Istrian Wire-haired Hound

The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound should have a “snow-white” coat, with orange-lemon markings on his body and ears. No other coat colour is recognised.

The coat of the Istrian Coarse-haired Hound should be dull and wiry, straight but with a dense undercoat.

Brown.

This breed can be recognised by its rectangular body shape. His head is rounded with a dark, wide nose and his very muscular legs end in “cat like” feet. The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound has a fur moustache over the bridge of his nose and thin ears that hang close to his cheeks. 

The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound will form strong attachments with the main person that looks after him, yet over time will show some affection and respect to other family members. 

As this breed was never intended to be a family companion, he needs plenty of one to one attention with his master. Not really a playful dog. 

Well-mannered and docile when in the home.

This dog is of average to high intelligence.

The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound has a well-developed sense of smell that permits him to track and hunt down game, including foxes, rabbits and hares.

This dog will certainly try to avoid a meeting with strangers if possible. He tends to be wary around them. 

This dog can be stubborn and strong-willed.

The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound does not like to be alone for long periods of time.

Obedience and good manners don’t come quite as easily to the Istrian Coarse-haired Hound. Certainly quite stubborn at times, he needs an experienced owner who is able to dedicate time to his training, exercise needs, and socialisation.

There will be some barking, but not consistent.

As a scent hound, when given the chance, he will give chase after an attractive scent. Recall training is crucial from an early age. 

This hound doesn’t like to be left alone for long periods of time. If he gets bored, he can become hyperactive and destructive. 

This is a medium sized dog with great stamina. Provided he is fed sufficiently to meet his dietary requirements, he will not be a gluttonous dog. 

The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound will bark and alert you to someone trying to access your home, but he is not an aggressive guard dog. 

Initially bred as a hunting dog, even today he is still mainly kept for this task. He can be quite wilful and stubborn, so may be a challenge for a first-time dog owner.

It is ill-advised to confine this medium sized dog to a flat or small garden. 

This dog breed needs a minimum of 60 minutes of vigorous daily exercise. He also needs mentally stimulating tasks to prevent behaviour issues. Hiking and jogging exercises are recommended. 

The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound can travel in a vehicle.

If this dog is going to be kept in a home with other small pets, such as cats, early socialisation is needed, otherwise he will chase them.

Supervision is required when the Istrian Coarse-haired Hound is around other dogs, unless they have been socialised together from a young age. 

This breed makes a poor companion for and tends not to get along well with children. 

The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound is a very smart dog, who needs the opportunity to use his brain, with mentally challenging activities and exercises. Not advised for an elderly owner. 

The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound does shed seasonally, and quite profusely.

On the whole, the Istrian Coarse-haired hound has good health. As a hunting dog, bred for skill rather than looks, in-breeding has been kept to a minimum, so genetic health problems are few. He is, however, predisposed to hip dysplasia and ear infections. The average life expectancy for this breed is 12-14 years.

When hunting, this hound shows great power and endurance. 

The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound can tolerate all temperatures, including warm weather.

As an energetic hunting dog, with great stamina, he is used to covering all terrains and in all weather conditions, without issues. 

Care must be taken with feeding routines, to ensure that the Istrian Coarse-haired Hound doesn’t become obese.

• Hip dysplasia
• Ear infections
• Field injuries

The French Griffon Vendeen scent hound and the Istrian Short-haired Hound were bred together around the middle of the 19th century. This resulting offspring, a longer haired hunting hound, is one of the oldest Balkan hounds. The Istrian Coarse-haired Hound is not an internationally well-known breed and numbers have dwindled in recent years. It is now considered to be a rare breed with the UK Kennel Club.