Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac vs Serbian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison

Breeding of the Slovak Hruborsty Stavac, fondly referred to as the SHS began around the 1940s.

There were some dog lovers who were interested in crossing the coarse haired dogs of Slovakia with the German Wirehaired, the Czech blower and the Weimaraner. The outcome was a rough-haired kind of Weimaraner-looking dog.

While hunters and hunting were quite common in Slovakia, the breed became rather rare with the wars when hunting became less, but the dog was reconstructed by breeders, but is still rare outside Slovakia.

Known as the Srpski Planinski Gonic dog and coming from Yugoslavia, the Serbian Mountain Hound is one of two modern hounds that was once known as the Yugoslavian Mountain Hound or Jugoslovenski Planinski Gonic.

There isn't much information on the origins of the dogs. These two dogs are considered similar breeds, only varying in region. Its a hunting dog thought to have descended from Asian search dogs.

The dog is fairly large, standing at between 62 and 68cm in height and weighs 25 - 35kg. The coat is fairly coarse and dense and is a grey/silver shade with a touch of brown.

There is quite a bit of hair around the face. The ears are medium length and floppy and the tail is mostly docked to half its length but can be left long as well. The tail is set high and carried vertically and can be well feathered. The eyes are almond-shaped, and the dog has an intelligent appearance to him.

Temperament:

The Slovensky Hruborsty Stavac is a sharp dog, making it easy to have him trained and socialized. He is such a friendly, social dog, getting on well with all family members and loving to get involved with the games of the children.

There is no aggression in this dog and when you provide him with the exercise that he craves, he is loyal, gentle and loving, getting on well with other dogs as well.

The Serbian Mountain Hound is about 46 to 50cm in height and weighs around 18 to 22 kilograms. This Yugoslavian hound breed has been used in Serbia as a hunting dog and they are thought to be rare outside of Serbia.

The coat of the newer Mountain Hound is fairly short and thick and mainly black with some tan marks around the paws and muzzle. The dog has floppy ears and a long tail.

Temperament:

This is a hardy scent hound that is confident and bold. They are used to hunting on rough terrain in the Balkan region. They are independent dogs and training and socialization will refine them, making the dog obedient and well mannered.

When he isn’t outdoors, he becomes a good-natured, gentle amiable dog that is good with children in the home.

The Slovensky Hruborsty Stavac is such a bouncy, amicable pet, full of energy. He may appear to be confident and full of the joys but he secretly can’t stand it when his human family don’t include him in everything. He can actually suffer with separation anxiety.

He is an athletic dog and will require lots of exercise – walks, hikes, ball games and running off his leash.

He is quiet but strong-willed and will respond well to a strong, firm, consistent, kind owner.

These dogs make the most awesome pets and you can either find one from a rescue group or find a puppy from a reputable breeder. Whatever you decide on, the Slovensky Hruborsty Stavac makes an extraordinary pet.

The Serbian Mountain Hound is such a social, happy, friendly kind of dog that he makes a wonderful family pet.

He learns well, he likes to please, he gets on well with children and dogs in the home, he is independent and not a noisy barker. He is also fairly low maintenance.

Take good care of him and you’re guaranteed to have a wonderful pet and companion.

There are always some illnesses that your dog might get but which isn’t likely with your pet as these are healthy dogs.

Bloat:

Dogs can die within a few hours if not treated with this ailment. Bloat is a condition where the stomach twists and fills with gas. The stomach is swollen and the gas can cause breathing problems because it puts pressure on the diaphragm. If you suspect that your dog has bloat, he should be rushed to the vet as soon as possible.

Nobody wants their dog to be sick and lethargic, after all they are our best friend’s. Some ways to check the status of your dog’s health -

Breath:

Check his breath, as a bad breath, just like as with a human being, can be a sign of illness. It can also be indicative of dental problems, digestive or kidney problems.

Skin and coat:

Spread his fur and check that the skin is a healthy color – pink, grey or black. Make sure there is no crusting or itching with red, inflamed areas. Make sure the coat is thick and lustrous – not falling out and thinning.

Paws and Nails:

Make sure the nails aren’t split, flaking and broken and that the paws aren’t cut so that the dog is constantly licking them.

Super thirsty:

Every dog drinks a lot of water after hectic exercise, but if your dog suddenly becomes very thirsty more than usual, it could be indicating a medical problem, and you will need to discuss it with your vet.

Prepare for your Pet:

Before you bring your pet home, dog-proof your house. It won’t be fair to leave tempting, chewy things lying around and expect your pet to not be interested in them. Also, keep dangerous chemicals out of reach of your pet.

Prepare for your pet beforehand and have feeding- and water bowls ready as well as a nice basket or some other sleeping equipment available for him.

Feeding:

If you’re bringing an adult rescue dog home, try to feed him the same kind of food he was already eating, as too many changes can upset him. When he settles down, you can move over to other food. Keeping his food consistent can avoid digestive problems.

If you opt to feed him one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure its the best quality as some of them are bad, filled with things such as colorants, preservatives and fillers. Try and give him some homemade food which you can add into the dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots all boiled slowly together will delight your pet. Chop it all up and your pet will look so forward to this. Dogs thrive on simple, consistent meals like this. Provide water at all times.

Exercise:

The amount of exercise any dog needs is dependent on age, size and energy levels. Because the Slovensky Hruborsty Stavac is an energetic breed, he will need a good dose of exercise. If you have a puppy, avoid strenuous exercise as this can damage the soft, developing bones and joints. As well as walks and ball games, mental stimulation is also important for this dog. Consider buying some puzzle toys or feeders for your pet.

Fleas:

Check for fleas and ticks while you brush him.

Immunization:

Keep up to date with all your dog’s immunizations and get your pet to the vet as soon as he is sick. There are some illnesses such as bloat which can claim your pet’s life in just a few hours if not attended to.