Estonian Hound
Estonia's own scent hound: compact, tricoloured and keen on hare and fox, friendly at home and tireless outdoors.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 45–52 cm · Females 42–49 cm
- Weight
- Males 15–20 kg · Females 14–18 kg
- Life expectancy
- 11–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Tricolour, Black and tan
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent
- Country of origin
- Estonia
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 366 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 4/5 – High |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 2/5 – Low |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 2/5 – Low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- want a medium-sized hound for hunting or tracking
- live in a cool climate with access to forest
- enjoy daily long walks
Think twice if you …
- live where barking is an issue
- have cats or small pets
- want an off-lead dog in open areas
Care
Temperament
Friendly, balanced and attached to its family. Persistent and vocal on a trail. Usually good with other dogs.
Exercise
Needs daily long walks and some free running in safe areas. Tracking, scent work and forest hikes suit it.
Grooming
The short, glossy coat needs a weekly brush. Check ears and nails regularly.
Training
More cooperative than many hounds, but still scent-driven. Use reward-based training and build recall gradually.
Health
A small population with no well-documented breed-specific diseases; hip dysplasia and ear infections may occur as in other hounds. Ask the breeder for hip results of the parents.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Estonian Hound was developed in Soviet-era Estonia from the late 1940s, combining local hounds with Beagles, Swiss hounds and English Foxhounds. Breeders wanted a smaller, agile hound for hare and fox in Baltic forests, and the breed was provisionally accepted by the FCI in 2019.
It is a friendly, people-oriented dog that is usually calm indoors when its exercise needs are met. It keeps a classic hound nose, voice and determination, so it needs secure fencing and patient handling. It copes well with cold weather and outdoor life.
Did you know?
It is the only dog breed from Estonia recognised by the FCI.