It began with puppies that did not fit the mould. According to the FCI standard, despite years of selection, smaller or differently coloured dogs kept appearing in Slovakian Hound litters. Slovak breeders used precisely these dogs to establish a separate, smaller breed, the Tatra Hound (Tatranský Durič). Standing up to 42 cm at the withers, it is built for tracking work.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 2 Leash (scent) Hounds, Standard No. 377, with working trial, provisionally recognised |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Slovakia |
| Height at the withers | Males 38 to 42 cm, females 36 to 40 cm |
| Weight | Not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | No reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | Coarse, close-fitting, with sufficient gloss; shorter and softer on head and legs |
| Colours according to the standard | Two colours: black with sharply defined tan (a little white on chest, legs and top of head permitted), and solid red from pale tan to stag red, black mask tolerated |
A branch of the Slovenský kopov
Scent hounds of various types and sizes had long hunted in Slovakia’s mountains. In the 1930s, medium-sized dogs were selected from them to become the Slovakian Hound (Slovenský Kopov). For the smaller offshoot, breeders initially introduced other breeds to broaden the breeding base, avoid close inbreeding and improve scenting ability further. With the Polish Tatra Shepherd (Polski Owczarek Podhalanski), it shares only the mountain name.
Recognised, but provisionally
FCI recognition is recent: both recognition and standard have been provisional since 11.02.2026. The FCI explains the consequences: no CACIB until definitive recognition, but eligibility for World Winner and Section Winner titles. Pedigrees for dogs of this breed display the FCI logo.
Biddable, brave around game
Intelligent, spirited and easy to handle: this is how the temperament description begins. It should be balanced, without signs of aggression or fear, and friendly towards people. At work, it is eager, enduring and brave, with excellent scenting ability and a good sense of direction.
Trotting as its working gait
At work, a trot is typical, with a straight topline and parallel limbs. Long tracking-leash work is part of a blood-tracking hound’s everyday life; without hunting, an artificial trail, mantrailing or search games replace the task. Its small size makes it portable, rather than undemanding.
A coarse coat with little fuss
The short, coarse coat lies close and needs little care; a weekly rub with a rubber glove is usually enough. The medium-long to long ears hang loosely beside the cheeks; looking inside after work in undergrowth does no harm. The standard does not provide for hind dewclaws.
Heart measurements, little else
No study of lifespan or typical diseases is available. The breed is absent from McMillan and colleagues’ analysis (2024). One research group established reference values for heart size on X-rays: among 43 healthy Tatra Hounds, the mean Vertebral Heart Score was 10,54 (Kacková et al. 2026, preprint not yet peer-reviewed). This helps assess a radiograph. The standard excludes ectropion and entropion from breeding.
Who will be happy with it
It suits you if you hunt or take scent work seriously as a hobby, want a manageable-sized dog and spend plenty of time outdoors. It is less suitable for people expecting a small dog to be a quiet city companion. Behind those 40-odd centimetres is a fully fledged tracking hound.
The breed quiz can answer whether a small blood-tracking hound with a powerful nose fits your life; our book offers more detail: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the first weeks after arrival, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Red or black and tan, both colours look striking on a magazine cover on canvas; find more ideas among our dog portraits.
Further reading
- The socialisation period: why “as much as possible” is poor advice
- Puppy will not sleep: what really helps on the first night
- Dachshund: its back shapes its entire life
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 377 Tatranský Durič (Tatra Hound) (fci.be, English version dated 03.03.2026, valid standard published 11.02.2026, original language English; no German version has been published); FCI breed page No. 377 and FCI page on provisionally recognised breeds; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed not included); Kacková G et al., Evaluation of Radiographic and Computed Tomographic Vertebral Heart Score in Healthy Tatra hound breed, Research Square 2026 (Preprint).
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