Istrian Shorthaired Hound

Also called Istrian Short-haired Hound, Istarski kratkodlaki gonič

Recognised breedFCI group 6Short profile

From Croatia (Istria, with the Croatian Littoral and Dalmatia)1 2

At a glance the quick version

Height, male49 to 53 cm1 2

Height, female47 to 51 cm1 2

Sizemedium

lively yet gentle and obedient

great hunting stamina

strong, melodious voice on the trail

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, hard, dense coat

A tight, glossy coat only 1-2 cm long covers a slim, elegant, slightly rectangular body with no heaviness. It moves in a smooth, balanced way.1 2

Colourswhite with orange markings1 2

Personality what they are like

Easy-going, gentle and willing at home, neither nervous nor sharp, but switches to keen, energetic mode when hunting.1 2

Daily activity how busy a day looks

An active hunting hound bred to work hare, fox and boar over long distances; it needs generous daily exercise and outlets for its nose.1 2

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The short, hard coat is very easy care; an occasional brush and wipe-down keeps it neat.1

Home where they are happiest

Suits a rural or active home with room to move and secure fencing, as scent can lead it astray.1

Company who they like around

Gentle and obedient with its people; as a traditional pack hound it generally gets on with other dogs.1

The story where it all began

One of the oldest Balkan hound types, it descends from the ancient East Adriatic white hound with markings. A 14th-century carved column in a Dubrovnik monastery and 15th-century paintings show its forerunners, and a bishop described the type in 1719. A stud book followed in 1924 and FCI recognition in 1949.1 2

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
Hounds of this type appear on a capital column carved around 1327-1348 in a Dubrovnik monastery.1
2
It is often called the oldest hound breed of the Balkans.2
3
Its coat is only about 1-2 cm long.1
4
It is still used in its homeland for hunting fox and hare.2

Recognised by the official bits

FCI: Standard No. 151, Group 6 (Scenthounds), Section 1.2 (Medium-sized scenthounds), with working trial; FCI recognised 1949, first standard 2 Apr 1955, current standard published 3 Nov 20141
UKC: Recognised by the United Kennel Club2

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Istrian Shorthaired Hound. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Brushingevery week
Bathevery 8 weeks
Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year

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Istrian Coarse-haired Hound

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.

FCI Standard No. 151 Istrian Short-haired Hound fci.beused for recognition, height, coat, colours, temperament, history
Wikipedia: Istrian Shorthaired Hound en.wikipedia.orgused for weight, UKC recognition, history dates, fun facts

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.