Let's talk Serbian Tricolour Hounds
Summing up the Serbian Tricolour Hound is easy: this breed combines the stamina and energy, the beauty and the gentle nature of their close cousins the Serbian Hound – in a slightly more colourful package! Black, white and tan to be precise, and with almost outlandish outsize ears and a charming quizzical expression. These robust scent hounds, still much in vogue in their homeland, are disappointingly rare elsewhere, but deserve wider acclaim as they have much to offer the active, outdoorsy dog lover.
Official name: Serbian Tricolour Hound
Other names: Srpski Trobojni Gonič
Origins: Serbia
| Drooling tendencies |  |
Warm weather? |  |
| Shedding level |  |
Suited to apartment living? | |
| *Energy Level | moderate | *Friendly pet? |  |
| Compatibility with other pets | |
*Can stay alone? | |
* We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches. Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behavior. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socializing your pet as well as covering their basic welfare needs (and their social and behavioral needs).
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.
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46 - 53 cm
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20 - 25 kg
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46 - 56 cm
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17 - 21 kg
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| Baby age | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age | 2 to 12 months |
| Adult age | 1 to 7 years |
| Mature age | 7 to 10 years |
| Senior age | From 10 years |
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Get to know the Serbian Tricolour Hound
All you need to know about the breed
Serbian Tricolour Hounds are undeniably beautiful – who could fail to appreciate their glossy coats and those huge ears? But their beauty is just the beginning – these hardy and energetic dogs also make highly efficient working dogs as well as affectionate and gentle pets.
Serbian Tricolour Hounds boast impressive energy levels and boundless stamina. Before you think about taking one on (if you can secure one: they are still rare outside their homeland) – ask yourself if your lifestyle will really fit in with their need for exercise. Long walks and hikes are the order of the day (we’re talking one to three hours per day, not just short strolls around the block). They also need opportunities to play and chase off the lead – but these must be in an enclosed space as they still have a strong prey drive.
On the flip side, once they’ve worked off some of that energy, Serbian Tricolour Hounds demonstrate an affectionate nature at home. Once trained, they get on well with children, though like any other breed they should not be left unsupervised with them. These sociable hounds are used to living and working in a pack so they should get on well with other dogs. They are not suited to long periods left alone, but don’t worry, once one of these charming canines has become part of your family, you won’t want to be apart from them for long anyway.
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2 facts about Serbian Tricolour Hounds
1. Hamsters beware
The Serbian Tricolour Hound breed’s prey instinct is strong. This means that they are not suitable additions to households containing small pets such as guinea pigs, rabbits or hamsters. Trust us, the smaller animals will thank you for it.
2. The hound formerly known as …
Serbian Tricolour Hounds, or Srpski Trobojni Gonič, for the more linguistically gifted fans of the breed, have been charging through the undergrowth of their homelands for many hundreds of years, but their name has changed. They used to be called the Yugoslavian Tricolour Hound, but they were renamed in the 1990s after the break-up of the former Yugoslavia.
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History of the breed
Serbian Tricolour Hounds are thought to have existed in the Balkans for many hundreds of years. However, it was only in the 1940s that the breed started to be recognised as distinct from the Serbian Hound, with which the dogs share many common characteristics and most likely common ancestry. (The differences are the colouring, of course, but also the precise part of Serbia the two breeds originated in.)
The first Serbian Tricolour Hound standard was set out in the 1940s and the breed’s first appearance at a dog show came in 1950, in Belgrade. Back then the breed was known as the Yugoslavian Tricolour Hound (as distinct from the then Balkan Hound, which later became the Serbian Hound – still with us?!)
The Serbian Tricolour Hound breed finally obtained recognition from the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 1961. After the break-up of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s, the Yugoslavian Tricolour Hound was renamed the Serbian Tricolour Hound in 1996. The United Kennel Club recognised the breed in 2006.
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Serbian Tricolour Hounds
1. Coat
Glossy short coats in shades of black, tan and white with saddle marking.
2. Ears
Tapered muzzle, large floppy ears.
3. Body
Strong but lean build with upward curving tail.
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Serbian Tricolour Hound
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Caring for your Serbian Tricolour Hound
Grooming, training and exercise tips
Serbian Hounds shed seasonally but their smooth glossy coats don’t require a lot of grooming, just a straightforward brush through will do the trick. They need regular tooth brushing, to maintain good dental hygiene – ideally daily. Their nails should also be clipped regularly too. These energetic hounds need plenty of exercise. Off-the-lead runs should be in a safely enclosed space: their prey drive is as strong as their noses and you don’t want to find yourself chasing a runaway with as much stamina as these dogs. Fetching and chasing games are a good idea to cover their need for mental as well as physical activity. Early socialisation should ensure that they fit in comfortably with other people and dogs and feel at ease in everyday situations. Serbian Hounds are intelligent – good news – but they have a reputation for being a little … independent-minded at times. Training will have to be patient and consistent but you’ll get there! Just make sure that any food rewards come out of their daily rations, to avoid them gaining excess weight.
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All about Serbian Tricolour Hounds
They do, as long as they’re part of the kind of family that gets up off the sofa to go hiking, running, rambling … these dogs are real outdoors aficionados so they aren’t really suited to city dwellers.
These lovely hounds are, sadly, fairly little known outside their home region – but much loved by those in the know. If you set your heart on one, you may have to be patient.
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Read more on this topic
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Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/