MONTENEGRIN MOUNTAIN HOUND (REVISED JULY 1, 2009)
Scenthound Group

©Copyright 2008, United Kennel Club, Inc.
Revised July 1, 2009

HISTORY

This version of the Balkan hound was developed in the Republic of Montenegro. The first standard dates to 1924.

The Montenegrin Mountain Hound was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2008.

Medium sized, solid, and agile.

Docile, trustworthy and attached to his master.

SKULL - The skull is longer than it is wide. It is flat or slightly arched. The frontal furrow is accentuated, and the occiput is not prominent. The stop is slightly pronounced.

MUZZLE - The muzzle is thick, broad at the base, and shorter than the skull. The nasal bridge is straight, and the toplines of the skull and muzzle are divergent. The cheeks are flat. The upper lip slightly overlaps the lower. The lips have black edges.

TEETH - The Montenegrin Mountain Hound has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors or level bite.

Disqualifications: Overshot or undershot bite. Missing teeth, other than the 1st premolars.

NOSE - The black nose is well developed.

EYES - The oval shaped eyes are set slightly obliquely. They are light to dark brown in color, with black rims.

Disqualifications: Wall eyes. Eyes of different colors. Entropion. Ectropion.

EARS - High set, moderately long and pendant, carried without folds and close to the head. The ears are fairly oval in shape.

The neck is long, thin, muscular and clean.

The shoulder blades are long, muscular, and well laid back.

FORELEGS - The legs are straight and strong with close fitting elbows. The distance from the elbow to the ground is one-half the height at the withers. The pasterns are strong but thin and slightly sloping.

The body is about 10 percent longer than it is tall. The chest is strong, deep and well rounded. The withers are very pronounced and the back is broad and muscular. The loin is short and solid. The croup is slightly sloping, broad and muscular. The belly is only slightly tucked up.

The hindquarters are strong and muscular with solid bone structure.

HIND LEGS - The upper and lower thighs are about the same length. The angulation of the stifle is about 120 degrees. The hock joint is pronounced and has angulation of about 135 degrees.

Cat feet, with tight, well arched toes and elastic, black pads. The nails are always black.

The tail is set on the line of the croup and tapers towards the tip, which reaches to the hock. It is carried below the level of the back, in saber fashion, and is covered with abundant hair.

Disqualifications: Curled tail. Tail carried above the backline.

Short, dense, rough, smooth and glossy. The undercoat is well developed. The skin is elastic and very tight to the body.

Black ground color, with tan markings above the eyes, on the muzzle and on the lower legs. The tan may be pale red to brownish red to bright red. A small white spot on the chest is acceptable but not desirable.

Disqualifications: Any other color. Any white markings other than a small white spot on the chest.

Height at the withers is from 17 to 21 inches.

Elastic, lively and even, with strong drive from the rear.

(An Eliminating Fault is a Fault serious enough that it eliminates the dog from obtaining any awards in a conformation event.)

Height over or under the prescribed sizes.

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Albinism. Overshot or undershot bite. Missing teeth, other than the 1st premolars. Wall eyes. Eyes of different colors. Entropion. Ectropion. Curled tail. Tail carried above the backline. Any other color. Any white markings other than a small white spot on the chest.