MyDogBreeds
Slovakian Hound is originated from Slovakia but Formosan Mountain Dog is originated from Taiwan. Both Slovakian Hound and Formosan Mountain Dog are having almost same height. Both Slovakian Hound and Formosan Mountain Dog are having almost same weight. Both Slovakian Hound and Formosan Mountain Dog has almost same life span. Slovakian Hound may have less litter size than Formosan Mountain Dog. Both Slovakian Hound and Formosan Mountain Dog requires Low maintenance.
The Slovakian Hound is also known as the Slovenský Kopov or the Black Forest Hound. This is a scenthound which comes from Slovakia in Central Europe and has been bred for boar hunting.
The breed was first recognized in the 1870s, with dogs such as the Austrian Black and Tan Hound as well as the Hungarian Greyhound being thought to be part of dogs ancestry. The breed club was established in 1988 and is recognized by the FCI.
The Formosan Mountain Dog is most often known as the Taiwan dog and it is a landrace indigenous to Taiwan. It is a small to medium breed of dog that was semi-wild at one time. The colonialization of Taiwan and other foreigners help to fully domesticate the Formosan Mountain Dog. They were found to be very trainable and uniquely suited for the terrain around Taiwan. The dogs were easy to train and now serve as hunting dogs, stunt dogs, guard dogs, rescue dogs, therapy dog and personal companions. There are three types of Formosans two smaller types and one medium. However, the original pure Formosan Mountain Dog is getting close to extinction again because the government and people have provided no protection or conservation efforts for them. These dogs have been living in Taiwan in the mountains and were called Formosan Mountain Dogs when Taiwan was known as Formosa. They come from a line of Southeast Asian hunting/gun dogs and they are considered ‘rare’ now.
According to historian Dr. Sung Yung-yi, the breed went through 4 major catastrophes that affected their development. The first of these was the Dutch Establishment in 1624. The Dutch colonized Taiwan and imported both people and dogs. The dog they brought in was called the Flying Dog and was either Greyhound or Pointer. Eventually, the Flying Dog bred with the Formosan Mountain Dog. This along with the slaughter of dogs belonging to the indigenous people by the government, starting the decline of the original Taiwan dog.
In 1895, it was the Japanese acquiring Taiwan following the First Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese bred the Formosan Mountain Dog extensively with the own Japanese dogs. This further diluted the line and authenticity of Taiwan dogs.
This was followed by World War II when German Shepherds traveled with the US Army and they cross-bred with the Formosan. This was the third major dilution of the Formosan Mountain dog line. At the same time, the Japanese government considered the Formosan Mountain Dog a sanitation threat and barbaric. They massacred them in large numbers in the name of sanitation.
The fourth and final dilution took place during the Kuomintang Era beginning in 1945 with the arrival of the Chinese Nationalist Party. They brought with them the culture of eating dogs. During this time the economy of Taiwan took off and business people began to import their own foreign dogs that were high priced purebreds. These dogs bred with the Formosan and other Formosans were just abandoned to die. The ranks of the breed became very thin indeed. Today’s pure Formosan is highly valuable and extremely rare. Because of all the crossbreeding over the centuries, today’s purebred Formosan Mountain Dog is very different from the Taiwan dog of old. Today’s Formosan is loved all over the island and is a companion and watchdog.
Today there is an effort by Taiwanese ecologists to put together a research project that would study and preserve the Formosan in its indigenous form. Dr. Yung-yi led this effort. He located only 46 dogs with a pure pedigree, 21 females and 25 males. They let the Food and Agricultural of the United Nations know and the dogs were labeled close to extinction. Reproducing from the indigenous dogs to purify and increase the breed was the goal. The government was not very supportive.
Today the Royal Air Force is looking at the Formosan Dog to use for military security. They are currently only using German Shepherds and needed another choice. It was decided that the Formosan Mountain Dog had a better sense of smell, dexterity, alertness, and hearing as well as better padding on their paws.
Through these efforts and those of foundation stock breeders and owners, the Formosan Mountain Dog in its indigenous form was brought back. Some call this dog a purebred Formosan while others consider it a new type. Standards were presented to the FCI for registrations as a purebred. This debate continues today
The Slovakian Hound is a muscular dog of medium height and with a long tail and long drop ears. The short coat is always black with tan markings.
These compact looking dogs stand in height at about 43 to 47cm and weigh in the region of 14 to 17kg. The face is friendly and the eyes alert and bright.
Independent and intelligent, the Solvakian Hound will learn some basic commands easily. He is adaptable and will fit into life in the countryside as well as the city, so long as he is well exercised.
He is a sociable, playful dog and will do well with children, particularly if he has been trained and socialized. He is also a good choice for the first-time dog owner. He is alert and makes a good watchdog too.
The Formosan Mountain Dog that was seen during Dr. Sung Yung-yi’s research is a medium-sized dog, athletic and fit. It has a deep chest and a slim waist. The ears are half-covered, the nose is black and there is a coating of black on the tongue. This black tongue is the most distinguishing attribute of the Formosan Mountain Dog. The breed has a strong jaw, the skull that is just slightly longer than the muzzle, which is flat and tapered, triangle face and almond eyes. They have a thick coat and upright, curved tail.
The dogs are known to be extremely agile with an ability to hop that is rare in dogs but helps when hunting animals like rats. The Formosan Mountain Dogs hunted in packs with each dog attacking the prey with one bite until it was too exhausted to fight them off any longer.
His job as a hunting dog has meant that the Slovakian Hound is a brave, energetic, determined dog.
As a pet and companion, you won’t be disappointed as he puts as much effort into his relationships with his human family as he does with hunting.
This amicable dog makes a wonderfully loyal and devoted pet, companion and guard dog.
The Formosan Mountain Dog is very child-friendly. He is affectionate and loyal to his family and protective of his children.
He is intelligent and has exceptional hunting skills. He is a good guard dog due to his alertness, but they can be fear-aggressive.
He is very adaptable to living in any location as long as there is somewhere for him to get adequate exercise. He is friendly to people and animals.
He is intelligent and learns quickly.
Most dogs at some or other time will be faced with a particular health challenge. Most times the veterinarian can fix these problems with the right kind of treatment.
The Slovakian Hound is a healthy dog breed and you aren’t likely to come up with too many problems, though it it wise to be aware of some of the more common dog illnesses there are -
This is something you can expect as your Slovakian Hound ages. It is brought on by tissue degeneration. With eyes, dogs can develop cataracts. With his ears, consistently cleaning and watching out for ear infections can also help with slowing down hearing loss.
Apart from hip dysplasia which can start with even very young dogs, osteoarthritis can cause joint pain and stiffness of joints. It’s a degenerative disease, but fortunately there are a number of treatments to alleviate pain. Remember that nutrition plays a huge role in reducing joint problems in dogs.
Cancer is also a disease that has no respect for the age of the dog or dog breed. When you brush your pet, feel for any unusual lumps. Not all lumps are cancerous but it will be a good idea to have your pet checked over by the vet.
Because there have not been any studies done on the health of the Formosan Mountain Dog, there is not a lot known about any inherent or genetic health issues. It would seem that some bloodlines are healthy, and others have some serious issues. Especially because there are no studies, it is important for breeders to test for eye issues and skeletal issues through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation.
● Like every other dog, the Slovakian Hound will need exercise if he is to remain healthy and fit. There are lots of back-yard games for dogs such as hide and seek and ball and rope games. He will also love a daily walk.
● Always provide your dog with the best food there is as this encourages good health. Your Slovakian Hound requires top quality food, and while there are some good 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 is super tasty and nutritious. Also try to include some raw meat into the diet occasionally as this helps with preventing skin diseases.
● Trim your Slovakian Hound's nails and check his eyes and ears for infection. The inside of the ears shouldn’t be red and the eyes should be clear and bright. If he will allow you to, check inside his mouth too to make sure there are no bad teeth.
● Don’t allow your dog 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.
Feed a high-quality puppy food for medium size dogs at the rate of a ¼ cup twice a day until 8 months then ½ to ¾ twice a day until 12-16 months.
1 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food split into 2 meals per day.
Generally healthy breed. Keep clean and watch for mites.
This is an energetic breed and he needs a lot of exercise. He must have at least an hour of exercise daily but the more, the better. He loves swimming and jogging with his people. He’s athletic, smart and agile. He does well with field trials, tracking, agility, and obedience.