Halden Hound
HAHL-den hound
Norway· Halden, south-eastern Norway
The Halden Hound is a Norwegian scenthound developed near the Swedish border for trailing hare across mixed terrain.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Medium
Exercise needs
2 hours+ per day
Home size suited to
Medium or larger
Grooming frequency
Weekly brush
Coat length
Short
Sheds
Yes
Lifespan
12-13 years
Town or country
Country preferred
Garden size needed
Medium or larger
Where it comes from
Origins of the Halden Hound
Around the border town of Halden, hunters wanted a hound combining Norwegian hardiness with the pace and drive of imported hound blood, suited to trailing hare through both forest and more open lowland terrain near the Swedish frontier.
- Region
- Halden, south-eastern Norway
- Climate it was bred for
- Cold winters, forested lowland and hills
- Original job
- Trailing hare over varied terrain near the Swedish border
The long read
About the breed
Its ancestry combines native Norwegian hound stock with imported English and German hounds, producing a breed with more pace and drive than some older Scandinavian trailing hounds while retaining a reliable nose and steady temperament.
It is a friendly, adaptable companion at home but keeps a strong hunting instinct and needs plenty of daily exercise; recall can be unreliable once it picks up an interesting scent. It suits an active countryside owner best.
The breed remains rare even within Norway and is essentially unknown outside Scandinavia, kept mainly by hunters who value its working ability.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
3/5
How openly the Halden Hound greets people it does not know.
Trainability
3/5
How readily the breed takes to training in an ordinary home.
Energy
3/5
How much daily exercise and stimulation the breed expects.
Barking
3/5
How vocal the breed tends to be day to day.
Grooming
3/5
How much coat work the breed needs to stay comfortable.
Suits a first-time owner
3/5
How forgiving the Halden Hound is for someone taking on their first dog.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The Halden Hound's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Timeline
History & development
1830s
Border hunting hounds
Local hounds near Halden were crossed with hounds brought in from Sweden, England and Germany.
1900s
Type stabilised
A recognisable local type became established around the Halden district.
1950s
FCI recognition
The breed was formally recognised under the FCI.
1980s
Small population maintained
Dedicated Norwegian breeders kept the breed going despite very low numbers.
2000s
Continued rarity
The Halden Hound remains one of the rarest FCI-recognised hound breeds.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Well-proportioned, strong back, deep chest.
- coat
- Short, close and dense.
- ears
- Medium length, set high, hanging close to the cheeks.
- eyes
- Dark brown, lively expression.
- head
- Moderately long, flat skull, slight stop.
- size
- Dogs 47-55cm, bitches 45-53cm
- colour
- Predominantly white with black and tan patches.
- temperament
- Friendly, alert and driven, with a strong hunting instinct.
- general appearance
- A medium-sized, well-proportioned hound, predominantly white with dark markings, built for stamina.
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
Dogs like this
Halden Hounds added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
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Made for the Halden Hound
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Halden Hound illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
Halden Hound Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Halden Hound illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Halden Hound Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Halden Hound illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Halden Hound Mug
Ceramic mug with the Halden Hound illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Treat Pouch
Magnetic-close belt pouch for training sessions.
Fits any dog
Pawpoint on YouTube
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