Official ICCF Breed Description
Brief Historical Overview
The Hound is one of the oldest hunting breeds, known across Eastern Europe and Russia since the era of princely hunts. Its ancestors are believed to be local scenting dogs crossed with European hounds. These dogs were used for “driving hunts,” where game was lifted onto a trail and pursued for long distances by scent. The breed developed over centuries through natural and folk selection, with only dogs possessing excellent scenting ability, endurance, and a resonant voice being chosen. Russian hounds became renowned for their precise work on hare, fox, and larger game, distinguished by persistence and the ability to maintain a steady, prolonged chase. By the early 20th century, the type had been stabilized, and the breed became an integral part of national hunting culture. Today, the hound remains valued as a working dog, preserving its historical style and high hunting performance.
General Appearance
The Hound is a medium to large dog of strong, dry, enduring build with well-developed musculature and harmonious proportions. The body is slightly elongated; the chest is deep with long ribs; the back is strong. Musculature is dry and well defined, reflecting the dog’s ability for prolonged work. The head is elongated and noble, with a soft expression. Ears are pendant and medium in length. The tail is saber-shaped and mobile. Movement is free, wide, energetic, and enduring. Coat is short or medium-long, dense, and close-fitting. The overall appearance should convey a working dog with strong scenting ability, persistence, and the capacity for long, steady pursuit. Coarseness, looseness, or excessive lightness that impairs function are unacceptable.
Important Proportions
The hound’s body is slightly elongated: body length exceeds height at the withers, providing stability over long distances. The chest is deep, reaching the elbows; ribs are long, forming significant respiratory capacity. The head length is approximately 40% of body length, with muzzle and skull close in length. Limbs are long, dry, with well-defined angulation, ensuring wide reach and endurance. The topline is straight and smooth. The tail is set at or slightly below back level. Proportions must emphasize working type, stamina, and the ability to maintain a steady pace over great distances. Short legs, narrow chest, or weak bone are considered serious faults.
Behavior and Temperament
The Hound is active, energetic, and balanced, with pronounced hunting instincts. It possesses excellent scenting ability, a clear, ringing voice when tracking, and strong persistence in work. The temperament combines courage, independence, and long-term concentration. The hound must be friendly toward people and other dogs while maintaining sharp working focus. Timidity, aggression, hysteria, or weak motivation are serious faults. At home the hound is affectionate and sociable but requires activity due to high energy levels. In the field it must demonstrate a steady, consistent chase, confident pursuit of game, and the ability to work in difficult terrain.
Head
The hound’s head is elongated, dry, noble in outline, yet sufficiently strong for working function. The skull is moderately wide, slightly elongated, with a shallow median groove and smooth contour. The forehead is flat or slightly convex, without coarseness. The stop is moderate and smooth. The muzzle is long, straight, strong, well filled throughout, not tapering. Cheeks are dry and non-prominent. Bite is scissor; jaws are strong, teeth even and complete. Skin fits tightly without folds. The expression must show attentiveness, working focus, and determination. Coarse skull, short or pointed muzzle, excessive folds or extreme dryness disrupting breed type are unacceptable.
Foreface
The foreface is harmonious, elongated, emphasizing the breed’s working profile. The nasal bridge is straight or slightly convex. The nose is large with well-developed nostrils; color is typically black or dark brown. Lips are moderately firm, not loose; lip corners clean and neat. Jaws are strong and deep, ensuring secure grip. The chin is defined but not coarse. The foreface must appear clean, strict, and functional without exaggeration. Weak lower jaw, loose lips, light nose, harsh angles, or asymmetry impairing expression or working efficiency are faults.
Eyes
Eyes are oval, medium-sized, moderately deep-set, with an intelligent, focused, alert expression. Color ranges from dark brown to hazel; very light eyes are faulty. Eyelids are dry and tight without looseness. The gaze must be lively and attentive, reflecting high working motivation and the ability to pursue game for long periods. Eyes are a key breed element, expressing endurance and energy. Round, protruding eyes, poor pigmentation of eyelids, strabismus, or moistness disrupting the dry head type are faults.
Ears
Ears are medium in length, thin, soft, set slightly below or at eye level, hanging close to the cheeks and fitting tightly to the head. Their shape is elongated with rounded tips, emphasizing the refined lines of the head. At rest the ears lie flat; when alert, they lift slightly at the base without losing their pendant form. Coat on the ears is short and smooth. Too short, coarse, heavy, high-set ears, or ears not lying close to the head are faults. Correct ears underline breed type and create the soft yet energetic expression essential in a working dog.
Neck
The hound’s neck is long, dry, muscular, elegant, widening smoothly toward the shoulders. Its length allows wide visual range and ease of head movement during scent work. Skin fits tightly; slight dewlap is acceptable, but pronounced looseness is undesirable. The neck must be strong enough for prolonged field movement yet not overly massive. Short, thick necks, weak musculature, abrupt transitions, or folds disrupting the dry type are faults. The correct neck emphasizes the hound’s dynamism and stamina.
Body
The body is slightly elongated, strong, dry, with well-developed musculature. The topline is straight without dips or roach; the back is long enough but firm. The loin is short, muscular, smoothly joining the croup. The croup is broad, slightly sloping, enabling strong hind propulsion. The chest is deep to the elbows; ribs are long and moderately arched, providing significant respiratory capacity. The abdomen is tucked up with a smooth underline. The body must reflect endurance, ability for long work, and steady pursuit across difficult terrain. Narrow chest, weak back, looseness, excessive elongation, or overly short format are faults.
Tail
The tail is long, strong at the base, tapering toward the tip. It is set at or slightly below back level. At rest it hangs in a natural curve; in motion it rises but not above the back, remaining straight or slightly arched. The tail must accompany movement dynamically, emphasizing activity and working purpose. It must not be too thick, too thin, or deformed. Kinked, excessively high-set, ringed, or abnormally curved tails are faults. The correct tail completes the hound’s silhouette and demonstrates mobility, maintaining balance and harmony in stance and movement.
Exterior Description
Forequarters
Forequarters are straight, dry, strong, parallel, with well-defined bone and dry musculature. Shoulders are long, sloping, close-fitting, forming correct angulation with the upper arm for wide reach and fluid movement. Upper arms are muscular but not coarse. Elbows point straight back, neither turned out nor inward. Forearms are long, vertical, dry, providing endurance and stability. Pasterns are moderately sloped, elastic, shock-absorbing. Feet are compact, oval, with thick pads. Toeing out/in, weak pasterns, flat feet, or narrow bone reducing stride efficiency are faults.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters are long, muscular, providing strong propulsion and stability. Thighs are long, broad, well developed. Lower thighs are also long and dry, creating correct knee angulation. Hocks are strong, low-set, moving in one plane without inward or outward deviation. Metatarsi are short and vertical. Feet are strong, oval, well arched. Weak ligaments, cow hocks, bow legs, narrow or excessively wide stance, or overly straight angulation reducing propulsion are faults.
Gait and Movement
Movement is free, light, wide, with good reach and drive. Gait must be springy, steady, showing capacity for prolonged pursuit over rough terrain. The topline remains stable without sway or dip. At the trot the hound moves naturally, rhythmically, maintaining straightness and steady tempo. At greater speed movement becomes more expansive yet remains coordinated. Short stride, stiffness, crossing limbs, weak drive, or instability of the body are faults. Gait is a primary indicator of working suitability: the dog must move lightly, enduringly, and maintain steady pursuit for extended time.
Coat
The coat is short or medium in length, dense, close-fitting, providing protection in forest, tall grass, and rough terrain. Texture must be even and firm, not overly soft or wavy. Undercoat may be moderate or dense depending on type, supporting thermoregulation. Coat must not obscure body construction and should emphasize the dry, working type. Long, soft, fluffy coat in short-haired types, or sparse, brittle, uneven coat are faults. Coat quality plays a crucial role in working efficiency.
Permissible Colors
Permissible colors vary by regional type but generally include all shades of red, fawn, black and tan, red pied, fawn pied, and tricolor. Piebald markings must be even, without large blurred patches. Dark mask is allowed. Small white markings on chest, feet, or tail tip are acceptable but must not be extensive. Blue, merle, liver, as well as large white patches or a fully white head, are unacceptable. Color must support breed expression and reflect traditional working type.
Size
The hound is medium to large, but must maintain balance between agility and strength needed for pursuit work. Ideal height at the withers: males 58–67 cm, females 55–62 cm. Weight is typically 22–35 kg, matching strong yet dry build. Harmony is essential: overly tall dogs with insufficient bone lack stability and power; short-legged or overly compact dogs lose stride length and endurance. Chest must be deep with long ribs for necessary respiratory volume. Proportions and size must underscore functionality and working character.
Faults
Faults include any deviations affecting harmony, functionality, or working nature: weak bone, short or uneven limbs, narrow chest, weak back, loose musculature, excessive elongation or overly compact body. Head faults include coarseness, round eyes, weak muzzle, loose lips, light or poorly pigmented nose, long or high-set ears. Movement faults include short stride, stiffness, crossing limbs, weak propulsion, sway, or cow-hocked stance. Temperament faults include timidity, poor control, excessive aggression, or lack of hunting drive. Any trait reducing the dog’s ability for sustained, independent scent work is serious.
Disqualification
Disqualifying traits include severe structural, color, or behavioral defects making the dog unsuitable for breeding: aggression, fearfulness, panic reactions, unstable temperament. Anatomical disqualifications include serious bite faults, missing multiple teeth beyond allowance, significant limb or spinal deformities, lameness. Disallowed colors include merle, blue, gray, large white areas, fully white head, lack of nose or eyelid pigment. Blue or heterochromatic eyes are disqualifying. Any trait compromising functionality or historical type is grounds for exclusion.
Important Notes
Evaluation must consider the breed’s historical specialization: long-distance pursuit over challenging terrain using scent. Key criteria include endurance, steady pace, accurate scent work, and sustained concentration. Exterior must be assessed for functionality: the dog must be light enough for speed yet strong enough for prolonged effort. Young dogs may develop unevenly; temporary lightness or leanness is acceptable with proper growth. Movement deserves special attention — it must be free, wide, and stable, without signs of stiffness or weak drive. Temperament is equally important: the hound must be balanced, attentive, independent yet manageable, with strong hunting motivation. Any deviation harming working style is significant.
Conclusion
The Hound is a classic hunting breed combining energy, endurance, strong scenting ability, and remarkable determination. For centuries it has been used for hunting hare, fox, and other game, demonstrating capacity for steady, prolonged chase and independent work while maintaining vocal contact with the hunter. Its exterior reflects functionality: dry, strong body, long limbs, free movement, and attentive, focused expression. The breed preserves its traditional working type and is valued for its combination of intelligence, stability, and hunting passion. A well-bred hound remains a reliable assistant capable of working in difficult conditions and upholding centuries-old hunting traditions.
