Serbian Tricolour Hound

Also known as: Yugoslavian Tricolour Hound

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is a scenthound from Serbia, bred to trail hare or fox by voice, calling out direction to the hunter following behind. The short, dense coat lets it push through thick brush, and a medium frame up to 20 kilograms delivers both speed and the stamina for a long day afield. The breed is still used mainly for actual hunting rather than shows or companionship, so it remains rare outside the Balkans. It does best with room to run and a clear daily job. Without enough exercise at home, it can grow restless. Life expectancy runs 12 to 14 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Serbian Tricolour Hound: how old in human years?

44–54 cmHeight
16–20 kgWeight
12–14 yrsLife expectancy

Slovakian Hound

FCI group: Scenthounds and Related Breeds
FCI section: Section 1.2: Scenthounds, Medium sized
FCI: 229
Country of origin: Serbia

Energy level

5/5
Trainability

3/5
Family friendly

3/5
Grooming need

1/5

At a glance

Height

Males 44–54 cm

Females 44–54 cm

Weight

Males 16–20 kg

Females 16–20 kg

Life expectancy

12–14 yrs

Coat

short, dense (short)

Temperament & Family Life

Serbian Tricolour Hound's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 3/5
Good with children 3/5
Good with other dogs 4/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 3/5
Trainability 3/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Serbian Tricolour Hound's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 5/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Serbian Tricolour Hound's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 1/5
Watchfulness 3/5
Barking level 4/5

Grooming & Care

Serbian Tricolour Hound's grooming needs are low.

Shedding 2/5
Drooling 2/5
Grooming need 1/5

Living with the Serbian Tricolour Hound

When it picks up the line of a hare, your garden fills with a voice that three houses down will hear too. The Serbian Tricolour Hound was bred in the Balkan mountains to follow hare, fox and other game while giving tongue, so the hunter always knew where the chase was. A dog like that doesn't do anything by halves: it has a great deal of energy and needs hours outdoors every day, ideally in woods or fields where its nose has work to do.

It learns reasonably well, but it listens to its nose first and to you second. Its prey drive and hunting instinct are strong, so practise recall patiently, keep a long line to hand, and let cats and rabbits stay acquaintances at a distance. It usually gets on well with other dogs, as hounds have long worked in packs, and it greets strangers with reserve and announces them out loud, but it is no guard.

A flat with thin walls and neighbours behind them won't suit it: it needs a house with a fenced garden and an owner who is happy to spend mornings or evenings in the forest. With its own people, children included, it is friendly and settled, as long as it has had its run. A good day looks like this: a long hike full of scent trails, a decent dinner and a deep sleep by the stove until the fields start calling again.

Grooming and coat

The Serbian Tricolour Hound wears a short, dense, close-lying coat made for mountain forests rather than show rings. Once a week, go over it with a rubber mitt or a stiff bristle brush to lift out loose hair and dust, and the shine comes straight back. It sheds little, so there will be less hair on the sofa than you would expect from such a busy dog, and baths are only needed when it finds something to roll in.

Spend your attention less on the coat and more on what lies under it. After every walk in the woods, run your hands over the whole dog for ticks, check between the paw pads, and look inside the hanging ears for seeds, redness or a bad smell; the last two are a reason to talk to a vet. Trim the nails if they don't wear down on their own, and if the odd damp lip-print ends up on your sleeve, that is all the drool you need to worry about.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for medium breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (20 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 260 g of dry food a day, from €14,13 a month For a neutered, normally active 18 kg dog. Calculate for your dog