The Posavac Hound is a scenthound from Croatia, and is an ancient breed whose origins are not completely known. There is speculation that he is represented in ancient texts (or at least resembles dogs from ancient texts) from as far back as the late 15th century. Official documentation started in 1929, and he was recognized by the FCI in 1955. In the United States he is recognized by the UKC but is almost never seen and is considered a rare breed. Created to hunt both hare and fox, he is said to have great stamina in the field as well as possess an excellent nose for tracking.
Posavacs have great hunting drives and are confident and lively – they need plenty of exercise to be happy. Without it, they can become nervous or overly excitable which makes them difficult to live with. When properly exercised they are docile and easy to keep in the home. This means they’re problematic for apartment life unless the owner is very dedicated to putting in lots of time every day with higher impact fitness routines such as biking. Remember – this is a high energy dog originally used for hunting all day! He is not a couch potato and will probably prove frustrating for low-energy owners.
The Posavac Hound can be obedient when trained as he is naturally agreeable. He is intelligent and enjoys learning. It behooves an owner to give him a job which will therefore help with mental stimulation – tasks such as search and rescue, tracking or nosework are right up his alley since he enjoys using his nose! As far as non-nose related jobs, agility and rally are both fun dog sports that he can enjoy as well.
The Posavac can make a good watchdog since he enjoys using his voice, but is also affectionate to his family and enjoys playing with children. The standard states he should never be aggressive nor nervous. This “melodic” hound, like many scenthounds, will bay/howl under many different circumstances – one of which is when strangers come to the door. While he probably won’t be any good as a guard dog, his vocal nature can be a deterrent to many would-be intruders.
Posavac Hounds are fairly healthy and not prone to any particular health issues although are more likely then other breeds to be hit by a car due to wandering off while following their noses. Make sure to keep this high-drive sniffer on a leash when off the property! When properly taken care of, the average life expectancy is 12-13 years. Given a large fenced yard supplemented with daily exercise, he will thrive both mentally as well as physically.
The Posavac is a loyal and devoted companion that forms very strong bonds with those they love. In fact, they are more prone to separation anxiety than some other breeds because of their strong will to stay near their “favorite person”. A savvy owner can minimize this problem with early training and behavior work, although this is probably not the best breed for people who spend all day at work.
Posavac Hounds are medium in size and any shade of red or wheaten, most often with white markings on the head, neck, chest, legs and tail. The coat is smooth yet dense and requires very minimal grooming – a weekly brushing and a bath when needed will keep him shiny and clean. Ears are thin and hang beside the head; they will require weekly cleaning. The tail is long and carried in a saber fashion, often with a brush of longer hair at the end. The white teeth that meet in a scissors bite will require regular brushing. Finally, make sure to keep the nails trimmed and that’s about it as far as grooming!
