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Hound · Bosnia and Herzegovina

Barak hound

A walker's guide to the Barak hound: how much exercise they need, what to expect on and off the lead, and what to ask the owner before the first walk.

Medium, 16 to 24 kgHigh energyScenthoundWire coatRare in UKVocal
Exercise a day90 min plus
Energy4 of 5
Walk styleDetermined nose work
With other dogsPack hound, easy-going

Overview

The Barak, or Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound, is a sturdy medium-sized scenthound with a shaggy, weather-resistant coat in wheaten, red, grey or black, often with a beard and bushy brows. It was bred to hunt hare, fox and wild boar in the forests and hills of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a dog has to be tough, persistent and loud enough to be followed.

Few live outside the Balkans. Owners describe them as good-natured and sociable at home with a one-track mind outdoors. That combination is exactly what you should prepare for.

Exercise and walking needs

An hour and a half a day across two outings is a fair baseline. They are built to work for hours in rough terrain and will not be satisfied by a quick round of a housing estate.

Scent games and long-line tracking are the best outlet. A hound allowed to follow a trail you have laid comes home far calmer than one that has merely covered miles.

Daily minimum90 minutes
Ideal2 walks a day
Off-lead timeRarely, scent wins

On the walk

  • Recall: Unreliable once the nose is engaged. Use a long line as standard and keep the dog on lead near roads and farmland.
  • Voice: The breed is bred to bay on a trail. Expect noise if it picks up a scent, and avoid working it near houses.
  • Other dogs: Hounds kept in packs tend to be easy company. Expect polite indifference to most dogs you meet.
  • Lead manners: Persistent, low-level pulling towards scent rather than lunging. A harness protects the neck and gives you more control.
  • Coat: Wiry fur sheds mud reasonably well but collects seeds, burrs and the odd tick. A quick check after walks saves trouble.

Tips for professional walkers

  1. Bring a ten-metre line and treat the dog as on lead even when it has freedom to range.
  2. Lay a short treat trail at the start of the walk and let the dog work it; it sets a calmer tone.
  3. Avoid routes along the edge of arable fields in spring when hares are moving.
  4. Check between the toes and under the beard for debris after wet, muddy walks.
Every dog is an individual. Treat this as a starting point and go with what the owner tells you about their dog. Anything to do with health belongs with the owner and their vet.

What to ask the owner

  • Has the dog been used for hunting, and how strongly does it react to game and livestock?
  • What has the owner found works for recall, if anything?
  • Is there a harness or line the dog is already used to?
Posavac HoundA rusty red Croatian scenthound from the Sava river valleyIstrian Coarse-haired HoundA rough-coated Croatian scenthound bred to hunt fox and hare on rocky Istrian ground; keenSerbian HoundA hardy red and black scenthound from the BalkansStyrian Coarse-haired HoundA tough