Russian Hound – devoted friend and "right hand" of any gambling hunter. Energetic, vociferous and fantastically sensitive, this industrious earner will try to do everything so that your forays into the forest bring not only moral satisfaction, but also quite real trophies.
When exactly and how the hounds got to Russia is not exactly clear, although researchers tend to believe that the Tatar-Mongols brought the breed with them. There is a second version, according to which the Russian hound – the result of mating cops with aboriginal huskies. One way or another, domestic breeders began to fully hunt with the ancestors of today's Russian hounds in the 12th century, and in the middle of the 19th century, dogs were already demonstrated with might and main at exhibitions, where they appeared under the name "Eastern Hound". By the beginning of the 20th century, the phenotype of the breed was almost formed, but a civil war intervened in the course of breeding research, after which work to restore the number of animals and improve their hunting characteristics had to be started anew. In addition, the case was greatly hindered by the excessive diversity of domestic livestock: in tsarist Russia there was a huge number of lines of hounds, which were partially preserved after the revolution. The year 1939 became a fateful year for dogs, when an official ban was introduced on breeding any type of hounds, except for the Russian and Anglo-Russian (later renamed the Russian pinto). As for testing the working qualities of the breed, the first tests to identify the hunting capabilities of Russian hounds were compiled in 1901. True, it was only possible to check in this way the ability of a dog to work in a pack. It became possible to select hounds according to individual indicators only after 1925, when a special set of tasks was developed to evaluate the initiative and hunting talents of each individual individual.
Russian hounds – large breed with a muscular build and massive teeth. They are often compared to wolves. During the hunt, their high front is clearly visible, and the dog's head is held down, like representatives of forest predators. The head and muzzle of the Eastern hounds are slightly elongated. The hanging ears are triangular in shape. Nose – dark and big. The eyes of the representatives of the breed acquire a dark brown tint. Limbs and tail of Russian hounds – medium length, and paws – oval shape. Dogs are covered with double medium-short hair. But throughout the body the cover is heterogeneous. As for the color, a typical representative of the breed has a crimson or gray-black hue with pale tan marks.
The breed of Russian hounds is recognized as one of the most hard-working. They are endowed with a calm and persistent character. They combine a great storehouse of energy and a sharp mind. Two personalities seem to live in one dog: an effective tracker and a devoted pet. In work, Russian hounds are reckless and will not miss a single hunt. At home, representatives of the breed can become loving nannies for children. It is difficult to piss them off with childish pranks and restless games. But with other pets – cats and small animals – things are not so friendly. This is not strange: hunting dogs see them as prey. Despite the size of the breed and muscular build, Russian hounds are not very suitable for watchdog activities. But they know how to make sounds in the direction of villains and strangers loudly. The breed is more designed for efficient hunting. Therefore, an avid hunter with a strong character is considered the ideal owner for Russian hounds. If the dogs feel weak, they will immediately begin to dominate. Representatives of the breed are easy to train, and the earlier – all the better. Regularity and individual approach are important here.
The good news is that Russian hounds do not require careful care. At the same time, the breed is quite clean. The only required item – combing wool. During the molting period, it is recommended to include this procedure in the daily routine along with long walks in nature. It is best to bathe your dog no more than three times a year. In winter, you can rub the wool with snow, and in the summer you can let it swim in a lake or river. It is important not to forget about ear care. After walking, do not forget to inspect the paws of the animal for the presence of splinters. And regularly remove dust and mucous accumulations from the eyes.
A dog's diseases are more dependent on its pedigree. The current crossbreeding experiments are bad for the health of the animals. Among the common ailments of Russian hounds: degenerative myelopathy – problems with the spinal cord, myositis – muscle inflammation, conjunctivitis – develops due to eye sensitivity, hip dysplasia – not fully developed joints, which negatively affects the musculoskeletal system.
