Latvian Hound

		Latvian Hound
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Latvian
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

The Latvian Hound is one of the most beautiful dogs, in the opinion of many. Bred in Latvia to be a hunting companion and partner, Latvian Hounds are intelligent, tenacious and also very affectionate. They want to do their best to please their owners. In appearance, they are a striking black and brown, with a short coat, and have very gentle faces with expressive eyes. They have the same brown patches above the eyes as the Rottweiller and silky, floppy ears. The muzzle is long and they have a "smile" of brown fur surrounding the mouth. These dogs can appear very dignified or like they're ready to be the life of the party, depending on the situation they find themselves in.

To meet breed standards, this dog must be in the height ranges of 43 to 50 centimeters for males or 40 to 46 centimeters for females. Measurements should be taken from the bottom of the foot to the withers. Brown markings on the coat should be on the chest, eyes, under the chin and on the legs. Nowhere else is acceptable. The coat should be short and glossy, with a healthy appearance, free from shaggy patches or dull patches. Eyes should be light and dark in color.

These dogs are bred to be highly intelligent, but also obedient. To be ideal for hunting, they must have these qualities. Otherwise, they will simply run away and do whatever they think is best, rather than what their human hunting partner asks of them. They are fairly easy to train with natural hunting instincts. With a firm, consistent owner, they will learn quickly, but it's important to remember that these dogs are rather sensitive and will remember a hard hand and not respond well.

Even when the Latvian Hound is acquired as a working dog, the owner should be aware that these dogs crave love and attention. They will not be happy if human interaction is limited because they are extremely social. They are loyal and will protect their owner without fear if it becomes necessary, but they are not generally aggressive dogs. They do well with other animals and with children, but should be socialized young to avoid nervousness or territorial behavior in males. This breed can be a bit pernicious when they're young and get into trouble, but only out of curiosity and fun. It's not their intention to be "bad", but they need consistent rules and expectations, as well as activities so they don't seek their own remedy for boredom. All in all, the Latvian Hound is a beautiful dog that makes a wonderful pet or working dog as long as the owner is willing to give them the time and attention they need to thrive.