A Hellenic Hound can score a hundred points in the ring, with 90 counting as excellent. The standard still includes that scoring scale, 20 points for general appearance and another 20 for limbs. Behind it is a hunting dog expected to work even the rockiest ground.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds, Standard No. 214, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Greece |
| Height at the withers | Males 47 to 55 cm, females 45 to 53 cm (tolerance 2 cm above or below) |
| Weight | 17 to 20 kg |
| Life expectancy | No reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | Short, dense, slightly harsh, very smooth and close-fitting |
| Colours according to the standard | Black and tan; small white chest patch tolerated; nose, visible mucous membranes and nails black |
A standard from 1959
The valid standard dates from October 1959, the same year as definitive FCI recognition. The German translation is from 2001. It has no history section, describing a medium-proportioned, short-haired, strong, powerful, lively and sharp-minded dog, with a long head and a body about ten per cent longer than tall.
For rocks and mountains
The standard’s role description is concise: very fine nose, great resilience, very active alone or in a pack, suited to flat and mountainous, even rocky and inaccessible terrain. The voice is loud and melodious. No separate temperament chapter exists; only aggression or excessive fear disqualify. This implies an independent searcher who gives voice once game reaches the nose.
Black and tan, nothing else
Colour allows no compromise. Only black and tan is permitted, with a small white chest patch tolerated. Every other coat, nose, eye or nail colour disqualifies, as do dewclaws, a curled tail and half-erect ears. At 17 to 20 kilos, the build is relatively light.
Activity without hunting
Without hunting, provide countryside distance, tracking and search tasks, ideally daily for hours. Movement is fast and light-footed. A lead in wildlife-rich areas and secure fencing at home are essential. Short, smooth coat care takes a few minutes weekly, plus checks of pads, nails and ears.
Health: missing data, real hazards
We found no reliable disease or lifespan study for the Hellenic Hound. McMillan and colleagues list but do not analyse the breed. A northeast Greek investigation shows a different hazard: with 127 dogs, the breed was the largest group among surveyed hunters’ dogs, and wolves attacked it slightly more often than its share predicted. Hare hunting was especially risky (Iliopoulos et al. 2021).
Who should keep this dog
People who hunt or have ample time for countryside scent work. Those with a flat and neighbours, little time or a wish for a quiet family dog should keep looking. For others, this black-and-tan mountain hunter is an honest, straightforward worker with a strongly independent mind.
Before an independent hunting dog joins you, try our breed quiz, with more detailed help in the book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For puppies, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. Keep a picture of your Hellinikos among our dog portraits or as a digital artwork.
Further reading
- Beagle: a nose with a dog attached, and what that means day to day
- Leaving your dog alone: learning without drama, step by step
- Older dog, new rules: giving your senior their best years
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 214 Hellinikos Ichnilatis (fci.be, German version dated 09.03.2001, English version dated 19.03.1996, valid original standard dated 16.10.1959); Iliopoulos Y et al., Wolf-Hunting Dog Interactions in a Biodiversity Hot Spot Area in Northern Greece, Animals 2021; 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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