Posavaz Hound

Scenthound Group

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

History

The Posavaz is an ancient hound breed indigenous to Croatia. Its origins are lost in the mists of time, but books bear witness to its antiquity. It is a good scenthound with excellent stamina, used to hunt hare and fox. It can also be used as a trailing leash hound.

The Posavaz was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2006.

General Appearance

The Posavaz is an average sized, short coated scenthound with a red or wheaten colored coat that is marked with white.

Characteristics

Docile, good natured, and very attached to its owner, the Posavaz is also an enthusiastic hunter.

Head

The head is long and narrow.

SKULL

From above, the skull is oval shaped and not too wide. From the front, the forehead is slightly rounded. There is a frontal furrow, and the occipital crest is pronounced. The stop is visible but not abrupt.

MUZZLE

The muzzle is quite long, and is the same width from eyes to nose. The nasal bone can be slightly convex. The lips are tight fitting, with black pigment.

TEETH

The Posavaz has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors bite.

Disqualifications: Undershot or overshot bite.

NOSE

The broad nose is black or dark brown.

EYES

The large, dark eyes have tight fitting rims and a gentle expression.

Disqualification: Blue eyes.

EARS

The flat, thin ears are dropped and fit close to the cheeks. When drawn forward, they should reach the corner of the mouth.

Disqualification: Pricked ears.

Neck

The average length neck is slightly arched and clean.

Forequarters

The shoulder blades are long and sloping. The upper arms are strong and muscular.

FORELEGS

The legs are straight and set well apart. They have strong bone. The pasterns are short and very slightly sloping.

Body

The chest is long, broad and deep. The breastbone is not very pronounced. The withers are high, and the back is long and level. The loin is broad and muscular, and the croup is slightly rounded and sloping, with no prominence of hipbones. The belly is tucked up.

Hindquarters

HIND LEGS

The upper thigh is medium length, broad and muscular. The lower thigh is sloping and longer than the upper thigh. The hock joint is strong, and the rear pasterns are vertical.

Feet

More cat than hare, with tight toes and elastic pads.

Tail

Set on the line of the back, broad at the base, reaching at most to the hock, the tail is carried in saber fashion and may have a brush.

Coat

The coat is straight, dense and close lying. It may be slightly longer on the underside of the tail, the belly and the backs of the legs.

Color

Any shade of red or wheaten, but never brown or chocolate. There can be white markings on the head, neck, chest, throat, belly, lower legs and the end of the tail. White markings are sought after, but may not exceed one-third of the entire body.

Disqualification: Any color or marking color other than stated in the standard.

Height

Height at the withers is 18 to 23 inches.

Gait

Even, flowing and fairly lively.

Eliminating Faults

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

Disqualifications

(A dog with a Disqualification must not be considered for placement in a conformation event, and must be reported to UKC.)
Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Albinism.
Undershot or overshot bite.
Blue eyes.
Pricked ears.
Any color or marking color other than stated in the standard.