The Hygen Hound is a scenthound from Norway. He got his name from his original creator Hans Hygen, who developed this breed in the 19th century. This hunting breed is known for his incredible stamina and ability to track and retrieve game in harsh arctic terrain. Prey usually consisted of rabbit, fox and hare. A medium sized hound, he is always either brown or red in color – often in combination with white (although not always), or black/tan (almost always with white markings). The coat is very short although dense enough to provide adequate protection in very cold weather.
Hygens are quite rare, and although they are recognized by the UKC in the United States are seldom seen here. One reason for their rarity is their extremely high energy, making them difficult to own for the majority of 9-5er’s. While they can be calm in the home, an extensive amount of exercise is necessary to get them to this state! Furthermore this is not a dog for a novice owner, and temperamentally can be very different than other scenthounds. While still possessing traits that make scenthound ownership difficult in general – such as needing to be kept on leash at all times due to high prey drive, they also have other difficult mannerisms. Many are possessive of resources and territorial of their properties – traits that should only be handled by knowledgeable dog owners.
Hygen Hounds are loyal and affectionate towards their families although act very differently towards strangers. At best, they are aloof. At worst they can be outright aggressive, particularly if they weren’t very well socialized as puppies. While these traits can make them good guard dogs it also means that they could be a liability in the wrong hands, and even having guests over might be a bit worrisome. They also aren’t known for getting along with small pets, sometimes including cats, because of their high prey drives.
Hygens like to learn and can be easy to train, but tend to do better when learning from a trusted owner because of their “stranger danger” tendencies. That said, because of this quirk their ability to be trained is especially dependent on the owner’s training skills. A complete novice will have a much harder time than an owner experienced with obedience training, as will a wishy-washy owner as Hygens won’t work for those they don’t respect. These hounds are intelligent but temperamental in this way. Establish a strict routine early on, and incorporate plenty of socialization opportunities in addition to obedience lessons.
The Hygen Hound typically lives between 11-12 years. Generally, the most common health issue in the breed is ear infections. Their floppy, hanging ears need regular cleaning and inspection as this type of ear is more likely to trap dirt and debris leading to issues. Other less-common health problems include a more-than-average tendency to bloat, some hip dysplasia and Von Willebrand’s Disease (a bleeding disorder). It’s very important to only buy puppies from responsible breeders who screen their dogs and keep track of health issues, making it more likely for their puppies to be clear of such issues.
While some Hygens are kept purely as companions it is very beneficial for them to be given opportunities to hunt! This helps give them mental stimulation as well as provides them with appropriate exercise, cutting down on potential behavior problems such as destructiveness, excessive barking and digging. As might be surmised, this breed should never be kept in an apartment setting. Hunting with the dog also enriches the bond between owner and hound! The Hygen requires lots of human interaction and attention every day. Hunting also will require little to no training on the part of the owner as these dogs have an innate instinct to track and go after prey.
Photo By Bjørn Konestabo