Istrian Coarse Haired Hound

The Istrian Coarse Haired Hound is a breed which originated in Istria, on the western part of Croatia, in the 1800’s. This breed was the result of cross breeding between a French Griffon Vendeen and the Istrian Short Haired Hound (Istarski Kratkodlaki Gonic), an experiment carried out by breeders from Slovenia. The breed is also known as Istarski Ostrodlai Gonic. It gets its coarse fur from its former parent breed, and its bright white color flecked with orange from its latter. This breed is also known for being brave and having boundless reserves of energy, attributes it received from both parent breeds. The breed became prominent when it received recognition in form of extensive descriptions in 1896 and 1905 by B. Laska. People soon became aware of the breed and were called ‘barbini’ at that point of time. They were sold heavily in regions of Pazet and Buzin. During World War I though, the breed nearly died out.

Size wise, the Istrian Course Haired Hound is of medium build with heavy bones. It has a somewhat pointed head and a spherical skull, which lies in proportion with the rest of the body. Its jaw line is sturdy and wide. It has colored lips, and a dark nose which might or might not be pigmented and will have a well-built nostril, which can smell well. It has a sharp bite which is a result of heavily built teeth, which are mostly pointed. This dog has thick eyebrows, big eyes, long hair, and droopy ears which reach up to the jowls. It has a stout neck which has a tight stretch of skin over it. It also has a round and strong loin, a wide chest that reaches the elbows, and long and strong forelegs which are very flexible.

The Istrian Coarse Hared Hound is an aggressive and passionate hunter, and also a gentle disposition which makes it suitable to be a home pet. In fact, they become attention seeking as at a point, they become too close to the family to which they belong. They make wonderful friends for little kids, and are also fairly tolerant of other pets in the family. But they have a tendency to run after small unknown pets, so they must always be leashed when outdoors. It is advisable to start grooming the dog for obedience and inter-mingling at a very young age itself.

The breed, which has a rather expansive coat, needs brushing on a daily basis. Since it is more of an outdoors dog and is revered more for its abilities in the field of hunting, a little bit of grooming would only benefit it. If taken on a hunting expedition, its eyes and ears must be thoroughly checked for insects and infections alike. Bathing should be done, but not too frequently, as it removes an insulating layer of fur, and will also leave a huge amount of hair in the house, which is not easy to clean. It should also be taken for frequent visits to the veterinarian, so as to eliminate all possibilities of infections and injuries.