The Latvian Hound is a small hunting dog. The breed was bred for a collective hunt. For almost fifty years, these dogs remain faithful helpers for people with a gun. They are not afraid of meeting with wild boars and are not thrilled by 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 does not know how to make friends with other dogs and other pets.
The Latvian hound needs physical activity, therefore, as a rule, they will not start them in the apartment. Caring for a dog is quite simple. Representatives of this breed have fairly good health and easily get used to any living conditions. Hunters give birth to such pets as a companion and assistant.
History of breed origin
The Latvian hound was bred by selection in the 17th century. Her ancestors are the best representatives of the Courland hound, who met all the requirements of a hunt. Dogs were selected for mating according to operating parameters, not too wondering about the issue of thoroughbred. For selection, the dog’s growth was chosen as the main indicator, so a new breed was formed, among other things, on the basis of mestizos.
The gene pool was composed 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. Dogs are kept, as before, by hunters as an assistant in collective hunting.
Appearance and description of the Latvian hound breed of dogs
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. Ears are long, oval, set low and tight to the head. Strong white teeth hide dry lips. The nose is black, the neck is short, the chest is wide, oval. The body ends with a saber-shaped long tail, which tapers toward the tip. The coat of the dog is short, about 3 cm, stiff, even and shiny, not requiring frequent cleaning. There is a weak undercoat. The color of the coat is black with tan. Piebald color is an undesirable sign.
The eyes are mostly brown or dark brown with a round cut of the eyelids. A different shade or other incision is not acceptable for this breed of dog. The average life expectancy is 10-15 years.
Health and Disease
Representatives of the Latvian hound of dogs are in good health. A balanced disposition, an intense lifestyle and a positive attitude help them practically not to get sick. Since dogs have poorly developed undercoats, there are certain requirements for keeping animals in cold weather on the street. But at the same time, a very mobile pet will suffer in a limited space of a person’s housing. Gloomy mood and lack of exercise have not added health to anyone else.
Temperament and character of the Latvian hound
The dog is very devoted to its owner, obeys him and is an excellent assistant and ally to him. Well amenable to training. But sometimes there are outbreaks of aggression, so it is not recommended to leave it with young children. You should also not be left alone with other animals. Despite the fact that this animal is deprived of the excitement of pursuit, it rushes without embarrassment to prey.
This breed needs walking. How to raise a dog? She is very good at training. A characteristic feature of the breed is a special diligence, which distinguishes them from other dogs. They, as a rule, are obedient and execute each command of the owner. A pet should be trained often, even in an enclosure. Active forest walks are also needed.
Maintenance and care
It may seem at first glance that this breed is very convenient for an apartment, since it has small dimensions and stiff short hair. But the Latvian hound is most in need of physical activity. A large spacious enclosure is only the basic way to keep it. Keeping the dog closed is not worth it. At least once a month, the animal must be taken out of town for hunting.
As for the care of the shiny hair 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 consists only in frequent training, walking and engaging in hunting, for which this breed was bred.
Nutrition
The breed is not demanding on food, even in non-working conditions. But despite this, the dog should eat rationally, since it will lose the luster of its coat, and its health will deteriorate. Moreover, it is very important to follow the feeding schedule. Usually, dog breeders offer food after performing active exercises, since training or working on a full stomach can harm the dog.