Transylvanian Hound, Short
COUNTRY: Hungary
HEIGHT: 18-22 inches
COAT: Short and coarse
COLOR: Red and tan (with a brown nose); small amounts of white acceptable
OTHER NAMES: Erdelyi Kopo, Short Hungarian Hound
GROUP: Hound
Transylvanian Hound, Tall
COUNTRY: Hungary
WEIGHT: 66-77 pounds
HEIGHT: 22-26 inches
COAT: Short and coarse
COLOR: Black and tan
OTHER NAMES: Erdelyi Kopo, Tall Hungarian Hound
GROUP: Hound
When the Magyars invaded the Carpathian Mountains of eastern Hungary in the ninth century, they brought hounds with them. Crossbred with native or Polish dogs, the Transylvanian basis was formed. The Carpathians are heavily forested, so thick that by the time a young hunter on foot walked through the woods, he would be an old man. Therefore, the dogs of the area were strong, bred to go after game following mounted riders.
Heavy winter snows and sultry summers required hounds that were particularly adapted to extremes of climate. In the past, they were used extensively by Hungarian kings and princes for hunting wolf and bear in the mountains. In more modern times, the long-legged variety was used on stag, lynx and boar, while the shorter legged version kept pace with the fox and hare.
The Transylvanian is known for its keen sense of direction and orientation to the environment, vital in mountainous and forested cover. This is a dog without exaggeration, moderate in bone and head with tight skin and a medium flat ear. Prized as an obedient, trainable, good-natured hound who is an easy keeper, he was never known outside Hungary. Recent reports indicate that the Transylvanian dogs face extinction, with their numbers dangerously low.