According to the FCI standard, skull bones from excavations show that this sighthound accompanied the Magyars when they settled the country. The Hungarian Greyhound (Magyar Agár) is more powerfully built than many of its relatives and hardened against weather and exertion. Over certain distances, the standard confidently states, it can even run faster than the Greyhound.
| FCI | Group 10 (Sighthounds), Section 3 Short-haired Sighthounds, Standard No. 240, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Hungary |
| Height at the withers | Ideal height: males 65 to 70 cm, females 62 to 67 cm; harmonious proportions matter more than centimetres |
| Weight | Not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | No reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | Short, dense, coarse and close-fitting; a plentiful, dense undercoat may develop in winter |
| Colours according to the standard | All known sighthound colours and combinations except blue, blue and white, brown, wolf grey, black and tan, and tricolour |
In Hungary since the Magyar settlement
The standard calls it a primitive hunting breed whose origins date to the Magyars’ conquest of the country. In the 19th century, it was crossed with various sighthounds to make it faster. It has had definitive FCI recognition since 1963.
Power beneath a short coat
The standard describes an appearance radiating strength, with well-developed bone and muscle and a deep, well-sprung chest giving the lungs and heart room. Its rose ears fold back against the neck, rising when alert. For comparison, look at the Greyhound, the breed against which its own standard measures its speed.
Watchful without being snappy
Tireless, enduring, fast, hardy and resilient: this is how the temperament description begins. It is reserved without shyness, sensible, intelligent and loyal. Its instinct to protect people, home and property is pronounced without making it aggressive or snappy. The standard expressly calls it a very good companion and faithful guardian.
Stamina for long distances
The standard says it is particularly suited to track racing and coursing, especially over longer distances. It hunts by sight, but also has a remarkable sense of smell, making scent games a useful complement to running. It still needs long daily walks; because of its hunting instincts, off-lead running should be limited to places without wildlife.
Coat care through the seasons
The short, coarse coat is easy to care for. If the dense winter undercoat mentioned in the standard develops, it sheds again in spring; regular brushing with a rubber grooming mitt helps then.
Few studies, a handful of pointers
No studies providing disease figures for the Hungarian Greyhound were found, and the British longevity analysis by McMillan and colleagues includes it only in the name list. A Hungarian paper established normal echocardiographic values for 22 healthy dogs of the breed, with heart measurements related to body weight (Vörös et al. 2009). The standard excludes dogs with entropion or ectropion, inward- or outward-rolling eyelids, from breeding.
Who it suits
It suits active people and families seeking a robust, loyal companion with guarding instincts, who have time for endurance exercise and running. It is less suited to people without safe exercise areas, households with small pets and anyone who does not want a watchful dog. In return, it offers stamina and loyalty over many shared miles.
The breed quiz can show whether an enduring sighthound with a guardian streak suits you; our book offers detailed guidance: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). Anyone expecting a puppy can get the free Puppy Starter Pack. Capture your Agár as a poster in a wooden frame or browse our dog portraits for inspiration.
Further reading
- Calculating your dog’s food portions: how much your dog really needs
- The first 30 days with a puppy: a plan for weeks 1 to 4
- Autumn shedding in dogs and cats: what is normal and what is not
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 240 Magyar Agár (fci.be, German and English versions dated 13.09.2000, valid original standard dated 06.04.2000, Originalsprache Deutsch); Vörös K et al., M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiographic reference values for three Hungarian dog breeds: Hungarian Vizsla, Mudi and Hungarian Greyhound, Acta Veterinaria Hungarica 2009; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed only in the name list, not analysed).
The links to our books are affiliate links. Buying through them supports us at no extra cost to you.
