Hound breed Medium size 15-20 kg

Slovakian Hound

A tenacious black-and-tan scenthound bred for tough game - high-drive and vocal, best for active, outdoor homes rather than city flats.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Medium
Size
15-20 kg · 40-50 cm
Very high
Exercise needs
High stamina; needs long daily exercise
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Copes alone once well exercised
Challenging
Training
Independent and strongly nose-driven
Low
Coat care
Short coat, easy grooming
Cautious
Fit with kids
Fine with older kids in active homes
Conditional
Other pets
Sociable with dogs; prey drive to small pets
Moderate
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia, Bloat

The Slovakian Hound typically weighs 15-20 kg, stands 40-50 cm, and lives 12-14 years.

Consider this breed if…

you hunt or want a hardy, high-drive working scenthound,
you have an active, outdoor lifestyle with lots of walking,
you can offer secure fencing and long daily exercise,
you can handle an independent, nose-led, vocal dog.

Do not consider this breed if…

you live in an apartment or dense city with close neighbors,
you want an easy, biddable first dog,
you cannot commit to long daily exercise and a fenced yard,
you keep small pets a strong prey drive might chase.

A typical day with a Slovakian Hound

  1. 6:30 · Morning
    Long walk, run, or a tracking session
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Rests after burning energy
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Walk with plenty of sniffing and scent work
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Active play or fieldwork in a safe area
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    Second long walk, then calm time
  6. 21:00 · Night
    A worked hound settles and rests

Temperament and training

Prey drive Very high
Independence High
Vocality High
Energy Very high
Determination Very high
Trainability Low
Common owner mistakes
Underestimating the exercise a working scenthound needs · Trusting off-leash recall when the nose takes over · Keeping this vocal, high-drive hound in a small city flat

Family and environment

Kids Conditional
Fine with older kids in active homes; high energy.
Dogs Good
Generally sociable with other dogs, often pack-worked.
Cats Cautious
Strong prey drive; risky around cats and small pets.
Apartment Poor fit
Too active and vocal for flat living.
House with a yard Suitable
Needs secure, tall fencing and daily exercise.
City Poor fit
Baying and high drive clash with dense urban life.
Countryside Ideal
Space and scent work match what it was bred for.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Moderate

Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.

View the full health profile
Top health concerns
Dental Disease Very common; routine brushing and cleanings help
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; signs often from 1-2 years
Bloat (GDV) Emergency stomach twist in deep-chested dogs
Chronic Ear Infections Drop ears need regular checking and cleaning

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Similar black-and-tan working scenthound
Black And Tan Coonhound
An easygoing, nose-driven American hound that is great with family but bays loudly and follows scents anywhere - fenced space and patience required.
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Related Central European hunting hound
Polish Ogar
A steady, deep-voiced tracking hound that needs space and daily scentwork - its independence and baying are trade-offs for close-neighbor living.
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Regional scenthound with comparable drive
Transylvanian Hound
An athletic Hungarian scenthound that thrives with an active, outdoor family and plenty of room to run.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Slovakian Hound cost in the US?
This is a rare working breed outside Slovakia, so expect very few breeders, likely imports, and waitlists, with puppy prices commonly in the $1,200-$2,500 range. Over a 12-14 year life, food and routine vet care typically add $9,000-$16,000 or more, and an emergency like bloat surgery can add several thousand on top.
Is the Slovakian Hound a good pet for a family?
It is first and foremost a hunting dog, bred to track and hold tough game like wild boar. In an active, outdoor family with older children it can do well, but it needs serious daily exercise, secure fencing, and an owner who accepts its independence, high drive, and tendency to bay.
Can a Slovakian Hound live in an apartment?
It is a poor fit. This is a high-energy, vocal scenthound that needs long daily exercise and a job for its nose. Confined to a flat it becomes frustrated and noisy, and its baying is likely to disturb close neighbors.
Is the Slovakian Hound hard to train?
For pet obedience, yes. Like most scenthounds it is independent and strongly nose-driven, and a fresh scent will easily override commands. It responds best to patient, motivating, scent-based training, and off-leash reliability in open areas is never guaranteed.