Other names:
Hellenikos Ichnilatis, Hellenic Hound, Greek Hound
The Greek Harehound is an athlete with great stamina. Not only is he a great scent hound in the sporting field, but he is also strong and fearless. This isn’t unusual, as he was originally bred for hunting wild boar and other game. This breed thrives when it has access to acres of space to run freely; it certainly isn’t suited to living in a small space.
Key facts about the Greek Harehound
Life expectancy :
Between 11 and 13 years
Temperament :
Playful, Hunter
Size :
Medium
Type of coat :
Very short, Hard
Price :
Between £400 and £600
FCI Group
FCI Group
Group 6 - Scent hounds and related breeds
Section
Section 1 : Scent hounds
Physical characteristics of the Greek Harehound
Adult size
Female dog
Between 18 and 21 in
Male dog
Between 19 and 22 in
Weight
Female dog
Between 37 and 44 lb
Male dog
Between 37 and 44 lb
Coat colour
The Greek Harehound’s coat is usually only black and tan, however a small white patch is acceptable.
Type of coat
Short and smooth.
Eye colour
Dark brown.
Description
This is a well-proportioned medium-sized dog. His head tapers slightly, with a longish muzzle. He has a muscular body, as befits a dog of his athletic capabilities. As a working dog, his long legs are certainly of great benefit to him.
Temperament
Affectionate
Although he is a working breed, the Greek Harehound is often loyal, loving and gentle towards his owner.
Playful
Affectionate, friendly and extremely playful too.
Calm
Keen and enthusiastic in the hunting field, but calmer when in a home setting.
Intelligent
The Greek Harehound is a dog with great intelligence, able to work alone when hunting.
Hunter
These dogs are fearless, skilled hunters. They are scent hounds with a keen sense of smell.
Fearful / wary of strangers
The Greek Harehound can be suspicious and wary around strangers.
Independent
Like other scent hounds, the Greek Harehound is very strong-willed and independent.
Behaviour of the Greek Harehound
Tolerates solitude
As a strong-willed dog, the male of the breed is often slow to mature and won’t reach adulthood until he is aged 2 or 3. He is not a dog to leave alone for several hours, or he will become bored and destructive around the home.
Easy to train / obedience
Harehounds are notoriously strong-willed and difficult to train. In fact, training this dog can be quite challenging.
Barking
As a scent hound, he will bark when he recognises any prey, to alert his master. His bark is extremely loud.
Tendency to run away
As his main aim in life is to chase after prey and hunt them down; given the chance to escape and be free to roam off his lead, he will attempt to run off by himself.
Destructive
The Greek Harehound knows he has a job to fulfil each day. If he doesn’t achieve this he will become a nuisance and display some destructive behaviours.
Greedy / Gluttony
A very active dog, with high energy levels. He can also be quite a greedy dog, taking any snack that is available in his reach.
Guard dog
The Greek Harehound can be territorial and will let his master know when a stranger approaches. He will alert you with a loud, long bark when he sees anything suspicious.
First dog
As a strong-willed dog, the male of the species is often slow to mature and won’t reach adulthood until they are aged 2 or 3. An especially boisterous breed, they can be difficult to train and need an experienced handler, rather than a first time owner.
Lifestyle
Greek Harehound in a flat
This scent hound can do well as a companion pet, but he does need a large outdoor space to roam freely.
Need for exercise / Sporty
The Greek Harehound needs a large space to exercise where he can run free. He needs lots of different activities and physical stimulation.
Travelling / easy to transport
As a physically active dog, he’s not too happy when travelling in a car.
Compatibility
Greek Harehound and cats
Since the Greek Harehound is bred to hunt and kill hares and rabbits, chances are that he will chase after smaller animals, like cats, too.
Greek Harehound and dogs
As a breed that normally hunts in packs with other dogs, he will be quite placid around other canines.
Greek Harehound and children
The Greek Harehound will be fine around older children, especially if they have been socialised and living together from a young age.
Greek Harehound and the elderly
This dog is not recommended as a companion pet for an elderly owner. He needs someone to run beside him for miles as he exercises.
Price
The initial cost of purchase of a Greek Harehound puppy will be between £400 to £600. Monthly costs in addition to this will be between £80 to £120 to cover food, vet bills, and pet insurance.
Grooming
The short coat of the Greek Harehound requires little in the way of grooming. A weekly brush should suffice to keep his hair looking tidy. An occasional bath, should he come back very dirty from hunting, is all that he needs.
An adult Greek Harehound requires a high-quality dog food to meet his dietary needs. A working-breed formula may be required.
Health of the Greek Harehound
Life expectancy
There are no known genetic defects to affect this breed. Its average life expectancy is between 11 and 13 years.
Strong / robust
The Greek Harehound is extremely robust and healthy.
Withstand heat
These canines are most comfortable and experience no problems in warmer climates.
Withstand cold
As a breed with great stamina, he won’t have any problems when working outdoors in cooler weather. This breed is used to living in cool, mountainous regions.
Tendency to put on weight
As is the situation with many active dogs, once their working lives come to an end and they retire from hunting, they can be more prone to becoming obese when not exercising enough.
On the whole, the Greek Harehound is a free spirit. He isn’t purposely defiant, but sometimes turns a deaf ear to his master’s commands. His great desire is to run free, which can certainly cause problems in a home setting.
Origins and history
The Greek Harehound’s ancestors date back to thousands of years ago. His heritage dates back to the ancient “Laconikoi” canines of the Peloponnese. This dog has hardly changed in appearance or demeanour through the years. This is probably because there was no competition from other breeds in the mountainous regions of Greece. The bloodline has therefore remained true to his ancestry.
