Santal Hound vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison

Santal Hound is originated from India but Estonian Hound is originated from Estonia. Santal Hound may grow 7 cm / 2 inches shorter than Estonian Hound. Santal Hound may weigh 8 kg / 17 pounds lesser than Estonian Hound. Both Santal Hound and Estonian Hound has almost same life span. Both Santal Hound and Estonian Hound has same litter size. Santal Hound requires Low maintenance. But Estonian Hound requires Moderate maintenance

History

The Santal Hound has always been used for hunting and these Indian pariah dogs haven’t changed much over the years.

It is a small red Indian indigenous dog. It is named after the Santal tribe who used the dog for hunting. They sometimes refer to the dog as Seuta and Kukur.

When you do research on the Santal Hound, you will mostly find it among indigenous peoples. It isn’t only found in India but in Africa, being found among the different nomadic  hunting tribes in East Africa.

estonian hound - historyIn 1947, the Estonian Hound was developed and remains today the only pure breed ever developed in Estonia. At that time the national economic minister of the Soviet Union declared that every country in the USSR must have a national dog breed. Thus, the Estonian Hound and the Estonian Kennel Union were born. The Kennel Union is currently seeking breed recognition from the Federation Cynoloqique Internationale.

The Estonian Hound came from breeding local Estonian hunting dogs with several different breeds of foreign dogs. The Soviet decree also established that hunting dogs had to be no more than 17 inches high. This result in a hunting dog with great agility and drive that is extremely popular in now inependent Estonia. It is the national dog.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Hound dog
Origin:
India
Estonia
Height Male:
40 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
42 - 52 cm
16 - 21 inches
Height Female:
40 - 45 cm
15 - 18 inches
40 - 50 cm
15 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
9 - 12 kg
19 - 27 pounds
15 - 20 kg
33 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
9 - 12 kg
19 - 27 pounds
13 - 19 kg
28 - 42 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
4 - 8
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Seuta, Kukur
Estonian Scenthound, Gontchaja Estonskaja
Colors Available:
Reddish brown or yellow-brown
tan with black patches or blackish brown with red patches
Coat:
Short and smooth
short, rough coat
Shedding:
Minimal
Constant
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Cheerful, Energetic, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

The Santal is considered a small to medium sized dog standing at between 40 and 45cm in height and weighing between 9 and 12 kilograms.

It is also slightly built with fine bones. The coat of the dog is reddish brown or yellow-brown, the eyes are almond shaped and brown and the muzzle is pointed. The ears of the dog are erect and point forward. The tail of this dog is usually curled over the dog’s back. The dog doesn’t really bark as such but howls instead. It has small paws and walks with a high-stepping style like a prancing horse.

Temperament:

These dogs are calm, independent, loving and loyal and also affectionate with their human family. He is cool with strangers.

They are alert, intelligent dogs and you certainly won’t have any trouble teaching him a few simple commands. He cleans himself like a cat. He seems to understand what you say as he always cocks his head to one side when you talk to him. He is a playful dog and will love to be involved with games with the children.

He can also get on well with other dogs in the family. He is capable of adapting to life in the city or the countryside just so long as his exercise needs are met.

estonian hound puppy - descriptionThe Estonian Hound is a strong, muscular body of medium size, with well-developed muscles and strong bones. It has a straight muzzle and skull with defined eyebrows and long drop ears. They have black noses and dark eyes. Their back is wide and straight, and their chest is deep and wide. They have skin that is tight with no wrinkles or folds anywhere.

The Estonian Hound is double coated, but the undercoat is not well developed. The top coat is rough, short and shiny. The tail has a thick covering of hair. The color is usually white with red patches, black or brown patches or yellow patches.

Characteristics

The Santal dog is an unusual dog with some unique characteristics. He hasn’t got any particularly exceptional characteristics either, but he promises to make you a good pet.

He is capable of providing you with lots of love, and on top of that he is a low maintenance dog too.

When you bring him into your home, you’re going to get yourself a loyal, loving pet and companion.

Children friendliness

estonian hound dog - characteristicsThe Estonian Hound is a happy dog and loves to play with children. He was bred to hunt though and he can get fixated on a scent and knock over a small child.

Special talents

He is a hunting dog with great agility and drive.

Adaptability

He has had to be adaptable through his short history and is now more a companion than a hunting dog. He can live in the city or country.

Learning ability

He is intelligent and trainable. He is lively and energetic and the challenge might be keeping his attention long enough to train.

Health Problems

Dogs stand a better chance of avoiding sickness if they are fed well and they get a fair amount of exercise. But our fur kids can get sick anytime really, and it pays to know about some of the dangerous diseases they can succumb to -

Canine parvovirus:

Your dog will have a fever, he will be lethargic and have diarrhea with vomiting. It is a contagious virus affecting dogs that come into contact with the feces of an ill dog. It attacks a dog’s internal organs, and although the vet will do everything possible to help your dog, parvo is often fatal.

There are vaccines to prevent your dog getting this terrible disease.

Heartworm:

Your dog will be coughing, have respiratory problems, lethargy and weight loss. These parasites are found in your dog’s heart and are spread by mosquitoes. Check with your vet about treatments to prevent this horrible illness.

Rabies:

Have your pet vaccinated against rabies, a deadly diseases spread by saliva and a bite from an infected animal. It is fatal and once your dog has this disease, there is no treatment.

estonian hound puppies - health problemsWith such a young breed there have not been any studies done on their health or genetic issues. It seems the breed is fairly healthy but there is too little information to really say. Being confined to Estonia there has been little commercial or backyard breeding. He is less likely than most pure breeds to have genetic issues.

It is likely that dogs of his type are at risk for:

Bloat – distended or twisted stomach

Caused by excessive exercise before or after having eaten a large meal. It is suggested that you feed your English Setter twice a day, smaller meals and not right before or after strenuous exercise.

  1. Luxating Patella
  2. Leads to lameness and arthritis
  3. Allergies skin/food
  4. See vet if issues arise
  5. Respiratory allergies - It would be very important to see vet if any breathing issues arise
  6. Joint dysplasia - This could be elbow or hip and can lead to lameness or arthritis

Caring The Pet

Diet:

Provide your Santal Hound with top quality food to ensure his health. While there are some excellent commercially manufactured foods on the market, it is important to choose the high quality ones that have natural, good ingredients in them.

Try to include some home-made food for him which can be simply mixed into the dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are super tasty and nutritious. Your dog will love such simple, good food as it doesn’t upset his stomach.

If you can, try and include a little bit of raw meat to his diet occasionally as this can go towards ensuring he doesn’t get skin diseases.

Trim your dogs nails, check his eyes and ears for infection and check his teeth too.

Provide your dog with a warm, dry place to sleep.

Don’t allow your Santal Hound to have puppies. There are so many unwanted puppies all over the world. Rather have him or her spayed or neutered to avoid puppies that nobody wants. It is beneficial for his health too.

Feeding the puppy

estonian hound dogs - caringFeed a high quality dry food made for puppies. Feed ¼ to ½ cup per day in 2-3 meals for the first six months.

Feed 1 to 2 cups in two meals from 6 months to a year or so.

Feeding the adult.

Feed about 2 to 3 cups in two meals.

Points for Good Health

As previously mentioned this seems to be a fairly healthy breed.

Be careful not to feed a large meal before or after exercise due to possibility of bloat.

Check their ears and clean them periodically.

Games and Exercises

The Estonian Hound is a hunting dog and needs a good deal of exercise – at least an hour and a half every day or a long walk if not used for hunting. He is a working dog with a lot of energy and stamina. Don’t let him off leash though or he will follow his nose and take off. He is usually calm and quiet indoors if he gets enough physical and mental stimulation outdoors. He can be destructive and loud, nervous and hyper if he doesn’t. They enjoy Frisbee, agility, tracking and of course hunting.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Pharaoh Hound vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  2. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  3. Hungarian Vizsla vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  4. Redbone Coonhound vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  5. Norwegian Elkhound vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  6. Santal Hound vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  7. Podenco Canario vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  8. Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  9. Podenco Andaluz vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  10. Podenco Galego vs Estonian Hound - Breed Comparison
  11. Estonian Hound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  12. Estonian Hound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  13. Estonian Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  14. Estonian Hound vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  15. Estonian Hound vs Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  16. Estonian Hound vs Bavarian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison
  17. Estonian Hound vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  18. Estonian Hound vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Estonian Hound vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  20. Estonian Hound vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison
  21. Estonian Hound vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison
  22. Estonian Hound vs Basset Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  23. Estonian Hound vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  24. Estonian Hound vs Chippiparai - Breed Comparison
  25. Estonian Hound vs English Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  26. Santal Hound vs Basset Hound - Breed Comparison
  27. Santal Hound vs Pharaoh Hound - Breed Comparison
  28. Santal Hound vs Basenji - Breed Comparison
  29. Santal Hound vs Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  30. Santal Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  31. Santal Hound vs Hungarian Vizsla - Breed Comparison
  32. Santal Hound vs Redbone Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  33. Santal Hound vs Bluetick Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  34. Santal Hound vs Norwegian Elkhound - Breed Comparison
  35. Santal Hound vs Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  36. Santal Hound vs Bavarian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison
  37. Santal Hound vs Basset Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  38. Santal Hound vs Beagle-Harrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Santal Hound vs English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  40. Santal Hound vs Anglo-Francais de Petite Venerie - Breed Comparison
  41. Santal Hound vs Alpine Dachsbracke - Breed Comparison
  42. Santal Hound vs Basset Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  43. Santal Hound vs Podenco Canario - Breed Comparison
  44. Santal Hound vs Dunker - Breed Comparison
  45. Santal Hound vs Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen - Breed Comparison
  46. Santal Hound vs Chippiparai - Breed Comparison
  47. Santal Hound vs Podenco Andaluz - Breed Comparison
  48. Santal Hound vs Podenco Galego - Breed Comparison
  49. Santal Hound vs English Foxhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds