Overview
The Greek Harehound, known at home as the Hellenikos Ichnilatis, is a medium scenthound with a short black coat and tan markings, built light for speed and endurance over hard, dry ground. Hunters in Greece use it in pairs or small groups to find and chase hare, and it is seldom seen anywhere else.
In Britain the handful that exist mostly come through rescue or with Greek families. Expect a dog that is alert, independent and physically tough, that cares a lot about scent and may need time to understand pavements, lifts and other oddities of urban life.
Exercise and walking needs
Around ninety minutes a day with plenty of ground to cover and smells to follow. A long line in fields or along tracks gives the dog room to work without you losing it.
Hardy as it is, the breed grew up in heat and may feel our winters. A thin coat and lean frame mean a jacket on cold, wet days is kinder than you might expect.
On the walk
- Recall: Unreliable whenever there is hare or rabbit scent, which in Britain is almost everywhere. Keep the line on.
- Voice: Bred to give tongue when hunting, so expect a loud, musical bark on a good trail.
- Other dogs: Worked in small groups and usually at ease with other dogs, though a rescue may be wary of boisterous ones.
- Novelty: A dog raised outdoors in rural Greece may freeze at traffic or bins. Keep early walks short and quiet.
Tips for professional walkers
- Use a harness and a long line; the neck is slender and the lunges are sudden.
- Avoid rabbit-heavy routes until you know how strong the drive is.
- Bring a coat for the dog in cold or wet weather.
- Give the dog a chance to sniff at length; it is the work it was bred for.
What to ask the owner
- Where did the dog come from, and how long has it lived in a house?
- What frightens it in the street, and how does the owner help it through?
- Does it have any recall, and how does it react to rabbits, hares and cats?