The history of the emergence of the Bosnian coarse-haired hound, the appearance of the dog, behavior and health, advice on care, training, interesting facts. Buying a puppy. These dogs have the best hunting qualities. They are hard workers. They will never give up their positions just like that and will fight to the last. This is a small breed, although it has international recognition. She is little known outside the homeland for her working qualities. She is only known for her coat. There was a period when these dogs were threatened with complete extinction, but thanks to enthusiasts and true lovers of the breed, they managed to avoid this deplorable event. At the moment, these are excellent working pets that are in demand among hunters in their homeland.
The history of the emergence of the Bosnian rough-haired hound
This variety of hounds developed already at the end of the 19th century in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They say that their external data have remained practically unchanged over the entire history of their existence. The first written records of such dogs were made in 1905. It was then that a captain of the Austro-Hungarian army named Franz Lasko wrote a book - "Hunting in Bosnia and Herzegovina". And so, in this work, the Bosnian barracks were described in detail.
Where did this name come from? "Barak", a modified form of the word "marriage". Wire-haired hounds were called marriages in Europe. There is one more suggestion. It is believed that the word "barak" could come from the Turkish language and mean something like - a grain of beans. Their slightly speckled coat is somewhat reminiscent of a bean color. The Bosnian coarse-haired hound got its original name in 1966.
In its present form, this canine species was developed in the 1890s, by crossing the local hounds with the Italian varieties of hounds. She is exclusive to the region due to her tall stature, as most hound species have lower legs. The Bosnian Coarse Hound is the only internationally recognized species in the state of Bosnia. Her working qualities of a talented hunter are preserved and developed. Internationally, the breed is best known for its rough, tousled coat.
The Bosnian War greatly influenced this type. In such a difficult time, people did not care about these dogs. The breed was on the verge of complete extinction, and only thanks to enthusiasts and fanatical fans, these dogs did not disappear completely. At the present time, the number of such dogs is still very small. Only amateur hunters are engaged in their breeding.
The Bosnian barrack, like any hound, should work well on the blood trail. For this, tests are carried out. A previously obtained hare is taken and with its help a trail is laid. After a while the dog starts up on it. The score depends on how accurately the dog follows the marks. In some countries, there is a requirement that when finding prey, the pet must bring it to the owner. A dog looking for game must move pretty quickly.
Hunters especially appreciate dogs that work with the upper sense. They only occasionally lower their heads to the ground to check the scent. The closer the object of pursuit, the faster the dog moves. At such moments, the excitement overwhelms not only the four-legged hunter, but also his master.
Before going on a real hunt, the Bosnian hound must be tested. A wild pig lives in a forest aviary 100x100 meters. The task of the dog: in seven minutes to find a wild pig, bark and hold for at least ten minutes, while constantly giving voice. After a certain interval of time, the owner comes up to pick up the dog.
The dog should be constantly heard, if even for two minutes it calms down, it will be removed from the test. From the outside it may seem that the dog and the boar are playing some kind of fun game. One allegedly catches up, and the other allegedly runs away and is afraid. But this is not at all the case - both keep their ears open. Danger lurks behind the seeming playfulness. The boar can turn around at any moment and attack the pursuer. Experienced dogs, knowing this, keep their distance, and the "youth" learn from their mistakes. Even despite the sound of the final horn, they chase the pig sparingly. Losing caution, many young hounds, at best, end up on the vet's desk.
The barracks are always tested strictly one at a time. Even in pairs, testing is never done because the behavior of a particular dog needs to be assessed. The work of the Bosnian barracks is hard enough. They do not have the right to grab the beast they are chasing, but can only bark, stop it and then call the owner.
The difficulty of the dog's work lies in the fact that the boar has a very pungent specific smell, and since the territory for testing is not large, everything is saturated with this smell. Therefore, the dog needs time to clearly identify its source, that is, where the beast is.
In Bosnia, they hunt foxes and hares, but their favorite baiting is still a wild boar. It's not about the amount of meat. In confrontation with this beast, you can truly test the character and working qualities of the pet.
Description of the dog's appearance
The Bosnian barrack is a hardy, courageous dog with a strong, slightly stretched build, coarse coat that protects from cold and thorny vegetation. Used in hunting to chase game with the help of a voice. They are persistent and fearless in their work. They are very hardy and strong. Their movements are sweeping and energetic. Height at the withers from 47 cm to 56 cm. Weight ranges from 17 to 25 kg.
- Headusually seen in profile, with a well-defined occipital protuberance. The frontal part is slightly convex. The superciliary arches are pronounced. The frontal furrow is moderately developed to the touch. The total length of the head is approximately 20 to 25 cm.
- Muzzle in the shape of a rectangle, covered with a thick mustache and beard. Strong, long, deep, broad at the base. Seen from above, the head is of medium width and tapers towards the nose. The bridge of the nose is straight. The stop is moderate, on a gentle slope. The muzzle is slightly longer than the skull. The lips are firm and slightly thick. The teeth are large and strong. The jaws have a scissor bite and a full dentition.
- Nose large, with well-developed nostrils, black or dark brown.
- Eyes the Bosnian hound is large, oval, of medium rise. They are light chestnut or dark brown. The expression in the eyes is intelligent and playful.
- Ears set moderately high, of medium length, drooping, triangular in shape. They are wide at the base, then become thinner and rounded at the ends. The cartilage is quite thick.
- Neck in conjunction with the head, when viewed from the side shows a pronounced border. Medium in size, width increases in depth, towards the chest. The withers are moderately pronounced. Well muscled, with tight elastic skin, covered with thick hair.
- Frame strong, stretched format. The body is ten percent longer than its height. Has a gentle slope towards the croup. The ribcage is of medium width, oval in shape, the ribs are slightly rounded, reaching approximately to the elbows in depth. The belly is slightly tucked up. The lumbar region is strong and short. The back is broad and muscular. The croup is slightly sloping and wide (especially in females).
- Tail good fit, thicker at the base, thinner towards the end. In length reaches the hock joint or slightly more. The dog usually carries the tail slightly curved upwards. Densely covered with wool.
- Front limbs - vertical, straight and parallel when viewed from different sides. Long and muscular. The shoulders are long, slanting and muscular. The elbows are quite close to the body. The scapular-humeral angle should be 90 degrees. The forearms are upright, straight, muscular and strong. The pastern joints are not pronounced, short, vertical or slightly sloping, forming an angle of up to 10 degrees to the vertical. Hindquarters - Erect and parallel to each other when viewed from the side and rear. The thighs are of medium length, broad and well muscled. The lower legs are long, oblique and muscular. The hock joint is strong and well positioned. The hocks are vertical, short and strong.
- Paws feline, with well-closed and arched toes. The nails are dense, well pigmented. The pads are elastic. The hind feet are slightly smaller than the front ones.
- Coat the barrack is quite long (about 10 cm). The outer hair of a coarse structure, hard when felt, slightly tousled in appearance. The undercoat is thick and has protective properties. The muzzle is covered with hair in the form of a thick mustache and beard.
- Color may be uneven with sparse patches of light or dark hair. The main colors are: red, wheat yellow, yellowish red, earthy gray, black and yellow. There are individuals with two or three colors. These dogs have white markings on the chest, head, ends of the limbs and on the tip of the tail.
Features of the behavior of the Bosnian coarse-wooled barrack
These dogs were bred exclusively as working dogs, and have a temperament almost the same as that of most other varieties of hounds. In fact, it is difficult for the breed to retain the qualities of a companion dog, because it is difficult to form such behavior in dogs intended for hunting. However, in a different setting, they show themselves loyal and friendly.
Bosnian hounds are energetic, courageous dogs with a powerful head, strong voice and excellent hunting qualities. These dogs are able to work under any conditions regardless of weather and terrain. They will conduct the search confidently, and serve their master with all devotion.
The behavior of the barracks is wonderful. They are kind to other animals, provided that they were kept with them from an early age. This can be explained by the fact that this dog was bred to hunt animals. They play with great pleasure and pleasure with children of different age categories.
Bosnian Hound Health
Bosnian coarse-haired hounds are tough animals. In general, they have good immunity. Typically, their lifespan is 12 to 15 years. Of course, they have some genetically transmitted health problems. Diseases of the bone apparatus: dysplasia of the hip joint, dislocation of the patella (pantella). In order to identify these unpleasant problems in time at an early stage, you need to do an X-ray examination of your pet. Then, the treatment is carried out in therapeutic ways. Advanced stages are treated only with surgery. Diseases of the eyes: entropy (volvulus of the eyelid), progressive retinal atrophy, cataract. Many dogs eventually lose their sight and become blind. These eye conditions are most often also treated with surgery.
Bosnian Hound Care Tips
- Wool these pets, in fact, almost does not require qualified care because, to a greater extent, it is a working dog than a show one. Their rough, shaggy fur coat needs to be brushed regularly, at least two to three times each week. This will help the dog to get rid of dead hair faster. The procedure is carried out using a slicker or furminator. They bathe them as they become dirty. It is better to choose a PH balance shampoo. This will save the barracks from unnecessary skin problems. After all, if the cosmetics are not correctly selected, it may be: allergies, eczema or, at best, dandruff. It is imperative that before the "bath" all washing concentrates must be diluted with water and only then applied to the pet's fur.
- Ears regularly inspected and cleaned every two weeks.
- Eyes do not need special care.
- Teeth it is better to teach barracks to clean from puppyhood. If it is not possible to do this, then feed him dry food, his hard granules remove plaque.
- Claws usually in active dogs they grind themselves.
- Feeding working, energetic canines should be strengthened and complete so that the pet feels in better shape and performs well on the hunt. The easiest way is to buy ready-made premium or super premium food for active dogs. They include all the necessary supplements that are in the right balance and allow all systems in the animal's body to work perfectly.
- Walking Bosnian barracks must be lengthy. This dog is capable of working long hours at a very hard pace and is not suitable for normal walking. This breed has a very significant exercise requirement. Bosnian hounds should get a minimum of forty-five minutes, up to an hour of vigorous physical activity every day. Ideally, of course, there should be much more.
If pets are not loaded with exercise and walking, then destructive behavioral problems develop, such as: excessive barking, hyperactivity and severe excitability. Bosnian hounds were bred to chase game with their voice, so their "vocal" talent is high. If you do not need this, then with the help of special activities you can minimize this tendency. As a result, the loud and physically active breed adapts better to life in the countryside than in the city.
Bosnian Coarse Hound Training
Dog training should be started at an early age, so that he becomes a good hunter and family companion, the barrack should be brought up with great care and special training. Since they have the instinct of a hound dog, the owner needs to be patient while training his pet. To do this, you need to purposefully and methodically deal with the dog. A brave, patient owner with a firm, but calm, balanced character, can succeed and raise a worthy four-legged hunter and friend.
Interesting facts about the breed
In Bosnia, becoming a hunter is not easy. A person must take special courses that last six months, and then pass a rather difficult exam. The commission comes from the capital, from the Ministry of Forestry. The future hunter should study and know perfectly such a subject as - "Hunting cynology".
Hunters are gambling guys, and with their hounds they are ready to hunt down game for hours. And it is not known who it gives more pleasure - people or dogs. The Bosnian hounds are led on leashes to the starting point of the hunt. Where the lead-in trail was found, the dogs are released in search. The task of the barracks is to find the wild boar's bed by smell and drive it out to the hunters.
The arrows are located at a distance of several hundred meters from each other. The vegetation in the foothills is very dense. A wild boar can walk very close next to a person, and he will not even notice him. It happens that the beast deceives the beater by starting to walk in circles. A young barrack is not capable of unwinding a complex ball of traces wound by a seasoned cleaver. We must rely on the dog's sense of smell, the observation of hunters and ingenuity.
The hard wool of the barracks has good protective properties against thorny bushes and conifers, which these areas are full of, and this explains the appearance of such dogs.
Buying a Bosnian Coarse Hound puppy
If you are an avid hunter and want to buy yourself such a dog, you will have to go to Bosnia and look for breeders of the breed there. Therefore, it is impossible to name the price for this rare hound. You can clarify all the parameters of the puppy and its cost only at the place of arrival.
What the Bosnian Coarse Hound looks like, see this video:
