Hunting Dogs: The Slovensky Kopov, also known as the Black Forest Hound, is a dog born to hunt large predators such as bears and wild boars. His sense of direction, strength, smell and courage allow him to track down the wild in very difficult terrain and with very low temperatures.
The Slovensky Kopov or Chien courant slovaque, also known as the Black Forest Hound, is a dog specialized for hunting large predators such as bears and wild boars. This breed belongs to Group 6 of bloodhounds and track dogs, according to the classification of the FCI.
Slovensky Kopov has origins that are lost in time, and unfortunately, they are still completely unknown. Nothing is known about the breeds that determined the selection of the Slovensky Kopov, but only the country of origin is known, namely Slovakia. Some argue that a few drops of the Rottweiler's blood flow through Slovensky Kopov's veins, but these hypotheses have not been confirmed. The official recognition of this breed took place only after the Second World War, although it had been present in Slovakia for centuries.
It is a medium-sized dog, with a sturdy bone structure and a rather light body structure. This breed has as its main characteristic the extraordinary sense of orientation, which has been considered the best of all dog breeds and which allows it to move with ease in environments where reference points are scarce.
It is a hound famous for its consistency in following the fresh trail or track, even for several hours. It is mainly used in hunting wild boar and large carnivores, such as bears, giving its voice and never getting tired. It is equally distinguished by its bite, a not indifferent defense weapon. The Slovensky Kopov can also be trained as a guard and defense dog, with excellent results. Equipped with a lively temperament that he expresses in the hunting trip, in the family environment in which he lives he is friendly, calm and thoughtful. Given its rustic nature, many advise against keeping it in an apartment, as this breed prefers open spaces.
The breed standard provides a height for males between 45 and 50 cm, while for females between 40 and 45 cm. The weight is between 15 and 20 Kg. The trunk is quite light, but very well proportioned and of the right proportions. The body has the shape of an elongated rectangle. The facial region includes the typical head of the hound, with a fairly broad muzzle and a broad skull. The nose is black, rather large, slightly pointed, with moderately open nostrils. The bridge of the nose is straight, in proportion to the skull, long but not too wide. The lips are well joined, not drooping, thin, while the jaws are regular and solid jaws, presenting a complete and well developed set of teeth.
The eyes denote the liveliness and courage of this breed, being dark and well set in the eye sockets. The eyelids are always edged in black in the shape of an almond. The ears are set slightly below the eye line, have a medium length, are rounded at their ends and droop flat against the head. The neck is very sturdy. The limbs are perfectly straight, straight and strong. The musculature of this breed is well evident and developed, which allows this hound to sustain long walks in difficult terrain. The shoulder has a right inclination.
The tail is saber-like and long up to the hock. The skin is supple and soft. Covered with a layer of hair from 2 to 5 cm long, of medium thickness, well laid down and dense. It is a little longer on the back, neck and tail. The undercoat is dense, especially in winter, to protect it from the low temperatures typical of Slovakia.
The colors allowed for this breed are black with spots ranging from brown to acajou on the lips, cheeks, throat, chest, eyes and legs.
Despite its size, the Slovensky Kopov is taken to hunt very aggressive wild such as wild boar and bears, demonstrating the courage and stubbornness of this breed, which deserves greater consideration in hunting.