The red spots above its eyes should be hazelnut-sized. Such is the precision of the Montenegrin Mountain Hound’s FCI standard; its base colour is always black. This once earned it the occasional name of simply the Black Hound.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds, Standard No. 279, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Montenegro |
| Height at the withers | 44 to 54 cm; ideal males 49 to 50 cm, females 48 to 49 cm |
| Weight | Not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | No reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | Short, dense, harsh, glossy and close-fitting, with well-developed undercoat |
| Colours according to the standard | Black with red markings above the eyes, on the muzzle and undersides of legs, ranging from pale to vivid red; a small white chest patch up to 3 cm tolerated but undesirable |
The black-coated Balkan hound
The standard tells little history. It simply states that the breed undoubtedly shares its origins with the other Balkan scent hounds, such as the Serbian Hound (Srpski Gonic) or the Serbian Tricolour Hound (Srpski Trobojni Gonic). A first standard was written in 1924. According to the standard, the FCI recognised it at its Warsaw meeting in May 1969. The current version dates from December 2014, with French as the original language.
Balanced, biddable and affectionate
The standard needs only four qualities for its temperament: very balanced, biddable, deeply attached to its person and reliable. It excludes aggressive or overly shy dogs. That sounds like an agreeable companion, and indoors it often is. Outside, it remains a scent hound with a required working trial, bred to follow a game trail independently and persistently.
Medium-sized, strong and agile
The body is about ten per cent longer than the height at the withers, and the head measures 45 per cent of that height. It moves on tight cat feet with black pads and invariably black nails, preferably at a lively, even trot. Dogs below 44 or above 54 cm are disqualified, as are those with a curled tail or one carried over the back.
Meeting its needs without hunting
Non-hunters can replace the game trail with tracking, mantrailing or woodland search games. Add long daily walks, using a long line where wildlife is plentiful. Train reliable recall from puppyhood, but expect fresh scent to make it deaf to you nonetheless.
Short coat, little fuss
The hair is short, harsh and glossy, over quite a substantial undercoat. A weekly session with a rubber grooming mitt keeps it clean, more often during shedding. After walks through undergrowth, check for ticks and look inside its close-hanging ears.
Health: very little research
No reliable figures are available. The breed appears only in the name list in the British longevity study by McMillan and colleagues and was not analysed because of insufficient data. We found no study in Europe PMC specifically investigating disease in this breed. The standard itself disqualifies dogs with entropion or ectropion, inward- or outward-rolling eyelid margins. Ask breeders about the parents’ eye results.
Who will enjoy it, and who will not
It is happiest with hunters or rural owners who make time for scent work every day and appreciate an affectionate, quiet housemate. It is unsuitable for first-time owners without a connection to hunting, city flats or long days alone. Give it work and you gain a reliable partner with a dark coat and a bright mind.
The breed quiz can show whether a Balkan scent hound fits your everyday life; our book offers more thorough guidance: “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For those first weeks with a puppy, try our free Puppy Starter Pack. A black coat with red markings looks lovely as a poster in a wooden frame; find more ideas among our dog portraits.
Further reading
- Beagle: a nose with a dog attached, and what that means day to day
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
- The first 30 days with a puppy: a plan for weeks 1 to 4
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 279 Crnogorski Planinski Gonič (Montenegrinischer Gebirgslaufhund) (fci.be, German and English versions dated 28.01.2015, valid original standard dated 19.12.2014, original language French) and FCI breed page Nr. 279; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed listed but not analysed).
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