Sulimov vs Serbian Mountain Hound - Breed Comparison

Another name for the Sulimov dog is Shalaika.

This Russian jackal-dog-hybrid is thought to have developed from golden jackals and Lapponian Herders. In fact the dog was developed by a certain Klim Sulimov to be a robust security- and sniffer dog at Aeroflot, a Russian airline.

Jackals were used because it is believed that they have a better sense of smell than any domesticated dog there is. The Jackal can also perceive things at a distance. Later on, other dogs were also bred into the line, making it an intelligent dog with an excellent sense of smell.

There aren't many of these dogs available.

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.

Th Sulimov looks like, and also has characteristics of jackals and huskies. The body is large, the ears are triangular and erect, the eyes bright, alert and enquiring and the muzzle is long.

The legs of the dog are slim but strong, like the Jackal and the tail is long and bushy. The coat is fairly long, smooth and thick and can be in a range of colors such as tan, fawn, grey, white and black.

The Sulimov is a medium sized dog and stands at between 40 and 50cm in height and weighs between 12 to 15kg.

Temperament:

This hybrid dog is brave, confident, wily, robust, loving, affectionate and loyal. They are intelligent too and you won’t have any trouble training him.

The truth is, there isn’t much information on the personality of this breed, but they are eager to please, are full of energy and can be cheerful and feisty, even in extreme temperatures.

They’ve been bred for work and aren’t a typical family pet. Because of their wild side, they aren’t recommended for the first time dog owner or for a family pet where there are children.

If you were to keep one, it would be far better suited to life on a farm where it could have a role to play. Life in the city for this active hybrid is out of the question.

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 Sulimov makes an excellent working dog and in fact he loves to be busy. They've got an unusual feature - their tails, which are normally curled up and over the back like a husky, hang down limply when tired. Their handler know when these dogs are ready to call it a day.

They are essentially working dogs, being loyal and devoted to their handlers, but wouldn't be considered as an ideal family 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 is ongoing debate about the health of hybrid dogs against that of purebred dogs. Hybrids inherit genetic dispositions that their parents would have, including certain heath issues.

Parasites:

Parasites are a huge cause of disease in dogs. Apart from ticks and fleas, internal parasites live inside the gastrointestinal tract and can be things like hookworms, tapewarms and roundwarms among others.

Parasites are usually transmitted when the dog ingests parasite eggs in contaminated water, food, feces or soil.

It’s important to get your dog treated as these parasites can cause weight loss, swollen abdomen, malnutrition, diarrhea, vomiting and anemia. Apart from this, they can affect people too. Fortunately these parasites are treatable and easy to prevent.

Other common dog ailments to look out for include bloat, obesity, cancer and hip dysplasia.

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.

▪ Diet:

This is a medium sized dog so you can buy a high quality dry kibble for him manufactured for medium sized energetic dogs.

Try and avoid the low quality dog foods which come with lots of ingredients that are plain ordinary bad for your dog, and can jeopardize his health.

Try and feed him some home-made food too – boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some nutritious vegetables such as spinach,sweet potatoes and carrots. Chop it all up and add some of it to the dry kibble twice a week.

You can also provide him with some raw fish and raw red meat occasionally as this keeps the skin and coat healthy. Make sure he always has fresh, cool water available.

▪ General

Provide your Sulimov with a nice, warm, dry place to sleep.

Brush him twice a week to keep the fair shiny and free of loose hair.

Keep his vaccines up to date. Get him to the vet if he is sick.

Have him trained and socialized. As it is, for the job he does as a security dog, he is trained and socialized.

Provide him with lots of exercise – walks, ball games, exercises that stimulate mind and body.