Data on the appearance of the Cretan hound, appearance parameters, behavior and health, care criteria: walking, diet, training features. Puppy price. Similar hunting dogs are found in almost all Mediterranean countries: in Italy, Malta, the Canary Islands. But, nevertheless, the Cretan hound is a special dog. Once upon a time, people noticed an interesting feature of the dogs with which they hunted. During the pursuit of the animal, these dogs began to bark loudly from excitement. The person liked this method of notification. Despite the fact that such animals have been known for almost eight thousand years, their character still remains wild.
Cretan Hound breed appearance data
The population of Crete calls these dogs "lagonikos", that is - hunters. But, with the official name, confusion often turns out. Cynologists will not agree in any way as to which group these dogs should be assigned to. Despite the fact that they are still usually called hounds, according to external data, these are typical eastern greyhounds.
Until recently, there was little information about the Cretan hounds outside Crete. Despite the fact that these dogs are ancient, professionals began to deal with them less than thirty years ago. The club of this breed was founded quite recently. It was created to preserve these valuable dogs.
Greeks to this day love hunting and enjoy socializing and meeting in nature. Cretan greyhounds are their faithful friends and assistants. Thanks to the efforts of the president and members of the club, cynologists from other countries are becoming more and more interested in these hounds. But those who want to pick up the puppy will be disappointed. In order to preserve the livestock, the export of breed representatives from the island is prohibited.
Here in Crete there are two varieties of native hunting dogs. One is larger, which is closer to a greyhound in type, and the other is smaller, which is a transitional variant between a hound and a greyhound.
With these dogs in Crete, only rabbits were hunted, of which there have always been a great many. Apart from long-eared rodents, there have never been any other hunting objects here. Therefore, this type of entertainment was very popular with almost all the men of the island, regardless of class.
For Crete, this is not just a dog, it is a friend who has accompanied a person since the time of the Minoan civilization. Her image was present in folklore, songs and theatrical performances. These hounds are not only ideal for hunting, they are part of the life, history and culture of the Greeks - a living historical monument with body and soul. In Crete, only rabbits are hunted. The hunting season starts in September and ends in January. There are no hard restrictions on the territory. You can hunt anywhere. The most important thing is that herds of cattle do not graze nearby, otherwise everything is permissible. In the rest of the period, it is only allowed to train these hounds, that is, to train. The area where you can conduct classes is fenced and not too large.
The Cretan hounds have perfectly adapted to the difficult hunting conditions in the local mountains. They easily overcome various obstacles. The soil on the slopes is clay and slippery, besides there are stones and thorny bushes grow everywhere. Almost all plants in this area have a thorn or thorn. There are a lot of snakes and wild bees in Crete, the sting of which is very painful.
Cretan four-legged hunters have learned to use all the senses very well. Dogs work in a very interesting way. As a rule, hunters value the so-called upper flair, when the dog walks with its head held high and unravels the tracks without lowering it to the ground. Here, a completely different manner of searching. Local dogs crouch very low to the ground and try to unravel the tangle of smells. Because there are traces of later or earlier ones, and the dogs are obliged to understand such intricacies perfectly.
As a rule, when we say the word exterior, we mean some kind of external abstract beauty. In fact, this term is an applied thing, there can be no nuances and trifles here. An elongated, beautiful, beautiful muzzle and streamlined silhouettes of the whole body are aerodynamics. Erect ears pick up any rustle. Elongated toes with springy pads soften jumps on sharp, rocky terrain. The long tail helps to make sharp maneuvers and turns at high speed. Therefore, in Russia greyhounds call the tail - the rule.
Cretan Hound Appearance Options
The Cretan Hound is a slender dog with a physique somewhere in the middle between a hound and a greyhound. The dog is slightly longer than the height at the withers, of medium size. It has light legs (paws are more oval than round) and a strong loin, which is great for quickly developing high speed and moving over rough, rocky terrain. They have dry, dense muscles and a harmoniously developed chest.
The Cretan Hound uses excellent eyesight and scent to hunt. She smells in the air and on the ground. When the dog has sensed prey, before the chase begins, it becomes tense, its tail makes circular movements. Meek, affectionate, aristocratic, but impetuous in pursuit of the beast. The dog behaves with restraint and delicacy, and comes to life in the presence of prey. A bit aloof with strangers, which is naturally inquisitive and tolerant, courageous and balanced.
Excellent sense of smell, speed, agility and endurance make the Cretan hounds exceptional hare hunters, which is their main function. They work both in a pack and separately. They can be used not only as hunting dogs, but also as human companions.
Based on the established criteria, the height at the withers can vary in males from 52 cm to 60 cm and bitches from 50 cm to 58 cm with a variation of 1–2 cm. The weight of breed specimens in males from 16 kg to 22 kg and females from 14 kg to 16 kg. Bitches have a physiologically longer body due to puppy reproduction. The Cretan Hound moves elegantly, actively and gently. Movement is light and agile. Front and hind feet push off the ground easily. There should be a good balance between speed and stamina, coupled with great agility. Flabby, awkward, and heavy individuals are disqualified.
- Head wedge-shaped, small, elongated, narrowed on the sides and dry. The skull expands moderately at the top. The forehead is moderately rounded at the back of the head. Furrow on the forehead, not manifested. The occipital protuberance is not pronounced. The cheekbones are flat and well defined. The brows are not prominent.
- Muzzle - Elongated, long and narrow, tapering towards the nose, parallel to the skull. The bridge of the nose is slightly arched. The stop is not pronounced, smoothly flowing. The lips are dry and dense, can be colored black or brown (depending on the color of the "coat"). The flews are perfectly matched, they go slightly into the lower jaw. The jaws are long and strong. The canines are powerful, the teeth are large, white, connected in a scissor bite.
- Nose harmonious size, rounded. The lobe is pigmented depending on the color of the dog: black, brown, light brown or flesh-colored. May have a thickened pigment towards the edge.
- Eyes Cretan hound of medium placement, on the front line, rounded almond-shaped and of medium size. The color of the cornea of the eye is from dark brown to light brown. The eyelids are tight, dark. The look is lively, attentive and good-natured.
- Ears set high, triangular, erect. They are medium, elastic-elastic cartilage, moderately sharp at the ends, very mobile. The ears are folded back when running, like a greyhound during a chase. When the dog is alert, they stand and face forward.
- Neck - strong, muscular, oval, more than average, set high, widening towards the shoulders. The withers are moderate. There is no suspension.
- Frame - stretched, strong, muscular, streamlined. The ribcage is quite spacious, but not too wide, not very round, not much reaching the elbows. The ribs are curved, convex. The back is straight, long, well muscled, slightly rounded at the back. The loin is slender, strong and well tucked up, in the region of the pelvic bones, slightly arched. The croup is strong, rather muscular, moderately voluminous. The belly line is perfectly matched.
- Tail low, long, flexible. It thickens at the base and gradually decreases at the end of growth, curving upward, forming a sickle-shaped ring with a strong or weak bend. On the underside, it is covered with longer and thicker hair. When running, the tail is very mobile, the dog carries it up, slightly above the back. At rest, it hangs down, and its end is slightly bent up.
Extremities:
- Front - long, with slender bones and lean muscles. Parallel when viewed from all sides. The set is neither narrow nor wide. The blades are placed obliquely, strongly pressed against the body, elongated. The elbows are directed backward. The shoulders are well connected to the shoulder blades, set obliquely. The pasterns are slightly vertical.
- Rear - parallel to each other, with strong bones, slightly laid back. The thighs are well developed and well muscled. The joints are perfectly arched. Metatarsus almost vertical. The angles of the joints are harmonious.
- Paws small, compact, oval. The toes are tightly connected, long. The nails are firm. The pads are resilient, springy.
- Coat The Cretan Hound is short in length of about 1.5 cm, with a difference of plus or minus 0.5 cm, on the lower neck and on the back of the thigh. The outer hair is straight, bright, clean, tight to the skin. The tail is covered with longer hair along the lower edge. On the back of the thighs, the hair is also slightly longer. There is no undercoat at all.
- Leather - dense, resilient and elastic, fits well the whole body of the animal. There should be no pendants or folds.
- Color - quite varied is possible. The color of the breed can range from pure white, cream, sand, fawn, gray to black or brindle. All colors are monochromatic, two-colored or three-colored.
Cretan Hound behavior
These dogs do not treat strangers with tenderness and kindness. Dogs do not show aggression, but it is hard to wait for a demonstration of kind and tender feelings. For Cretan hounds, this is natural. Dogs behave admirably with children. They are very gentle and affectionate.
These pets live well next to other pets, but they will mercilessly chase the neighboring cats. On the hunt, these hounds are vociferous, but in the house they rarely bark. But, they will let you know if they notice strangers approaching their territory. On farm plots, dogs will catch mice and rats.
Possessing well-developed data, they are versatile in work. Cretan hounds can be used for catching and carrying game birds. But, such use will be bad for these dogs. Pets will become more lazy in hunting, and their constitution needs a long run and overcome long distances.
Cretan Hound Health
Cretan hounds are in excellent health. Experts have only recently begun to conduct genetic research on the breed. The results of the research delighted the dog handlers. Professionals have not identified any congenital abnormalities in these pets - they are all healthy. People have been closely examining several generations of Cretan hounds. As for life expectancy, these dogs live on average fourteen to fifteen years, but there were specimens that lived up to twenty.
Cretan Hound Care Criteria, Maintenance Rules
- Wool short and does not require any pretentious attention. Pets do not need a haircut, they are periodically washed and brushed regularly. The hairline is combed out once a week, and more often during molting. For the procedure, rubber gloves or brushes are used. Dogs are not bathed often. Manipulation is carried out twice a month or if the pet is very dirty. Shampoos are bought by hair type - for short-haired dogs. Before washing, dilute the concentrate with water to form a thick foam. This is necessary so as not to dry out the skin of the dog. After soaping, the foam must be thoroughly washed off with plenty of water. The animal dries in a warm room without drafts.
- Teeth Cretan hounds need to be cleaned to keep them healthy. Train your dog to do this from childhood. Let the dog gnaw on something safe.
- Ears must be cleaned when sulfur accumulates there. To do this, use softening lotions.
- Eyes - wipe and check after hunting activities. Inspect them for mechanical injury or foreign particles. If there is dirt, use a sedative to dry your eyes. For more serious problems, contact your veterinarian.
- Claws - cut with clippers as soon as they grow back. Otherwise, it will affect the pet's gait. Also, do not forget to cut the claws on the dewclaws.
- Feeding should depend on the life of the pet. Outside of the hunting season, the Cretan Pointer moves less and therefore uses fewer calories. During this period, her nutrition should be less enhanced, otherwise the animal may recover unnecessarily. Being overweight creates problems with the stomach, heart and joints. Of course, it is best to feed the doggie with quality food. All tastes and aromas are successfully selected in it, which is very popular with dogs. By choosing the right ready-made concentrate, you will always have confidence that your pet will eat according to its size, shape and degree of activity.
- Walking Cretan hounds take a long time. In general, this dog is intended for hunting, so it is better not to keep it in an urban environment. But, if the pet still lives in an apartment, then he must constantly receive the necessary physical exercises. You need to run a lot with him or take him out to the docking stations. Do not forget that there are many dangers in the city and such active and fast dogs are always led on a leash. This will save the animal from many problems and you will be calmer.
Features of training the Cretan hound and interesting facts
Cretan hounds are smart dogs, but training is necessary from an early age. All classes are conducted on mutual understanding of the animal and the owner. Any correctly executed command is encouraged with affection and something tasty.
Cretan dogs, like hounds, can bark loudly, and their search is more like a greyhound. Therefore, dog handlers still cannot decide how to call them greyhounds or hounds. Greyhounds rely more on sight, hounds on sense of smell.
Almost everywhere hunters are quite active and expressive. In Crete, everything happens in a completely different way, calmly, quietly and thoughtfully. It is somewhat reminiscent of a chess game. Only the figures in it are the hunter, his dog and rabbit. Either they will catch the eared one or he will lead the hunters around. But sometimes the event ceases to be languid. At such moments, both people and dogs are transformed. The hunter's instinct, ancient as the world, breaks out.
The behavior of the Cretan hare is different from that of the rabbit in the rest of Greece and Europe. The animal does not leave the place where it is hiding. Even if a hunter passes by or the dog does not feel it, the eared one will not move from its familiar place. Therefore, the dog moves slowly in order to control everything that happens around.
Purchasing a Cretan Hound puppy
Cretan hound puppies are few and far between in Crete and are never sold to save the livestock. They are completely free of charge distributed among the members of the club.
For more on Cretan hounds, see the following video:
