Estonian Hound

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, harsh and glossy

A sturdy, clean-lined hound of medium size with strong bone and firm muscle. The body is noticeably longer than the dog is tall, and the legs make up roughly half of the height at the shoulder. The coat is short, even and a little rough to the touch with a shine to it, over a moderate undercoat. Ears hang down, the eyes are dark brown and the skin sits close without folds.23

Personality what they are like

A steady, good-natured hound that is keen and tireless on a scent trail but calm and affectionate at home. It enjoys being around people, learns readily and usually mixes well with other dogs; cats can be fine with time to adjust. Outdoors it is a dedicated tracker with a clear, musical hunting voice, and indoors it is happy to settle down for some company.2354

Daily activity how busy a day looks

An energetic working hound that needs at least an hour of exercise a day. Long walks, hikes and nose-based activities such as scent tracking suit it well, and it can also enjoy dog sports like agility.4

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Low-maintenance short coat that sheds a moderate amount. A weekly brush, the odd bath, regular ear checks and cleaning, nail trims and daily tooth brushing keep it in good shape.4

Home where they are happiest

Best suited to an active home with access to outdoor space and regular time in the countryside or woods. The breed was made for Estonian hunting conditions and works outdoors in all weathers, so it is happy on long outings in cool or wet weather.564

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Growing youngsters need generous, nutritious meals, while adults eat noticeably less. Feed a quality diet sized to the dog's age and activity level.6

Company who they like around

Enjoys human attention and being part of family life, and is generally gentle and playful with children. Usually gets on well with other dogs; cats may need a gradual introduction.34

The story where it all began

In 1947 the Soviet authorities decided that every republic of the union should have its own hunting dog breed, and Estonia set about creating one. Breeders crossed local hunting hounds with a mix of other breeds, including English Beagles, Swiss hounds of the Lucerne and Bernese type, Russian-Polish hounds, Foxhounds and Dachshunds. The aim was a smaller, slower hound with shorter legs that would suit Estonian terrain and pursue hare and fox steadily without driving game too hard, unlike the quicker Finnish Hound many local hunters had been using. Thousands of hounds were assessed and registered during the building phase, and after a commission reviewed dogs at shows and hunting trials the breed and its standard were confirmed in 1954. After Estonia regained independence, the hound was named the country's national dog. The Estonian Kennel Union approved a new standard in 1998 and started the long road to international recognition, which ended with provisional FCI acceptance in September 2019.621345

Recognised by the official bits

FCI

Standard No. 366, Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.2 (Medium-sized hounds); recognised on a provisional basis 4 Sep 2019; English standard published 26 Sep 2019; subject to a working trial1

Estonian Kennel Union (Eesti Kennelliit)

Approved the breed standard in 1998 and began the process towards FCI recognition6

USSR Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Protection and Game Management Directorate

Breed officially confirmed by decree no. 161 in 1954 after dogs were assessed at shows and hunting trials6