The Istrian Coarse-Haired Hound was developed in the mid 19th century to hunt small game in Croatia. This scenthound, characterized by his wiry coat, is still mainly used as a hunting dog and not often kept strictly as a pet. While many breeders focus primarily on hunting ability and not on conformation, the non-hypoallergenic hair is always double-coated, rough-textured and white/orange in color. The breed is usually medium in size, with some members on the smaller side. This is usually a healthy breed with individuals often living 13-15 years – when vet bills occur they usually revolve around field injuries or ear infections.
Istrian Coarse-Haireds are known for being difficult to train because of their stubborn natures. They love to hunt and will work in the field all day with their masters but don’t always take quickly to formal obedience training. This said, without enough to occupy their time they can become destructive. Obedience is therefore a very good mental outlet for them that, while challenging, will exercise the mind. Getting the dog into a dog sport such as scentwork, hunting trials, competitive obedience and/or agility would be an even better project! These dogs are intelligent… but use their intelligence in their own way. Stay firm, yet fair and keep consistent in your training. They need strong leadership and won’t always work for wishy-washy trainers.
The ICHH is a rare breed and not readily known outside Croatia (or Slovenia – which also claims to be the country of origin). Because of their particular needs, many breeders will strongly favor a puppy-buyer who will take the dog hunting, which has also kept the numbers low in the United States. Add in the high prey drive and tendency to chase anything that moves (up to and including the family cat), and one can see that they only belong in specific homes.
The Istrian Coarse-Haired Hound is a loyal dog who forms a tight bond with those he loves, but he will take any opportunity he can to wander off and explore his surroundings. Make sure to have a securely fenced yard before bringing a member of this breed home! Also be sure to provide plenty of daily exercise to keep this active dog busy! He needs lots of physical stimulation with his family on a regular basis. His exercise needs and active lifestyle make him a poor choice for a first-time dog owner and he does better with those already experienced with scenthounds and/or hunting dogs. A home on a large property is a plus for this energetic and high-stamina fellow. Some ICHH’s suffer from separation anxiety when away from their owners for too long, particularly if they aren’t given enough things to do throughout the day, which means they do need homes in which the owner will be heavily involved.
Istrian Coarse-Haireds can be suspicious and aloof towards strangers, and many don’t like meeting new people (fun fact – they make good watchdogs but are not guard dogs). Also keep in mind that they tend to bond more strongly to one person in the family, which may or may be frustrating to those who are “left out”. They save their highest devotion for their favorite person. Finally, not all ICHH’s get along well with kids so this might not be the best pet for a young family. On the plus side, most do get along well with other dogs. They do best with single, active owners who plan to hunt and do activities with the dog in between exercise sessions. A ICHH that is fulfilled in this way will be calm and easy in the home, with a respectful and steady temperament.
