Russian piebald hound breed characteristics. Russian piebald hound: description of the breed, photo

The Russian piebald hound is a dog that has excellent scent, high intelligence and extraordinary endurance. Thanks to these qualities, she has become an excellent assistant for hunting lovers. If you look from the historical side, the breed can be called young, but in just a quarter of a century it managed to spread throughout the world and gain popularity.

The Russian Piebald Hound is a dog that has excellent scent, high intelligence and extraordinary endurance.

Origin of the breed

The Russian piebald hound breed was officially recognized in the 19th century, but hunting dogs with similar external characteristics were bred in Russia long before this event. The earlier formation of the breed was prevented by uncontrolled interbreeding, due to which dogs with the same phenotype began to change external characteristics and working qualities are lost.

When the commonality of the breed line was lost, and different hound dogs began to appear in each region, hunters had no choice but to purchase hunting dogs abroad, and most often these were English Foxhounds.

At that time, the British breed was stable, uniform and gradually acquired superiority in hunting. But domestic representatives of Russian hounds could not boast of excellent working qualities - they lacked anger towards game and the ability to express their voice loudly.

The Russian piebald hound breed was officially recognized in the 19th century.

Naturally, Russian breeders needed to develop their own breed, and for this, the Russian hound dog had to be bred with other, more successful representatives - foxhounds, French hounds, while not forgetting about the mandatory adaptation to the terrain.

The work was carried out in several breeding plants, and all breeds participating in this process are not known for certain. Work was stopped during Civil War, and the dogs practically disappeared, but the breeders did not give up hope, and as a result, a breed appeared - the Anglo-Russian hound.

It was officially registered in 1925, and in 1940 there were already 5 breeding plants working with it in the country. Second world war could not but affect the hound breed, but, not surprisingly, its qualities improved. However, at the expense of quantity.

Anglo-Russian dogs could not fully meet the expectations of the breeders, and selection work continued, but packs of leading Russian breeders - Moscow, Kyiv and Tula - were already used. Thanks to the well-coordinated work of breeders, perseverance and consistency, a breed has emerged that meets the requirements - the Russian piebald hound.

Features of the Russian Piebald Hound breed (video)

Appearance

Despite the fact that representatives of various breeds participated in the breeding of piebald hounds, there is still a noticeable similarity in appearance with foxhounds. According to the standard description, this is a balanced, intelligent dog, of medium size, with a strong build. Regarding general characteristics exterior, then it is typical for hounds.

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It's noticeable in dogs gender difference individuals - males are larger, they have a wide skull and bones. Body weight in standard description not limited, but usually varies from 25 to 30 kg. The height of males varies from 58 to 68 cm, females - from 55 to 65 cm.

In official documents, the Russian piebald hound is described as follows:

1. Head with a flat forehead, it is covered with “dry” skin, which emphasizes the rectilinear shape of the skull. The occipital protuberance is present, but it is moderately developed. The muzzle is wedge-shaped. The lips are not droopy, with dry skin, well tightened, the lower ones are more fleshy. The mouth is equipped with strong teeth covered with snow-white enamel, forming a scissor bite. The muzzle ends in a large lobe, pigmented black. The eyes are oval-shaped, large, widely spaced, with an expressive and intelligent look. The ears are triangular, with rounded tips, of medium size, drooping to the cheeks. The formation of skin folds is allowed.
2. Torso. Like most hunting dogs, Russian hounds have a rectangular body, the bones and muscle corset are well developed. The neck has an oval silhouette with massive withers, which is especially pronounced in males. The sternum is deep, with wide, springy ribs. The back is short, with a rounded lumbar girdle, the croup is powerful and sloping. The groin area is moderately tucked.
3. Limbs. Harmonious, with well-developed shoulders, set parallel to each other, with pronounced muscles and a wide stance.
4. Hind limbs somewhat drawn back over the croup, the bones are strong and pronounced, with elongated hips and steep metatarsals.
5. Tail. Saber-shaped, not docked, powerful, wide at the base, and tapering towards the end. In a calm state it is located low, while moving it rises vertically.

Coat and color

The Russian hound dog has short hair, thick skin, without wrinkles or folds. As an exception, we can note the groin line - a fold appears here when the dog moves. The length of the guard hair varies - in the area of ​​the muzzle and paws it is shortened, on the body its length is 4-5 cm, in the area of ​​​​the hips and withers the standard allows for a slightly elongated coat. On the tail, the fur lies in a dense layer, which makes it thicker and more massive.

Dogs have an undercoat that is well developed, but not too dense. It is able to repel dirt and moisture. The presence of feathering is considered a breed fault. There are representatives of 3 colors:

• with gray-piebald wool;
• crimson pinto;
• black and piebald.

The paws and abdominal area are painted white, markings are reddish, gray or reddish in the area of ​​the croup, shoulders, and skull. The standard does not limit the size, coverage area and number of spots. The presence of dark, non-intense specks and dark arrows in the temporal region is allowed.

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Gallery: Russian piebald hound (40 photos)

Hunter or pet

Most representatives of hunting breeds have an unrestrained temperament, but not the Russian Pied Hound. These dogs are quite restrained and act deliberately, which is an unusual manifestation against the backdrop of a keen sense of smell and anger towards wild animals. But such flexibility is not an accident, but the result of long-term selection work.

Today, hunting is more of a hobby than a mandatory factor for survival, so hounds are increasingly acting as pets. But such content implies mandatory compensation for the loads and needs of hunting activities.

Methods of raising a pet directly depend on the role prepared for it. If the dog will participate in the hunt, then it is important to choose a baby from working parents. However, although he will have high abilities at the genetic level, specialized training will still be required.

If you plan to get excellent test results from your pet, then you should abandon the idea of ​​purchasing a show-class puppy or from a random breeder based on an advertisement. No championship titles of parents received at exhibitions for external characteristics are a confirmation that the dog will become excellent hunter. The most important here are the certificates obtained through performance tests.

Moreover, continuity is an important aspect. The best hunters are at least 3 generations old. Naturally, only experienced breeders can provide such information; they also guarantee that the offspring have working skills. As for puppies who are destined to play the role of pets, in this case everything is simpler: you don’t have to chase the exterior when choosing a pet from the pet class.

Character Traits of Russian Hounds

Representatives of this breed differ high activity and playfulness, but control will also be required, since excessive mobility in puppyhood can negatively affect the pet’s health. It is important to let your puppy rest after running or swimming. You need to pay attention to the gait: as soon as the dog becomes quiet, it means he needs a break.

By purchasing a dog of this breed, the family acquires a faithful and devoted pet, and these qualities will be extended to all members. Hounds are not developed security qualities, so the dog will not guard the local area or house. But if the owners are in danger, he will not stand aside and will definitely intervene.

As for contact or attitude towards other pets, everything is purely individual. Most hounds, like greyhounds, can form good relationships with other animals if they grow up together. But this applies to other dogs and even cats, but with rodents, ferrets, parrots and other small animals the situation is more complicated - they are often hunted.

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When choosing a hound as a pet, it is important to understand that it has hunting instincts in its blood, and they will certainly manifest themselves during walks. It is not recommended to suppress them completely, but rather to turn them in the right direction. Try to keep your pet on a leash in places where its activity is inappropriate, and in a forest or park area, let it off the leash so that the dog can run around to its fullest for butterflies, birds, etc. But this is only possible if the dog has completed a training course and learned the basics of obedience.

How to train

It is necessary to raise a puppy from the moment he crosses the threshold of the house. This applies to the standard commands “Ugh!”, “Place”, “Sit” and others. But training begins much later - from 10-11 months, when the dog is formed, its bone and muscle corset is strengthened. To train a Russian hound, it is necessary to master certain commands:

• the pet should start eating only after receiving permission from the owner;
• the owner must give food to the dog, while clearly pronouncing the command “Discover!”;
• the dog must learn to follow the hunter, ideally without being on a leash;
• it is important to cultivate an indifferent attitude towards pets;
• Having heard the hunting horn, the dog must hurry to leave the forest area.

The ideal period for catching up is late spring, when the forest is covered in foliage, but the trails are soft. You shouldn’t rush into training, because if you do this when the dog has not yet had time to physically develop, then vocal cords and other parts of the body may be damaged. It is important that by this time the dog has already mastered the complex of basic commands well.

Russian piebald hounds have excellent hunting abilities, but the owner needs help in developing them. The owner should make sure that the pet participates in trips as often as possible and preferably to various natural areas - deciduous and coniferous forests, swampy areas, fields, clearings, etc.

In addition, experienced hunters know that catching hares (white hare and hare) is somewhat different, so it is important to take the dog to a place where both types of game live. The first hunting lessons should not be long - 3-4 hours is enough. The ideal mentor for young animals is the mother of the offspring, but another experienced dog can also act in this capacity. This is not a mandatory but desirable condition of training.

Hunting with a Russian pinto hound

Hunting enthusiasts have quite natural doubts: is a dog needed in this matter? After all, most people don’t manage to go hunting very often, but feeding, walking and other responsibilities are constant. Besides, training a dog is also not an easy task. Moreover, today there are many gadgets capable of detecting a hunting object. But experts say: a dog is needed for hunting. And they highlight important reasons such a solution:

1. A dog is better than gadgets and hunters at being able to go after game, since modern technologies do not detect small game every time. And the hounds will not only find her, but will definitely drive her out.
2. The dogs provide time for preparation and aiming, and the hare will not be able to escape from under his feet.
3. A trained dog will bring shot prey, which is very convenient during winter hunting and other difficulties in movement. And it’s almost impossible to lose game with such a partner.

Whatever one may say, no gadgets can replace a faithful comrade. And the hunt will be as productive as possible and will bring more pleasure than an ordinary “walk” with a gun in search of game. But also hunting with hunting dogs, including hounds, has its drawbacks:

1. A hunter who does not have the necessary experience will not be able to properly train a dog, which means that the dog will hinder more than help in the process.
2. Not every animal is recommended to go with hounds; it is best to take them to hunt wolves, foxes, hares, wild boars, and raccoon dogs.
3. When training, you need to show tolerance and patience.

There are a lot of nuances in learning to hunt; a serious approach is required. But the efforts made will not be in vain, and joint hunting will bring pleasure to both the owner and the pet, and will strengthen the bond between them based on a common hobby.

Known to everyone who has read the books of Russian classics, not missing the description of the life of landowners, the dog is - Russian piebald hound.

Animals began their official international history in the mid-19th century, and their fairly large packs were present in every noble estate no later than the end of the 17th century; in any case, the first mentions of “greyhound puppies” and the high cost of keeping kennels in written sources are precisely towards the end of the 17th century.

Until the mid-19th century, that is, until the moment of official world approval and recognition of these, confusion often arose - animals were called either, with the emphasis on the first syllable, or hounds.

This was put to an end by the British, for whom, after the end of the World War, studied in our history as the War of 1812, it became fashionable hunting with piebald hounds, brought from Russia.

And after some time, they appeared in Great Britain, the stunning external resemblance of which to pinto hound noticeable even on photo. However, in the outback, the name “greyhounds” with an emphasis on the “o” was preserved until the revolution.

Many researchers of the history of these believe that this term was not associated with greyhounds as a breed, but only denoted character, that is, “greyhound” - agile, curious, arrogant, assertive.

Philologists also agree with this interpretation; this is how this adjective is deciphered with the emphasis on the first syllable in Dahl’s dictionary.

Features and character of the piebald hound

Piebald hound – dog universal. She feels great and works great, both in a pack and alone, which is unconditional feature this particular breed.

The animal is endowed with nature's light, perky, inquisitive disposition, perseverance and rare endurance, which are combined with a balanced and non-aggressive character, easy controllability, high intelligence and rather silent behavior.

Thanks to these qualities, the animal can be not only a hunting companion, but also a wonderful pet living in a city apartment. This dog gets along well with children, can endlessly perform fetch and will easily accompany its owners even on a very long bike ride.

As for its immediate purpose - hunting, then hunting piebald hounds They can easily drive any animal, but most often they are brought in for the purpose of hunting.

During the hunt, animals demonstrate good speed, natural sensitivity, viscosity, that is, perseverance in the pursuit, preventing the loss of the pursued animal, attention and accuracy in putting under the gun, which is an important innate quality that is simply impossible to achieve through training.

Description of the piebald hound breed (standard requirements)

During the Great Patriotic War Almost all hunting farms of the USSR, with breeding animal nurseries, found themselves under occupation. Therefore, the breed had to be literally restored bit by bit, assembling, like a puzzle or mosaic, from what miraculously survived.

The basis for new breeding, or revival piebald hounds, became hunting nursery in the Tula region, however, those contained in it were somewhat different in appearance, although they had higher working qualities.

After a fairly long and very painstaking selection, during which only the best animals were carefully selected for breeding, from which, accordingly, were born pinto hound puppies with high both exterior and working qualities, a new standard for these animals was approved in 1994.

It is this document, adopted at the end of the 20th century by the All-Russian Federation of Hunting Dog Breeding, that is the only description of the requirements for the standard of these animals, and it is this document that guides judges at exhibitions and competitions, both on and outside the territory.

According to this document, if a person decides buy a pinto hound puppy, then he will buy a dog belonging to the subsection - “Group No. 6. Hounds”, with the note – “hounds on the blood trail” and with the following basic requirements for the exterior:

• General view

Strong and powerful bones, covered with tubercles of developed muscles. Fat, like protruding ribs and excessive thinness, are considered a defect. Skin with dense short hair must be smooth; folds and wrinkles are a 100% disqualification in the ring and not allowed for breeding.

• Head

Not very wide, oblong, voluminous and proportional to the body. The back of the head is rounded, with a slightly pronounced tubercle. The transition from the muzzle to the forehead is smooth, without a clear angle. The muzzle itself is rectangular in shape.

The lips are dense, taut, and the presence of jowls is considered a defect. The bite is tight and closes like a scissor. The nose is fleshy, large, black. The eyes are set quite high, slightly squinting, and brown.

Ears are triangles that fit tightly to the head and never stand up; signs of erect ears are a defect, a clear disqualification and inadmissibility to participate in breeding.

Strong, dense, with iridescent muscles, but at the same time short and round. The length of the neck should be approximately equal to the total length of the head, that is, from the nose to the occipital protuberance.

• Wool

The maximum permissible length of guard hair is from 4 to 6 cm, shorter on the head, paws and tail. The undercoat is uniform, well developed, dense.

• Color

The most advantageous are the piebald and black piebald. Any size of stains is allowed.

The height at the withers for “men” is from 57.5 to 68.5 cm, and for “ladies” - from 54 to 64 cm.

Fully proportional to the height and general muscle tone of the animal. There are no strict restrictions on this indicator.

Care and maintenance of the piebald hound

These animals do not require special care, in addition to a good, balanced diet, with an emphasis on protein content, which determines the condition of the muscles, you need to regularly brush the coat to remove dead undercoat. This can be done quite simply with the help of a special brush-mitten designed for caring for short-haired animals.

Also, physical activity is necessary, which is always warned about when sale of Russian piebald hounds all breeders. Physical activity are mandatory element keeping this breed, even if the dog is not bought for hunting, but as a family pet, or as a companion, and is planned to be kept in a city apartment.

Without “sport,” these dogs get sick, refuse to eat, and so on. However, a long walk without a leash in the evening park, combined with games, accompanying the owners on a bike ride or while jogging, will be enough for the animal.

If buy piebald hound not for hunting, but as a family dog, a number of curious moments will certainly arise in its content, about which breeders are always silent. These animals are very curious, stubborn and cunning, and at the same time they have a certain impudence and shamelessness.

This combination of natural qualities will inevitably lead to the fact that kitchen table, no matter how high it is, all the food left unattended will disappear very quickly. This is not a sign that the animal is starving, not at all, it is just the process of hunting, the desire to get it. It is impossible to stop these dogs from carrying food, but they never “beg.”

Pictured is a pinto hound puppy

The second “surprise” when kept in the city will be the “chase” for, and quite often these dogs manage to drive the cat to the owner, preventing it from reaching a tree or a hole in the basement.

It’s unrealistic to keep people from doing this or wean it off; it’s in the genes. If something like this happens, you just need to calmly wait in place until the pet returns, chasing the innocent yard dog in front of you, there is no reason to panic, the dog will not run away anywhere.

However, in urban conditions these habits can end in failure due to the abundance of cars and motorcycles. Therefore, when taking the animal for a walk, it is necessary to keep it on a leash and let it go only in places that are safe for the dog. Outside the city, it can be kept both in the house and in an enclosure with an insulated booth.

Price and reviews of the pinto hound

Sale of piebald hounds the business is not very profitable, the cost of a breeding puppy with all the documentation and necessary vaccinations ranges from 5,500 to 12,000 rubles. These figures depend, paradoxically, not on the working qualities of the parents, but on the number of their exhibition titles.

As for the reviews about these animals, all the numerous statements on hunting and amateur forums can be reduced to the following - as a working breed this breed is one of the best, but as a pet it is not so good, because it loves to “hunt” for everything that moves, even if no one has ever trained the puppy.

Approved by order of the Main Directorate for Nature Conservation, Nature Reserves, Forestry and Hunting of the USSR Ministry of Agriculture No. 19, 05/13/1981.

Accepted All-Union Canine Council of the USSR Ministry of Agriculture on December 23, 1980.

GENERAL APPEARANCE, GROWTH, TYPE OF CONSTITUTION AND BEHAVIOR

The Russian piebald hound is above average height and has a strong constitution. Height at the withers for males (males) is 58-68 cm, for females (females) 55-65 cm.

The height at the rump is 1-2 cm lower than the height of the dog at the withers or equal to it. The elongation index for survivors is about 104, for survivors - about 103-105.

The type of behavior is balanced. Secondary sexual characteristics are well expressed. A typical gait when searching for an animal is a wide trot or a slow trot (gallop); when chasing - a trot.

short-legged, long-legged (upturned legs), stretched or shortened body, excessive dryness or dampness; rudeness, anger towards people, cowardice. Height below the specified is a defect, above the specified is a disadvantage.

COLOR

The most typical is black and piebald with blush. The size of the black spots is not limited up to a saddle covering the entire body. Blush (tan) covers the head, as well as the shoulders and back, if they are not white. Small dark spots (arrows) are acceptable on the temples. The limbs and belly are always white. Acceptable colors are gray-piebald with blush, crimson-piebald and slight speckling.

Flaws: the presence of significant specks; tan marks that are too red or too light.

Vice: color in dense specks.

The presence of mouse or coffee spots, as well as the absence of rouge, puts the dog out of breed.

DOG (WOOL)

On the head, ears and legs it is short, and on the rest of the body it is longer (4-5 cm). The dog's body is somewhat elongated at the withers and at back side thighs, without forming fringes. The rut (tail) is covered almost evenly along the entire length of the straight, thick, medium length dog, which makes him look fat. By the end of the rut, the dog's coat is somewhat shorter. The undercoat is well developed.

Flaws: too long or too short, dewlap (for rutting season), underdeveloped undercoat.

Vices: Wavy or shaggy (dog), lack of undercoat.

SKIN, MUSCULAR, BONE

The skin is dense, elastic, without folds, the muscles are well developed, the bones are wide and strong.

Disadvantages or defects (depending on the severity): underdeveloped bones or muscles, folds of skin on the head and neck.

HEAD

The dry, cranial bone is oblong, rather voluminous, but not wide. The brow ridges are weakly expressed. The transition from the skull to the muzzle has a noticeable soft ledge, but without a pronounced fracture. The occipital protuberance is poorly defined, the occipital part is slightly rounded. The profile of the muzzle approaches a rectangle. The lips of the Russian piebald hound fit tightly around the muzzle without drooping. The nose is large and black.

Flaws: pronounced occipital protuberance, highly developed brow ridges, too weakly expressed transition from the skull to the muzzle, hooked nose, a significantly depressed groove in the middle of the forehead, slight cheekbones and broad forehead.

Vices: raw, heavy head, upturned muzzle (snub nose), sharp break from forehead to muzzle, partially or completely light or brown nose, strong hooked nose.

Hanging, moderately thin, not long, triangular shape, slightly rounded at the ends, fit snugly to the head, set high. Several can be collected in a fold or without it.

Flaws: too big or too small, low set.

Vices: rolled into a tube (strongly), raised on cartilage, excessively dressed with an elongated dog.

EYES

Medium size, dark brown or brown. The eyelid incision is rounded or slightly oblique. The edges of the eyelids are dark.

Flaws: light, small, with a round eyelid, sunken, with light edges of the eyelids, drooping eyelids.

Vices: heterogeneity and white eyes deprive the dog of the show rating.

TEETH AND BITE

The teeth are white, strong, large, well developed, tightly fitting one to the other, scissor bite.

Disadvantages and vices: see general.

Round, muscular, dry. Its length approaches the length of the head. The position of the neck in relation to the axis of the body forms an angle of 40-450.

Flaws: set low or too high, flat, insufficiently dressed, damp, under the chin.

BREAST

Wide, deep, with somewhat barrel-shaped ribs extending down to the elbows and below.

Flaws: narrow, barrel-shaped.

Vices: narrow, flat, underdeveloped.

STOMACH

Slightly tucked above the chest line.

Flaws: excessively tucked up (undermining), drooping (abdomen).

WITHERS

Sufficiently developed, stands out above the line of the back.

Flaws: underdeveloped.

BACK

Wide, straight, muscular.

Flaws: a bit soft.

Vices: sagging, hunchbacked.

SMALL OF THE BACK

Short, wide, convex, muscular.

Disadvantages or defects (depending on the severity): long, straight, sagging, humpbacked.

croup

Wide, slightly sloping.

Disadvantages or defects (depending on the severity): narrow, sloping.

FORE LIMBS

Straight, dry, bony and muscular. When viewed from the front, straight and parallel. The forearms are oval in section, the elbows are turned strictly back. The length of the Russian Pinto Hound's front legs is about 50% of the dog's height at the withers. The angle of the glenohumeral joint is close to 1000. The pasterns are set almost vertically.

Disadvantages or defects (depending on the severity): short legs, upturned legs, straight shoulders, crooked forearm, sloping pasterns, kozinets, turned outward or tucked elbows, markings, clubfoot.

HIND LIMB

Dry, bony and muscular. When viewed from behind, straight and parallel. The articulation angles are well defined. The hock joints are dry and well defined. Hock angle 135-1400. The metatarsus stands almost vertically.

Disadvantages or defects (depending on the severity): straight rear, saber, close hock joints, barrel-shaped posture.

PAWS

Arched, balled, oval or round in shape, with fingers tightly clenched. The claws are pointed towards the ground.

Disadvantages or defects (depending on the severity): flat, loose or too elongated (brown hair).

GON (TAIL)

Saber-shaped, thick at the base, gradually thinning towards the end. Rut length - up to the hock joint or 2-3 cm shorter. Raised steeply upward.

Flaws: elongated or excessively shortened. Uniform thickness along the entire length, slightly matted, slightly covered with dog hair or overdressed, with a slight dewlap.

Vices: curvature, severe matting, large dewlap (panicle).

VIEW. The dog is above average height, strong build. The height at the withers for dogs is 58 - 68 cm, for dogs it is 55 - 65 cm. The height at the rump is 1 - 2 cm less than the height of the dog at the withers. The elongation index for survivors is about 105, for survivors - about 107.

Height below the specified height is a defect, above the specified height within 2 cm is a defect, more than 2 cm is a defect.

Type of behavior - calm, balanced.

Typical gait: when searching for an animal - gallop and wide trot, when chasing - gallop (trailing).

General deficiencies or defects (depending on the degree of severity): short-legged, long-legged (upturned legs), elongated or shortened body, excessive dryness or dampness. Anger towards people. Cowardice.

COLOR Black, light black, crimson and underhair - grayish with tan. The tan marks are not bright - yellow or whitish. Small white markings on chest and paws are acceptable.

Disadvantages: saddle cloth with sharply defined boundaries, grayish saddle cloth with black spine, reddish tan marks, small white marks in places not specified by the standard, as well as blackness on the temples in dogs over one and a half years old.

Faults: bright red tan marks, speckling, large white marks, as well as dark spots on the forehead, ears, lips and above the eyes. Mouse or coffee coloring puts a dog outside the breed.

Dog meat (wool). It is short on the head, ears and legs, and longer on the rest of the body, especially around the neck and on the backs of the thighs. On the rut (tail) the dog is of medium length, shorter towards the end. Characterized by a thick, soft undercoat.

Faults: glossy, long, short, slightly wavy, underdeveloped undercoat.

Faults: shaggy, wavy, lack of undercoat, overgrown muzzle.

HEAD. Dry, wedge-shaped, thanks to the powerful build of the dog it gives the impression of being small. The skull is oblong, flat on top; the occipital protuberance and brow ridges are weakly expressed, the transition from the skull to the muzzle is smooth. The muzzle is elongated, wedge-shaped. The nose is wide, somewhat protruding, and black. The lips are dark, tightly fitting the jaws, without drooping or jowls.

Disadvantages: raw, disproportionately large, broad-browed, sharply prominent occipital protuberance, depressed groove in the middle of the forehead, highly developed brow ridges, convexity of the skull (front), hooked nose, significant cheekbones, square lip, slight sharpness of the muzzle.

Faults: sharp transition from forehead to muzzle, snub nose. The nose is brown, pink or light in whole or in part.

Ears. Small, hanging, moderately thin, relatively short, triangular in shape, close to the head, set slightly above the eye line.

Disadvantages: round cut, thick, rough or too thin, set too high, tight, loose fitting.

Defects: on the cartilage, in a tube, covered with long shaggy dog ​​hair, too large.

Eyes. dark brown average size, with an oblique slit of the eyelids, the edges of the eyelids are dark.

Disadvantages: rounded eyelids, light, small, sunken, with drooping eyelids.

Flaws that place dogs out of evaluation: heterogeneity, greenish and bluish (porcelain) eyes.

Teeth and bite. White, strong, large, well developed, tightly adjacent to each other. Scissor bite.

Disadvantages and vices: see general.

Skin, muscles and bones -

The skin is dense, elastic, without noticeable development of subcutaneous tissue and folds.

The muscles are dry and well developed. The bones are strong, the girth of the metacarpus is 12 - 14 cm for the vyzhlov, 10.5 - 12.5 cm for the vyzhlov.

Neck. Muscular, dry. Its length approaches the length of the head. The position of the neck in relation to the axis of the body forms an angle of about 35°.

Disadvantages: high set, elongated, insufficiently dressed, chin (sagging skin).

Breast. Wide, deep, reaching to the elbows and below.

Disadvantages: narrow, barrel-shaped, wide open.

Defects: narrow, underdeveloped.

Withers. Well developed, stands out above the line of the back.

Disadvantages: underdeveloped.

Back. Straight, wide, muscular.

Disadvantages: a bit soft, over-tracked.

Flaws: sagging.

Small of the back. Short, wide, slightly arched and muscular.

Faults or defects (depending on the severity): long, straight, hunchbacked.

Croup Wide, slightly sloping, moderately long.

Flaws or defects (depending on the severity): narrow, slanted.

Stomach. Selected.

Faults: overly tucked up (shaky) or drooping (belly).

Forelegs. Straight, dry, bony and muscular. When viewed from the front, straight and parallel. The forearms are oval in section, the elbows are turned strictly back. The length of the front legs is about 50% in relation to the height of the dog. The angle of the glenohumeral joint is 100 - 110°. The pasterns are set almost vertically.

Flaws or defects (depending on the degree of severity): straight shoulders, elbows turned outward, curved forearms, markings, clubfoot, excessively inclined pasterns, kozinets - wrists bent forward.

Hind limbs. Dry, bony and muscular. When viewed from behind - straight and parallel, from the side - with well-defined angles of articulation. The lower legs are moderately long. The hock joints are dry and well defined. The metatarsus stands almost vertical.

Faults or defects (depending on the degree of severity): weakly expressed articulation angles, close (cow) or everted hock joints. Saber.

Paws. Arched, balled, oval shaped, with fingers tightly clenched, claws pointing into the ground.

Flaws or defects (depending on the degree of severity): flat, loose, round (feline) or too elongated (brown).

Gon (tail). Thick at the base, gradually thinning towards the end, no lower than the hock joint. The short rut (not reaching the hock joint by 2 - 3 cm) is the most typical. When the dog is calm, the rut is lowered; V excited state- does not rise steeply above the line of the back.

Faults: elongated or too short, poorly covered with dog hair or overly dressed with dewlap, low or high set, twisted, matted.

Proposals for adjusting the Russian Hound standard in connection with its adoption by the FCI and comments on them (Author V.P. Sipeikin, Secretary of the RFOS Hound Commission)

Maintaining to standard

The 2002 standard states: “After the October events of 1917, hunting with hounds became the property of the broad masses of hunters.” The 1994 standard says: “After the October Revolution of 1917, hunting...” - further in the text. In the standard of the Soviet period - 1981: “After the Great October Socialist Revolution, hunting...” further in the text. These changes to standards reflect changes political views our society. I think we need to abstract ourselves as much as possible from political predilections and avoid statements of a propagandistic nature.

I propose the following wording of this point: “After 1917, hunting with hounds became the property of the broad masses of hunters.”

Section "General appearance, height, build and behavior"

1) The standard says: “Typical gait: when searching for an animal - gallop and wide trot, when chasing - gallop (swooping).” I propose to dwell on the formulation that existed before 1994: “Typical gait: when searching for an animal - a sweep (gallop) and a wide trot, when chasing - a sweep.”

Rationale: here the word “pretent” is special, reflecting the nature of the dog’s movement, the word “gallop” is explanatory by analogy with the movement of a horse. Our ancestors never spoke of the gallop of animals and dogs, and if they did, it was only in an ironic sense. Let me give you examples:

A) " Dictionary"Vladimir Dahl: Volume I. - "GALLOP m. French... horse gallop, but not at full speed; marks, hind legs. Gallop, about a horse, run at a gallop." Next - Volume II - "Bearing of an animal, wolf, elk, hunting. rush, run, run. The beast spreads in a large spread, at full speed."

b) Glebov SM. "Notes of an old hunter." “Hunting Journal” No. 10, 1876: “You should have seen, for example, what a fool the dog was, a registered English native Burgham, kauro-skewbald with tan marks. He used to constantly walk around the island, not because of his old age (he was not very old) , but rather out of laziness, sometimes it will gallop, stop, spin in one place and begin to nudge the ground with its nose, and then it will fluff up or, better said, mutter in a hoarse, absurd voice - these are all the properties of this ancestor.”

There is still a significant difference between the gallop of a horse and the gait of an animal (or dog), which is similar in formal characteristics, which is expressed in the softness of the paw, in the deflection of the lower back, in the shock-absorbing capabilities of the shoulder blades, in the peculiarities of the interaction of the paw with the ground, in the balancing action of the tail ( rut, logs, pipes). This difference was perfectly understood by the creators of the terminology - canine hunters who knew a lot about not only dogs, but also horses. So calling the move a gallop is only conditional. I am sure that in the languages ​​of such hunting powers as England and France there are similar special terms, denoting the running of the beast, they are simply unknown to our translators.

2) According to the rules of the FCI, in the breed standard, faults and defects of the exterior must be separated, thus phrases like: “Faults or defects (depending on the degree of severity)” are excluded. Deviations of articles are listed both in the “disadvantages” section and in the “defects” section with appropriate reservations regarding the severity of the deviations.

The 2002 standard says: “Disadvantages or defects (depending on the degree of severity): short-legged, long-legged (upturned legs), elongated or shortened body, excessive dryness or dampness. Malice toward people. Cowardice.”

The following formulation is proposed:

"Disadvantages: height higher than specified (up to 2 cm); slight short or long legs, overly stretched or shortened (square) format; minor deviations towards dryness or dampness, cowardice.

Defects: height below the specified and height above the specified over 2 cm, clearly expressed short legs or upturned legs; dampness, malice toward people."

3) In animal science, the “Extension Index” is usually called the “Format Index” of the animal. This term was introduced into the draft standard along with the existing one, in parentheses.

4) Malice towards people should be classified as a vice - this is innate quality. Justification - see SI book. Snegirev and V.P. Pokornyak "Book about your dog" (Barnaul, Altai book publishing house, p. 44). Let me quote from the book: “When crossing vicious dogs (vicious with agility), the vast majority of offspring (21 out of 23) had the same AOP as their parents. The offspring, one of whose parents had AOP, and the other did not have AOP, turned out to be both with and without AOP." Here AOR is the active-defensive reaction of the dog, which, by the way, is desirable for service dogs, which are discussed in the book. For hunting dogs, especially for hounds working away from their owner, anger towards people is unacceptable. Another argument for classifying dogs that are vicious towards people as vicious. Repeatedly at exhibitions I had to observe how a dog bites its own owner when trying to examine the teeth. The expert is perplexed - the bite remained unexamined, and it’s a pity to give a “fishing rod”. Work begins, which is terrible to look at, often with bloodshed. But if anger towards people is a vice, then the dog still does not deserve any other assessment.

5) I consider it appropriate to classify cowardice as a shortcoming - most often it is a cost of maintenance. Let me give an excerpt from the above-mentioned book by Snegirev: “Research by D.V. Krushinsky showed that POR, despite being determined by genotypic factors, depends to a greater extent on the conditions of the dog’s upbringing.” Here POR is the dog’s passive-defensive reaction, that is, cowardice. Further in the book, data is provided that the factors contributing to the appearance of POR in a dog are isolated from external influences conditions of detention; restriction of movement, leash; harsh behavior of the owner. When talking about cowardice as a flaw in a dog’s behavior, we should not forget that we are talking about the dog’s behavior at an exhibition. How often do you see that a dog that shows itself timid in the ring shows itself bold in the forest when working on an animal. This is fine.

6) The defects do not include the concept of deviations of the format from the standard, since in this case short legs or upturned legs will necessarily be observed.

7) For information about height. The standard says: “The height at the withers for males (males) is 58-68 cm, for females (females) 55-65 cm.” At the 112th Moscow Exhibition, measurements were taken of dogs of all breeds. The average height at the withers of the survivors was 64.5 cm, the average height of the survivors was 61.4 cm. Thus, the average height of the survivors was 1.5 cm more than the standard average height, and the average height of the survivors was 1.4 cm. All fell within the standard survivors (8 units) and 8 out of 10 survivors. Two vyzhlovs went beyond the upper limits (one by 2 cm, the other by 3 cm). Let me remind you that the above growth parameters were introduced in 1966; according to the 1951 standard, the height of vyzhlovs should have been from 57 to 65 cm, and vyzhlovs - 54 -62cm. I consider the adjustment of the height standard carried out in 1994 to be correct (the phrase was added that exceeding height by more than 2 cm is a defect).

8) For information about the height at the rump: The standard says: “The height at the rump is 1-2 cm less than the height of the dog at the withers.” All Russian hounds measured at the 112th exhibition had an excess of height at the withers relative to the height at the rump by 1-2 cm. Three hounds had an excess of 3 cm.

9) For information about the stretch index (format index). The standard says: “The elongation index for vyzhlovki is about 105, for vyzhlovki - about 107.” Measurements at the 112th Moscow exhibition give parameters - 108.31 for hatchlings and 103.5 for hatchlings. The vyzhlovs turned out to be more stretched than the vyzhlovs, but it should be the other way around. In general, this parameter varies very widely. Both experts at exhibitions and breeders do not pay enough attention to this parameter when selecting pairs for mating. The numbers given in the standard generally correctly reflect the format of the breed. I think that the incident with insufficient stretching of the catches was due to the small number of measured dogs, and, perhaps, due to the inaccuracy of measurements, first of all, of the oblique length of the body. Especially when measuring cows, which, when touching the back of the body, tighten their butt, which is due to the sniffing reflex - the “I’m not ready” gesture.

Section "Color"

1) The standard says: “Black-and-black, light-black, crimson and underhair - grayish with tan.” The RKF representative asks to clarify that in in this case is understood by the definition of "crimson".

This is how the famous modern cynologist V.G. characterizes the color of Russian hounds. Gusev, ("Hunter's Handbook", M. 1995): "The color is reddish-straw, the so-called crimson. It can be solid or with a dark saddle, sometimes with whitish tan markings on the muzzle (undercolor)." In another of his books (“Cynology” Moscow, “Aquarium”, 2005, p. 119), the same author writes: “In three-colored (tri-colored) dogs, black or gray pezhins are combined with either orange specks or tan marks. But if about All dogs of this color are said and written that they are three-colored, then in hounds our hunters will call this color black-piebald or gray-piebald in rouge. Those who are inclined to wax poetic about canine terminology, they call the red color of a hound crimson. the hunter will certainly clarify the intensity of the color of the saddle cloth, highlighting the light saddle cloth color.”

It’s not a matter of “a tendency to wax poetic” - hounds, along with dog breeds, have received terminology polished over centuries, which is part of Russian national culture. To abandon this figurative, rich and precise language for the sake of “unification”, “ease of translation” and so on would be an unforgivable mistake. As evidence, I will cite an extract from the protocol of the Imperial Academy of Sciences dated “January 30, 1784. ... Von Vizin presented ... and collected hunting names, including those related to hound and falconry.” Let me remind you that the Academy was created by Catherine the Second on November 21, 1783, that is, two months before this meeting (see Rodina magazine No. 1 for 2006).

Speaking about the genetics of the color of the Russian hound, we can assume that it has a “red gene”. But there is a difference between the color of the Russian hound and the color of, for example, the Karelian-Finnish husky, which determines the different names of the colors.

On the other hand, the provisions of the standard should be clear to everyone, “to an indefinite circle of people,” as lawyers say, and not just to racing specialists, a closed group of initiates. In this regard, the demands of the FCI representative are clear and justified. I think the hound commission needs to specify the description of hound colors using established terminology.

Regarding the word "crimson". Let's turn to Vladimir Dahl's dictionary, compiled in the middle of the century before last (Dahl began collecting words in 1819, the dictionary was published in 1863-1866). This is the heyday of dog hunting, the time of the birth of factory dog ​​breeding in Russia. Here are excerpts from the dictionary:

“Crimson, scarlet, purple, the brightest and thickest red color, but not with a fiery tint, but with a barely noticeable blue; and speaking of spots, smudges on the body, with a blue tint.

Crimson, scarlet, but less dense, scarlet, without blue; this is the brightest, but also the purest red. The evening dawn sometimes turns from golden to scarlet, then to crimson and finally to crimson...

Crimson, about a hound dog, pure brown, coffee... Crimson, crimson. condition, property according to prlgt., redness, redness, crimson, crimson.... the clouds turn purple, turn purple, turn crimson, become crimson, turn scarlet; turn purple expresses a brighter and more golden color."

As you can see, the idea of ​​“crimson” as a color basically corresponds to the current one. It’s another matter, a hound with a coffee color would now be considered vicious, but in Dahl’s time, hounds with this color apparently existed.

A little later, in 1881 N.P. Kishensky published a description of the characteristics of the eastern hound. I will give an excerpt from this description based on the book by R.I. Shiyana “Russian Hound”: “The main color of eastern hounds is wolf; the other colors they come in are only more or less modified wolf, and the location of the color remains unchanged. The black color always retains a gray or yellow-brown undercoat, and the coarse hair to the root also tan marks are never red, but always yellow; they come in all shades of this color, ranging from barely noticeable yellowish, almost white to dark, dirty, almost dark gray. The peculiarity of tan marks is that they merge with the rest of the color and are always lighter at the ends. , often imperceptibly turning into a white color. Sharply separated tan marks occur only on the face and cheeks, and these hounds do not have single-colored crimson ones; if the back is crimson, then the crimson color gradually turns into a lighter yellow color towards the extremities.”

The above description most fully reflects the characteristic features of the color of hounds. Later descriptions (standards), for the sake of brevity, contain only the names of colors, without detailed details of the location of individual zones and differences in shades. These differences seem to be implied when we say “black-and-white,” “crimson.” Also valuable in the above passage is the remark that the color of eastern hounds is derived from the wolf color. Current research into the genetic structure of dog colors confirms this observation by Kishensky (see the book “Genetics of Dog Colors” by Roy Robinson, translated by Ph.D. N.Yu. Ado, Moscow 1995). It is only necessary to note that, compared to the times of Kishensky, modern Russian hounds do not have a black (black and tan) color - they were bred in the process of fighting the influence of Polish blood, which was well written about in the above-mentioned book by R.I. Shiyan. The process of lightening Russian hounds, in my opinion, continues to this day. As evidence, I cite an excerpt from my own report on the examination of Russian hounds at the All-Russian hound exhibition on June 27, 2004 in Yaroslavl: “G.I. Lopatkin’s flute passed 41st penultimate for the assessment of “good”... Her attention is drawn to color - dark cheque. standard color, but out of the forty dogs standing in front of her, there is not a single truly black-haired dog. However, there are almost no pure crimson ones - somewhere there are dark markings, but even black-haired dogs have a light stripe along the back. About thirty years ago there were much more black-backed dogs, and the division into black-backed and scarlet was clearer. I am not going to characterize this phenomenon in terms of “good” and “bad”. It’s just that the breed is moving towards some kind of average color with a tendency to lighten. Here, as it were, the process of purifying the breed from Polish blood, which began in the thirties of the last century, continues." To what was said in the report, I will add my assumption, based on information gleaned from the book of Roy Robinson. The fact is that pure black and yellow (red) colors are obtained as a result of mutation and subsequent artificial selection from the wild wolf-gray color. In the absence or weakening of natural selection, the color of animals tends to a more stable wild one.

The founding fathers of the breeds in their books provide more detailed descriptions of hound colors than in the standards they themselves developed. Here is the description of the Russian hound given by N.N. Chelishchev in the book “How to choose and train a hound” (M.-L. KOIZ, 1939): “The color of the dog is predominantly light yellow; with a black saddle coat and with a gray or yellow undercoat under it. Then there can be colors: gray , like a wolf, dark crimson (dark red, turning into brown) and light crimson, but the latter colors are never even, and towards the senses and limbs they necessarily turn into light colors.” But here is the description of N.P. Pakhomov from the book “Hounds and Hunting with Them” (M. FiS, 1971): “There are no hounds of one solid color, since the head, ears, chest, legs are noticeably lighter than the body. The color of a dog is usually determined by the color of the back and sides, that is, along the most significant and always dark part of the body, especially on the legs and chest, which differ from the dark back and sides, are called scorch marks or tan marks in hounds. They can be red in color, which was typical in the old days. for Polish and Polish-Russian hounds, or yellow and dirty brown, which is typical for Russian hounds... The color can be: 1) saddleback - when the main, yellow, background of the hound on the back and sides is as if covered with a dark saddlecloth, which is where it came from name, the most common color of Russian hounds at present; often the saddle-cloth hound is barely visible only on the sides (about such a light-colored hound they sometimes say: “saddle-backed hound in grey”); 2) crimson, red-yellow—darker on the back and sides; lighter towards the extremities, certainly yellow or dirty gray (whitish); the Russian hounds of the Pershin hunt, the hounds of M. I. Pilts and S. V. Ozerov had a crimson color; 3) wolf - when the color of a hound resembles a wolf, it is all grey: on the back and sides there is more dark hair alternates with lighter ones."

In his descriptions as N.P. Kishensky and subsequent authors cite the transition of color to a less intense color in the lower part of the body as one of the main characteristics of the Russian hound. I will suggest that it was this quality that led to the definition of “crimson” by analogy with a picture of a sunset or dawn, as we saw in the examples in Dahl’s dictionary.

The following definition of the colors of Russian hounds is proposed:

"Color. Black-and-white, light-colored, crimson and underhaired. With a black-and-white color, the back and sides are black or gray, the saddle smoothly turns into yellow tan marks covering the legs, belly, chest and head. The presence of individual evenly distributed gray hairs in the saddle is acceptable - "saddle in silver". With a crimson color, the dog on the back and sides is red-yellow, yellow-brown or yellow-pink; on the rest of the body its color turns into lighter colors. With a light-shabby color, black hair is adjacent to yellow and gray, the saddle is reduced in size - often covers only the sides, the color of the rest of the body matches the crimson color. dark color The hair alternates with lighter ones, forming an overall grayish tone, the tan marks are light yellow or whitish (underhair).

2) For information: Some racers express the opinion that white markings on the chest and paws should be considered as defects - they say, more than seventy years have passed since the approval of the standard, and we still tolerate this defect. Let me give an excerpt from the above-mentioned book by R. Robinson “Genetics of Dog Colors” (p. 27): “The mechanisms of action of modifiers have not yet been clarified: either they act on their own, or they influence the expression of 8-alleles. It is almost obvious that some of them are capable of producing an initial degree of white spotting on their own in homozygous 551 (genotypically this is a solid color genotype)... Thus, many 88 animals have minor white markings due to the action of modifiers. In any case, with constant selection. Only fully pigmented dogs, there will always be a small proportion of animals with white markings." In other words, a hound with white markings may not carry the gene for white, while 30-40% of hounds still carry the gene, many without white markings. A third of the breed needs to be rejected for the illusion that we will get rid of the white markings that have always existed in the breed. Do we need this, given that Russian hounds are a working, not a decorative, breed? Moreover, one of the participants in the 1925 canine meeting, Mikhail Aleksandrovich Sergeev, believed that hounds with white spots have stronger voices. The practice of working with hounds confirms this. Thus, the presence of small white spots on the paws and chest should be classified as faults, and white spots in other places - as defects, as has been the case until now.

3) In the “Disadvantages” paragraph, the question was raised by the phrases: “saddle cloth with sharply defined boundaries, grayish saddle cloth with black spine.”

In general, a dog may have hair of three types: 1) downy hair, 2) guard hair - A.P. Mazower also calls it covering hair and 3) the outer hair is the thickest and longest. (A.P. Mazover “Hunting Dogs”, M. “Forest Industry”, 1970). The downy hair of the Russian hound is light, creamy, and on the back it is light gray; the guard hair is yellow below and crimson above. At the border of the saddle, the guard hair is crimson below, and in the upper part - gray or black; closer to the ridge, the entire length of the hair is gray or black. It happens that a crimson stripe runs along the ridge in the middle of the saddle cloth, so that only the sides remain gray or black. In this case, the hair on the ridge also has a zone color, but in the lower part the hair is dark and its end is purple. The guard hair in the upper third is smoothly curved towards the back of the body, as a result of which a continuous shirt of guard hairs of a certain color is formed; the underfur is not visible, with the exception of the neck area, where the guard hair is longer and does not have a pronounced bend. Referring to the disadvantages of "saddle cloth with sharply defined boundaries", the standard separates the breed from related piebald dogs (for example, Russian piebald and Estonian), as well as Western-type hounds, black and tan, which have a sharp boundary between the saddle coat and the lower light part of the shirt - tan . According to the theory, black and tan dogs have different genetic structures (see the above-mentioned book by R. Robinson).

The phrase “grayish saddle-hair with black guard” separates the Russian hound from dogs such as West Siberian Laikas, which have erect guard hairs with black ends and an open shirt, so that the gray undercoat is visible; they do not develop a black background. Indications of this deficiency have been present in the Russian Hound standard since 1939. Currently, dogs of this color are not found, I think the hound commission should consider eliminating this phrase from the standard.

4) The standard says: “Mouse or coffee coloring puts the dog outside the breed.” The representative of the RKF believes that if some sign puts a dog out of breed, then it should be called a disqualifying defect. The following paragraph wording is suggested:

“Faults: bright red tan marks, speckling, large white marks, as well as dark spots on the forehead, ears, lips and above the eyes.

Disqualifying faults that place a dog out of breed: mousey or coffee colored.”

Section "Dog (wool)"

Left unchanged, only at the request of the RKF representative the phrase “hair growth on the muzzle” was replaced by the phrase “hair growth on the muzzle”.

Section "Skin, muscles, bones"

1) The 1981 standard says: “The backbone is wide, strong...”, in the standards of 1994 and 2002 the word “wide” was removed - “The backbone is strong.” The same definition of bone structure is contained in the standards of almost all breeds of hunting dogs, except for burrowing ones. In greyhounds they say: “the bones are strong, but not massive.” Still, the skeleton of hounds (Russian and, to an even greater extent, Russian piebald) is more massive than that of greyhounds, pointers, and huskies. Measurements at the 112th show confirm this - the boneiness index (the ratio of the girth above the carpal joint to the height of the dog at the withers) of Russian hounds is 19.68 for live dogs and 18.14 for five dogs. For piebald hounds 20.08 and 18.99 respectively. For comparison, the boneiness index of Russian greyhound dogs is 13.4. The compilers of the old (before 1981) standards used the word “broad” to state this fact. People, when they want to talk about a person with a strong, squat build, say: “broad bone.” From a zootechnical point of view, the phrase “wide bones” is incomprehensible. The skeleton can be light or massive. Perhaps it should be said, "The bones are strong, relatively massive, but not coarse."

2) The standard says: “girth of the metacarpus: for vyzhlovki - 12-14 cm, for vyzhlovki - 10.5-12.5 cm.” Many books and textbooks on cynology specify that the girth of the metacarpus is measured in its thinnest part below the wrist joint, but above the fifth finger. The report on the work of the cinemametric commission for the 112th Moscow Regional Exhibition (author - chairman of the commission Kuzina M.G.) says: “Girth above the wrist. Measured with a centimeter tape distal end forearm above the wrist joint." How to measure correctly and how to write correctly? Trial measurements show that the girth above the wrist joint is slightly larger than the metacarpal girth by about 1 cm.

3) The average value of the girth above the wrist joint for livestock at the 112 Moscow Regional Exhibition is 11.1 cm, for livestock - 12.69 cm. Both values ​​fit into the figures specified by the standard (without taking into account corrections for the difference due to the location of measurements). The average values ​​of metacarpus girth according to the standard are 11.5 cm for vyzhlovki and 13 cm for vyzhlovki. Information about metacarpus coverage was introduced into the standard in the post-war period. The representative of the RKF proposes to write down the requirements for pastern girth as follows: “metacarpal girth: for vyzhlovka - about 13 cm, for vyzhlovka - about 12 cm.” I think, since the real picture corresponds to these values, there is no reason for changes in these parameters.

4) In the 2002 standard, in comparison with all previous standards, the following phrases were introduced into this section: “Disadvantages: weakness of bones and muscles. Defects: rough bones.” The RKF representative proposed changing the wording as follows:

"Disadvantages: slight weakness of bones and muscles. Faults: coarse bones, poor bones."

I think we should agree with this opinion.

Head section

1) The standard says: “Head. Dry, wedge-shaped, due to the powerful build of the dog it gives the impression of being small.” According to the representative of the RKF, the word “powerful” does not correspond to the strong type of build of the dog. It is proposed to replace this word, for example, with “massive” or “solid” addition. In the 1939 standard, the phrase in question was: “HEAD: dry, wedge-shaped, small, but proportional to the body.”

I think the standard will only benefit if we get rid of advertising definitions: “Head. Dry, wedge-shaped, gives the impression of being small. The cranial part is oblong...”, further in the text. In the “Head” section, it would be correct to talk about the head, and not about the general build of the dog.

2) In the section “Defects” it says: “The nose is brown, pink or light in whole or in part.” The representative of the RKF proposes to replace these words with the words: “The nose is depigmented completely or partially.” If a dog's nose is not black, as in the standard, but brown, this means that it has brown pigment and is not depigmented. “The disappearance of pigment in strictly defined places, primarily on the nose, eyelids, is called hypopigmentation (vitiligo, dog)” (M.B. Willis. “Dog Genetics”, M. Tsentrpoligraf, 2000, p. 143). Since this phenomenon is hereditary in nature, it should be classified as a defect. A brown nose indicates an admixture of foreign blood, which should also be considered a defect. The following version of this phrase is proposed: “The nose is brown, pink or light (depigmented) completely or partially.”

3) For information: At the 112th Moscow Regional Exhibition, measurements were taken of the parameters of dogs' heads, namely: 1. Head length, 2. Head circumference in front of the ears, 3. Muzzle length, 4. Skull length, 5. Girth

Proposals for adjusting the RG standard in connection with its adoption by the FCI and comments on them (Author V.P. Sipeikin, secretary of the RFOS hound commission)

The Russian piebald hound is one of the most popular and quite common hunting breeds in our country today. Smart and beautiful dog It is distinguished by the presence of the instinct of a real hunter inherent in nature itself.

History of the origin of the breed

Back in the days Tsarist Russia It was hunting that was one of the favorite hobbies accepted in aristocratic society, and the possession of valuables was considered very honorable. It was precisely these reasons that determined the need to obtain new hunting breeds, therefore, in the first part of the nineteenth century, famous Russian breeders conducted active experiments in order to breed a more advanced dog for hunting.

The Russian piebald hound was also among the breeds bred at this time.. In whose veins flows the blood of the then popular English Foxhounds, imported from the United Kingdom. The breed, formed at the turn of the last century, received official recognition, after which the Russian piebald began to be actively used in factory breeding.

Description of the Russian hound

The height of the animal, as well as the dog’s elongation index, are the most basic indicators that allow you to correctly assess the dimensions of the Russian pinto hound. In accordance with accepted standards, males should have a height of 58-68 cm with an index of 104, and females should have a height of 55-65 cm and an elongation index in the range of 103-105.

Breed standards

A purebred dog is distinguished by a strong physique, an exterior typical of hounds, as well as the following breed standards:

• the head has clear lines, without weight, with “dry” skin emphasizing straight lines;
• occipital protuberance of average level of development;
• the forehead is long and flat, not wide;
• the area of ​​transition to the nasal dorsum is pronounced, without sharpness;
• muzzle in a wedge-shaped format, with a vertical “edge”;
• the lower jaw is quite rounded;
• the orbital area is poorly defined;
• cheekbones and cheeks are flat;
• the lips are well-tight and thin, with a slightly fleshy lower part;
• the teeth are large and well developed, white, with parallel upper and lower incisors;
• the dental closure is scissor-shaped, regular, without gaps;
• large nose, black;
• the eyes are quite large, expressive, widely set, oval in shape, with a brown iris;
• the ears are medium in size and thickness, lowered to the cheeks, triangular with a rounded tip;
• body in rectangular format, with good development skeleton and developed muscular system;
• an oval-shaped neck, set at an angle of 40–45°, almost equal in length to the distance from the tip of the nose to the back of the head;
• the withers are well developed and massive, which is especially noticeable in males;
• chest area with depth to the elbow part, round shape, with springy and wide ribs;
• the dorsal line is quite short, with a pronounced and rounded lumbar region and a sloping, powerful croup;
• shoulder position a couple of centimeters above the croup area;
• groin line with moderate tuck;
• strong limbs have pronounced muscles and harmoniously, fairly widely spaced joints;
• the front legs are ½ the height of the animal at the withers;
• forearms are strong, oval in shape;
• hind legs extending beyond the croup, strong and powerful, with pronounced and well-formed bones;
• elongated hips;
• the tail is powerful, tapering towards the tip, saber-shaped.

A short-haired dog has well-toned and practically wrinkle-free skin. Slightly elongated hair is allowed in the area of ​​the withers and on the hips. The undercoat is well developed, but not excessively thick, with moisture-repellent properties and a sufficient level of density. Purebred animals can have three typical colors: grey-piebald, scarlet-piebald and black-piebald or "tri-color".

Characterized by the presence of white limbs and belly, gray, red or purplish markings are present in the croup and shoulder girdle and on the head. The number of black spots is not limited by standards. The presence of non-intense dark specks and arrows on the temples is acceptable.

Dog character

The main difference from many other hunting breeds is the reserved and balanced character of the Russian pinto hound. Against the backdrop of the fact that hunting has become classified as a hobby and is not given time a guarantee of survival, such hounds very often become loyal and intelligent pets, and when kept, they will necessarily preserve sufficient loads, designed to compensate for the dog’s instinctive needs for hunting.

Methods and methods of education depend not only on the age, but also on the main purpose of the dog. To prepare a hound for work in the field, animals with excellent heredity and high working qualities are selected. The Russian Piebald Hound is by nature very active and playful, but all stress must be strictly controlled, which is especially important during puppyhood.

Important! The breed feature of the Russian piebald hound is an excellent memory and a desire to please its owner, therefore when proper motivation and availability basic knowledge about raising a dog, the training process does not cause problems.

The breed is distinguished by loyalty and devotion not only to the owner, but also to all family members, regardless of their age. In relationships with other animals, hounds are very individual, but with proper training they are able to get along quite well with cats. According to the owners, domestic rats and hamsters, as well as feathered pets, very often become an “object” for the hound to hunt.

Lifespan

The overall life expectancy of a Russian pinto hound may differ markedly from the average, which is due to the influence of many factors, including heredity and living conditions. However, in most cases, dogs of this breed live no more than twelve years.

Russian piebald hounds do not need any special care. However, when keeping a dog of this breed, it is necessary to pay attention to a balanced diet and food with a high protein content. Among other things, your pet's coat will require regular removal of all dead undercoat with a special brush-mitt.

Street keeping in winter requires mandatory gradual hardening of the hound. On frosty days, the use of insulation in the form of clothing is completely discouraged, but in bad weather, protective overalls will help keep your pet healthy. Dogs with dry coats have good body temperature control and also use less energy to keep themselves warm.

Care and hygiene

You need to systematically comb out your pet's fur, but it is advisable to bathe a hunting breed dog as rarely as possible, as needed. The mouth and teeth are regularly examined, and discharge from the eyes and ears is removed. You can walk a hound in urban conditions only on a leash, which is due to a very developed hunting instinct.

Diet of the Russian pinto hound

The diet and feeding regimen of the hound is selected strictly taking into account the individual and age characteristics of the dog. Feeding mode:

• up to one and a half months - six times a day;
• from one and a half to 3 months - four times a day;
• from 3 to six months – three times a day;
• after six months - a couple of times a day.

Meat is an essential component of the diet of hunting breeds. At the same time minced meat should not be excluded from the diet, but you need to remember that such a source of protein, fats and vitamin-mineral components is absorbed by the dog’s body worse than raw and scraped meat. Offal products such as liver, kidneys, brains, lungs, stomach or rumen also have very high biological value.

Important! It is mandatory to add sources of fat, such as butter and rendered beef fat, to food prepared for a hunting dog.

Sea and river fish, from which bones are extracted, are considered as a source of animal protein. It is recommended to alternate meat days with fish days. Sea fish can be given raw, but river fish must be boiled beforehand. Once a week, your pet should be given one boiled egg. As for dairy products, hounds need to be given fresh cottage cheese, pureed with whey, hard varieties of cheese, and also not too much, a couple of times a week. full fat kefir and curdled milk.

Veterinarians recommend including porridge in your pet’s daily diet, which is cooked in milk diluted with clean water in a ratio of 1:3 or meat broth. You can add chopped vegetables and fruits to milk porridge.

Turnips, cabbage, zucchini and rutabaga are usually pre-stewed or boiled, after which they are given to the hound as a vitamin supplement to meat dishes. In winter, chopped garlic will not only be an excellent natural anthelmintic, but will also serve as an additional and valuable source of vitamins.

Particular attention is paid to special mineral supplements, which are sold in specialized pet stores. The composition of high-quality nutrition includes components represented by calcium lactate and gluconate, brewer's yeast, phytin, bone meal, activated carbon, glycerophosphate and Epsom salt. Mineral supplements are first finely crushed, after which they are mixed with the main feed and given for a pet according to daily intake.

Diseases and breed defects

Russian piebald hounds are typical representatives of hunting breeds, and that is why such dogs are characterized by a tendency to the following most common diseases:

• of various etiologies, which most often arise as a result of using an incorrect or unbalanced diet;
• inflammatory processes of the eyes, including;
• inflammation in muscle tissue under abnormal loads;
• malignant hyperthermia;

The most common deficiencies and main disqualifying breed characteristics are presented:

• the presence of significant specks;
• very red or too light tan marks;
• the presence of coffee or mouse stains;
• complete absence of blush;
• excessively long or too short hair;
• underdeveloped or absent undercoat;
• wavy or shaggy hair;
• sharply prominent occipital protuberance;
• overly developed brow ridges;
• weak transition from the muzzle to the skull;
• hooked nose;
• too depressed furrow in the middle of the forehead;
• high cheekbones and broad forehead;
• damp and heavy head;
• upturned muzzle;
• completely or partially light or brown nose;
• too large or very small, low-set ears;
• ears rolled into a tube, raised on cartilage;
• light, small, round and sunken eyes;
• different eyes;
• underdeveloped bones or muscles;
• skin folds on the neck or head;
• too low or very high set, flat neck;
• narrow or flat, barrel-shaped chest;
• underdeveloped withers;
• narrow or sloping croup;
• elongated or excessively shortened tail.

The presence of overshot and undershot is a disqualifying defect that deprives a hound of not only a breeding and exhibition career. But it also very sharply reduces the indicators of basic performance as a hunter.

Education and training

First of all, the puppy must be accustomed to the nickname and the sound of the horn, which the owner must blow before each feed until the animal reaches the age of four months. This technique is especially important when raising a dog that is supposed to be used in hunting.

Important! It is advisable to train hound dogs only from the age of ten months, since in conditions of too early training there is an abnormal development of the physique and vocal characteristics of the animal.

Despite high performance unpretentiousness, the owner of a hound needs a person who is well aware of training techniques and all the features of handling such a pet. Most often, the Russian piebald hound is acquired by experienced hunters who use the breed skills of such a dog to benefit the animal and themselves.