Transylvanian Hound puppies

About the Transylvanian Hound

The Transylvanian Hound is a Hungarian scenthound, used for centuries by nobility to hunt bear, boar and lynx in the forests and mountains of the Carpathian basin. It came close to disappearing in the twentieth century and was rebuilt from a small number of surviving dogs. The short black and tan coat is weatherproof over a lean, leggy frame. Character is what you would expect of a working hound: even tempered and affectionate at home, rated top of the scale with children and other dogs, and single minded once a scent is picked up.

This is a demanding dog to exercise, wanting at least an hour of walking or running every day. The nose overrides recall, so lead walks and securely enclosed spaces are the rule rather than open ground. Grooming is a weekly brush with a bristle brush and little else, plus regular nail trimming. It has a hound voice and uses it, which makes it awkward for flats and close neighbours. New owners usually underestimate the prey drive, let the dog off lead too early, and spend the afternoon looking for it.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Transylvanian Hound 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 large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire it out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. 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, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
• Ear infections in the long drop ears, found on regular ear checks
• Inherited eye disease, picked up by an ophthalmologist evaluation

From Transylvanian Hound breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/transylvanian-hound/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Transylvanian Hound puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Transylvanian Hound.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 24.9 kg or more adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other large breeds

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