Posavac Hound
POH-sah-vats hound
Croatia· Sava river valley, Croatia
The Posavac Hound is a Croatian scenthound developed for trailing hare and fox through the wetlands and lowland forest of the Sava river valley.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Medium
Exercise needs
1-2 hours per day
Home size suited to
Medium
Grooming frequency
Weekly brush
Coat length
Short
Sheds
Yes
Lifespan
12-14 years
Town or country
Country preferred
Garden size needed
Medium or larger
Where it comes from
Origins of the Posavac Hound
The marshy lowlands and river forests of the Sava valley called for a hardy, weather-resistant hound able to work in wet ground and dense reed and scrub, trailing hare and fox for rural hunters who needed a practical, unglamorous working dog.
- Region
- Sava river valley, Croatia
- Climate it was bred for
- Warm summers, cold winters, lowland river valley and marsh
- Original job
- Trailing hare and fox through the wetlands and lowland forest of the Sava valley
The long read
About the breed
Its working environment of marsh, reed bed and river forest shaped a hardy, weatherproof coat and a persistent, methodical hunting style, valued by local hunters over generations for reliability rather than speed or looks.
It is an affectionate, adaptable companion at home, generally good-natured with families, though it retains a strong scenting drive and needs regular exercise with opportunities to work its nose.
The breed remains closely tied to its home region, used as a working hunting dog in Croatia with minimal presence elsewhere.
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 Posavac 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 Posavac 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 Posavac 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
1800s
Regional lowland hounds
Local scenthounds were used for hunting hare and fox across the Sava river valley.
1969
First breed standard
A formal standard was drawn up to fix the breed's type.
1975
FCI recognition
The Posavac Hound was recognised internationally under the FCI.
1990s
Post-war continuity
The breed continued to be maintained by hunters through Croatia's independence period.
2000s
Continued regional use
The breed remains closely associated with hunting in the Sava valley region.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Moderately long, deep chest, sturdy legs.
- coat
- Short, dense and coarse, weather-resistant.
- ears
- Medium length, set moderately high, hanging close to the head.
- eyes
- Dark brown, gentle expression.
- head
- Moderately long, flat skull, slight stop.
- size
- 46-58cm, both sexes
- colour
- Reddish-wheaten, ranging from pale yellow-red to a deeper red.
- temperament
- Good-natured, persistent and adaptable, with a steady hunting drive.
- general appearance
- A medium-sized, wheaten-coloured hound of plain, hardy build, well suited to wet lowland terrain.
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
Posavac Hounds added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
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Made for the Posavac Hound
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Posavac 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
Posavac Hound Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Posavac Hound illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Posavac Hound Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Posavac Hound illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Posavac Hound Mug
Ceramic mug with the Posavac Hound illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
LED Reflective Lead Light
Rechargeable clip-on light for dark walks.
Fits any dog
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