Slovensky Kopov puppies

About the Slovensky Kopov

The Slovensky Kopov, also called the Slovakian Hound, is a black and tan scenthound bred in the Carpathians to track wild boar over rough ground, often working alone for hours. It is a lightly built hound of 41 to 51 cm and 15 to 20 kg, with a dense short coat, a lean head and a deep carrying voice. Kopovs are determined rather than pushy: brave with game, steady with people, and permanently interested in whatever their nose has just found.

This is a hunting hound first. It wants long walks, tracking games and scent work, plus a garden fence it cannot get under. Grooming is minimal, a brush through weekly and more when the undercoat drops. Kopovs learn quickly but will ignore a recall while following a line, so a lead or a long line is sensible anywhere outside enclosed ground. They suit active rural households. The common error is treating one as an easy short haired pet and never giving the nose a job.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Slovensky Kopov puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed and scored for
• Ear infections in the long drop ears, caught by weekly cleaning and checks
• Dental disease, kept down by regular tooth brushing and veterinary checks

From Slovensky Kopov breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/slovensky-kopov/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Slovensky Kopov puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Slovensky Kopov.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 15 to 20 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other medium breeds

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