Breeds / Medium
Slovensky Kopov puppies
Determined, brave and independent on a scent line, the Slovensky Kopov is a Carpathian boar hound that stays calm and steady with their own people.
The facts
- Size class Medium
- Country of origin Slovakia
- Adult weight 15 to 20 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 33 to 44 lb
- Adult height 41 to 51 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short rough
- Shedding Moderate
- Typical lifespan 12 to 13 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Usually good
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. This 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. They want long walks, tracking games and scent work, plus a garden fence they 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. That short coat may be easy to care for, but the nose still needs 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 they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their 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
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.
Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 20 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other medium breeds
American Cocker Spaniel
American Pit Bull Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier
American Water Spaniel
Aussiedoodle
Australian Cattle Dog
More on the Slovensky Kopov
Previous: Slovensky Cuvac · Next: Small Munsterlander
Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Slovensky Kopov breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/slovensky-kopov/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.