an organization which helped find homes for over 500 boxers during its first two years. Based upon this success, Gold came up with the vision for Rescue Me! ― a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes, anywhere in the world. RescueShelter.com is also a free service of Rescue Me! and provides the world's largest and most up-to-date directory of animal rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals, including a comprehensive directory of wildlife rehabilitators in over 150 countries.



Top