Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison

Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is originated from Switzerland but Hellenic Hound is originated from Greece. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher may grow 7 cm / 2 inches shorter than Hellenic Hound. Both Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher and Hellenic Hound are having almost same weight. Both Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher and Hellenic Hound has almost same life span. Both Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher and Hellenic Hound has same litter size. Both Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher and Hellenic Hound requires Low maintenance.

History

The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an ancient dog breed and dates back to 1780. It is believed that this dog breed is extinct, but that the German Pinscher of today is family of this dog breed. The dog used to be good on the farm as an all-purpose working dog.

When you look at the history of dogs, there are so many that have come and gone, never to be seen or heard of again. Other animals become extinct because of environmental factors, but with dogs it’s a bit different and most, like the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, died out simply because it became unfashionable.

Maybe the jobs that this dog was designed to do no longer existed and he died out because he was no longer needed.

hellenic hound - historyDeveloped in Southern Greece, the Hellenic Hound was bred to hunt hare and is an ancient breed. It is a medium sized breed with strong scent and tracking skills. It is believed to have been in existence for thousands of years. The ancestry of the breed included the Lagonikoi or laconikoi, native to southern Greece in ancient times. The breed was spread by sailors on Greece trading ships and colonization.

Todays Hellenic Hound is found throughout Europe. Kept somewhat isolated by the mountains, the breed was protected from outside breeding and they remained pure for centuries. It is a fearless, smart and hyped up purebred. The Hellenic Hound needs to have a job and if you don’t give him one, he will find one. He is smart and independent which sometimes makes him stubborn. It also takes this dog longer to mature than others, sometime between two and three years. It is not good for first time owners. Today’s hound is still a popular hunting dog and companion animal as well. They are rarely seen outside of the Greek country.

In 1996 the Hellenic Hound was recognized as the first Greek dog breed into the FCI. They are not recognized by the AKC. Its numbers continue to decline.

Basic Information

Group:
Working dog
Hound dog
Origin:
Switzerland
Greece
Height Male:
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
47 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
Height Female:
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
45 - 53 cm
17 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
11 - 15 kg
24 - 34 pounds
17 - 20 kg
37 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
11 - 15 kg
24 - 34 pounds
15 - 18 kg
33 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 8
6 - 8
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Glattharidge
Greek Hound or the Hellenikos Ichnilatis The Hellenic Hound, Greek Harehound
Colors Available:
Black and tan
Black with tan markings
Coat:
Short and smooth
Short, smooth, sleek
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn
Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Playful, Stubborn, Sweet
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
No

Description

Described as a medium sized dog, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an extinct variety of the German Pinscher. Like that dog, the Swiss Shorthaired had a muscular, strong square build.

Possibly he also had his ears and tail docked at that time. It is thought that he stood between 40 – 48cm in height and weighed in the region of 11 to 15kg.

He had the typical looks of the Doberman Pinscher with short smooth hair in black and tan, short erect ears and a tail that was traditionally cropped. He was lean and muscular with brown eyes. They were working dogs in their day and were not considered the best dogs to have for the first time dog owner.

Tempeament

These dogs have always been hardworking, brave and fearless. They make good family pets too and get on well with children. They would have been adaptable too to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he got his exercise.

A well bred Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher was alert and a good guard dog, and one wonders why this dog with its good qualities died out.

hellenic hound puppy - descriptionToday’s Hellenic Hound is not a big dog but rather very average or medium. It is an athletic dog and looks like it. It has a balanced body with a deep chest and thick neck. It has medium height legs that are strong and muscular with paws that are prepared for the terrain it always works on. Its coat is short and tight. The colors of the Hellenic Hound are black with tan or white on the chest. Their heads are noble and rounded with a rectangle shaped muzzle. They have v shaped, long ears and round eyes. Their toe nails are black and so is their nose. It has excellent scent glands, very quick responses, speed and stamina. Their tail is thick and tapers off.

Characteristics

The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is no longer around but he would no doubt have made a good family pet. He would have wanted to protect his human family.

He was a stubborn, bold dog, and maybe socialization and training didn’t exist then, but he would have benefited from it.

He’s the kind of dog that would have adapted well to life in the city or the countryside, but you could never neglect his exercise needs. In the right environment, this Pinscher would have made a loving, loyal pet.

Children friendliness

hellenic hound dog - characteristicsyes, they are very fond of children as long as they are carefully socialized.

Special talents

Great hunter, stamina ,scent, voice

Adaptable

He needs to have a yard or land. He doesn’t do well in apartments.

Learning

The breed is very intelligent and can be very trainable. However, they can also be stubborn and that makes training harder.

Health Problems

It is not too sure about the health status of this extinct dog but we can assume that he would have been prone to some of the typical dog illnesses there are.

Hypothyroidismd, bloat, cancer, cataracts, infections and obesity were just some of the diseases this dog would have had to contend with.

Hypothyroidism:

The thyroid glands in the neck produce hormones. These hormones affect the functioning of the body. Hypothyroidism in dogs is usually caused by shrinkage of the thyroid gland or inflammation.The disease occurs more often in Pinscher dogs.

You may notice a dulling or thinning of your dog’s hair, weight gain and reduced activity. Hypothyroid dogs also tend to battle more with ear- and skin infections. Veterinary treatment will become necessary.

Catarats:

It causes a whiteness,cloudiness or opacity on the lens of the eye. It's not painful for a dog but it can cause loss of vision. Surgery can improve vision for the dog.

hellenic hound puppies - health problemsThe Hellenic Hound is a fairly healthy breed having been isolated on the Island of Greece for the most part. They are susceptible to:

Joint dysplasia

Could be hips, elbows or knees. If untreated can lead to lameness or inability to walk.

Arthritis

Causes joint pain and can cause lameness or inability to walk.

Bloat

Can be fatal if not treated immediately. To avoid it don’t feed a large meal before or after exercise.

Hunting injuries

Can be a variety of things that occur during the hunt.

Ear infections

Need to keep the ears clean and dry in order to avoid infections.

Caring The Pet

Diet:

In those days of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, maybe commercially manufactured dog foods weren’t available. If the dog were still around today, you would feed him dry kibble for medium sized dogs.

Probably the owners of these dogs fed them from the food they ate. It can be a good idea to feed any dog you have with some homemade food.

This can include things such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This is the kind of simple food that dogs love.

Being a farm dog in his day, he was probably tossed raw meat occasionally and this would have done him the world of good.

General Care:

Although the short, smooth hair of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is looked upon as low maintenance, the dog would have needed a good brush twice a week just to keep it shiny and healthy.

After a hard day of work on the farm, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher would have required a nice warm, dry spot to sleep.

Feeding the puppy

hellenic hound dogs - caringFeed the puppy 2-3 times a day a total of 2 cups

Feeding the adult

Feed the adult twice a day a total of 2-3 cups

Points for Good Health

The Hellenic Hound has excellent stamina, speed and scenting ability.

Games and Exercises

This is a very active, athletic dog that needs to work and needs exercise. He is powerful, quick and has great endurance. It thrives on hunting but will need other activities on the days it doesn’t hunt. It needs a yard or land to play in. Agility, Field Trials, tracking, hunting and fly ball are all activities the Hellenic Hound will enjoy.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs American Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Border Collie - Breed Comparison
  3. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Sakhalin Husky - Breed Comparison
  4. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Alaskan Husky - Breed Comparison
  5. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Catahoula Leopard - Breed Comparison
  6. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs German Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  7. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Portuguese Water Dog - Breed Comparison
  8. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  9. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Puli - Breed Comparison
  10. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Griffon Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  11. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Borador - Breed Comparison
  12. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs German Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  13. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Canadian Eskimo Dog - Breed Comparison
  14. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs McNab - Breed Comparison
  15. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Porcelaine - Breed Comparison
  16. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Finnish Lapphund - Breed Comparison
  17. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Berger Blanc Suisse - Breed Comparison
  18. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Griffon Nivernais - Breed Comparison
  19. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Hokkaido - Breed Comparison
  20. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Petit Bleu de Gascogne - Breed Comparison
  21. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Pumi - Breed Comparison
  22. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Australian Kelpie - Breed Comparison
  23. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Griffon Fauve de Bretagne - Breed Comparison
  24. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Basque Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  25. Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Istrian Sheepdog - Breed Comparison
  26. Pharaoh Hound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  27. Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  28. Hungarian Vizsla vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  29. Redbone Coonhound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  30. Norwegian Elkhound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  31. Santal Hound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  32. Podenco Canario vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  33. Podenco Andaluz vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  34. Podenco Galego vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  35. Kanni vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  36. Lithuanian Hound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  37. Hungarian Hound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  38. Hygenhund vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  39. Norrbottenspets vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  40. Polish Hound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  41. Russian Harlequin Hound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  42. Russian Hound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  43. Sabueso Espanol vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Schillerstovare vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  45. Schweizer Laufhund vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  46. Schweizer Niederlaufhund vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  47. Serbian Hound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  48. Silken Windhound vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  49. Smalandsstovare vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison
  50. Stephens Stock vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds