Latvian hound dog breed

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Latvian Hound is a small hunting dog. The breed was bred for collective hunting. For almost fifty years now, these dogs have been faithful helpers for people with a gun. They are not afraid of meeting with wild boars and do not get excited from the chase. The Latvian Hound is always balanced and obedient. But you need to understand that this is a working breed, not created for home entertainment. She behaves well with the owners, but she does not know how to be friends with other dogs and other pets.

Latvian hounds need physical activity, so they usually do not get them in an apartment. Dog care is quite simple. Representatives of this breed have fairly good he alth and easily get used to any living conditions. Hunters keep these pets as companions and helpers.

History of the origin of the breed

Latvianhound by selection in the 17th century. Her ancestors are the best representatives of the Courland hound, who met all the requirements of battue hunting. Dogs were selected for mating according to their working parameters, without thinking too much about purebredness. For selection, the height of the dog was chosen as the main indicator, so the new breed was formed, among other things, on the basis of mestizos.

The gene pool consisted mainly of hunting dogs from various farms and regions of Latvia, whose pedigree was often unknown. But, despite this, the new hound inherited the desired physical qualities and a balanced, obedient temperament. Keep dogs, as before, hunters as an assistant in a collective hunt.

Appearance and description of the Latvian hound dog breed

These dogs are distinguished by a strong physique and average height, reaching 41-48 cm. The muscles are well developed, the skin is elastic, not creating wrinkles on the neck and other places. The head is wedge-shaped with a smooth transition to the muzzle. The ears are long, oval, set low and close to the head. Strong white teeth hide dry lips. The nose is black, the neck is short, the chest is wide, oval in shape. The body is completed by a saber-shaped long tail, which tapers towards the tip. The dog's coat is short, about 3 cm, hard, even and shiny, which does not require frequent brushing. There is a weak undercoat. Fur color - black with tan. A piebald color is an undesirable sign.

The eyes are predominantly brown or dark brown with a round slit. Another shadeor other cut is unacceptable for this breed of dog. Average life expectancy is 10-15 years.

He alth and disease

Representatives of the Latvian hound breed of dogs are distinguished by good he alth. A balanced disposition, an intense lifestyle and a positive attitude help them to practically not get sick. Since dogs have a poorly developed undercoat, there are certain requirements for keeping animals outside in the cold season. But at the same time, a very mobile pet will suffer in the limited space of a person’s housing. A gloomy mood and physical inactivity have not yet added he alth to anyone.

Temperament and character of the Latvian Hound

The dog is very devoted to his master, obeys him and is his great helper and companion. Good for training. But sometimes there are outbreaks of aggression, so it is not recommended to leave it with small children. Also, do not leave alone with other animals. Despite the fact that this animal is devoid of the excitement of pursuit, it rushes without embarrassment to prey.

This breed needs walking. How to train a dog? She is very trainable. A characteristic feature of the breed is a special diligence, which distinguishes them from other dogs. They are usually obedient and follow every command of the owner. A pet needs to be trained often, even in an aviary. Active forest walks are also needed.

Maintenance and Care

It may seem at first glance that this breed is very convenient forapartments, because it is small and has a hard, short coat. But the Latvian Hound most of all needs physical activity. A large spacious aviary is only a basic way to keep it. It is not necessary to keep the dog closed all the time. At least once a month, the animal must be taken out for hunting outside the city.

As for the care of the shiny coat of the Latvian Hound, it is quite simple. In general, this dog is quite unpretentious, can adapt well to various conditions. The difficulty of keeping this breed lies only in frequent training, walking and attraction to the hunt, for which this breed was bred.

Food

The breed is not picky about food even in a non-working environment. But despite this, the dog must eat rationally, as it will lose the luster of its coat, and he alth will deteriorate. And it is very important to follow the feeding schedule. It is common for dog breeders to offer food after active exercise, as training or working on a full stomach can be harmful to the dog.