Istrian Gonic

Other names/Nicknames:
  • Yugoslavian Gonic
Country/Date of origin:
  • Yugoslavia
  • 19th century
Height:
  • 18 to 23 inches
Weight:
  • 33 to 55 pounds
  • About 44 being the average
Personality:
  • Very active and alert.
  • Calm in nature, friendly, and affectionate.
  • Tends to roam.
  • Great stamina.
History:

There are many fine trailing hounds from the Istrian region of the former Yugoslavia.  They are referred to as Gonic (hound).  Legs, which are longer than are usual in a Foxhound-type dog, help the Gonic traverse the rugged mountain slopes of its homeland.  The Gonic is used alone or in a pack to trail hare, fox, and roebuck.  The Istrian Gonic comes in two coat varieties.  The rough-haired is called the Ostrodiaki.  The smooth-coated is called the Kratkodiaki.  The smooth-coated dog is about a half-inch smaller than the rough-haired variety.

Body Type:
  • Resembles a slim, long-legged Foxhound.
  • Medium-length tail should reach just to the hocks.  It is not altered.
  • Hanging ears should be long enough to reach the nose, although some variation is allowed.
Coat:
  • Double coat.  The undercoat is soft and woolly.  The outercoat is two- to four-inches long, hard, and not glossy.
  • The coat is rough and ruffled, but without waves or curls.
  • In the smooth-coated variety, the coat is very short, dense, very fine, and glossy.
  • Color is always snow white with small patches of bright orange scattered about the head and body.
  • A star of white on the forehead is highly desirable.
  • Grooming is moderate.
Health and Wellness:
  • None are presently known.
What you should know:
  • A puppy will be difficult to obtain in this breed due to the strife in the former Yugoslavia.
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