1) Origin
The Estonian Hound is relatively young dog breed, developed in Estonia in mid 20th century. Of course, Estonian used hunting dogs before that, but they used foreign breeds, such as Beagles, various Swiss, German, Polish or English Hounds. After the second World War, in 1947, Soviet Union’s Ministry of Agriculture decided, that each republic should have its own hunting breed. Estonian cynologists selected approximately 50 smaller hunting dogs that were similar in appearance and temperament and began crossing them. These 50 dogs were the foundation of the Estonian Hound. The breed was officially recognized in 1954 and the Estonian Hound quickly gained popularity among Estonian hunters. After Estonia regained independence, the breed was declared the national dog of Estonia, symbolizing the country’s heritage and hunting traditions

​2) Not a Beagle
Most people will mistake the Estonian Hound for a Beagle and it is understandabl as the Beagle is one of the most popular dog and it is extremely similar to the Estonian Hound. But despite their similarities, these are two completely separate breeds and there are few key differences between them. The first one is size - the Estonian Hound is slightly larger than the Beagle and has longer legs, giving it a more athletic build. Second difference is in the tail. The Beagles tail is usually upright and straight, while the Estonian Hound carries its tail in a more relaxed, saber-like curve. When it come to face, the Estonian Hound has a narrower and longer muzzle and slightly smaller ears. So yes, there are some differences between the Estonian Hound and Beagle, but to the untrained eye, the Estonian Hound can still be easily mistaken for a Beagle!

3) Utilization
The Estonian Hound is a true hunter. They have extraordinary sense of smell and they are always determined for tracking the game, even in difficult terrain. The Estonian Hound is well known for its never-ending energy and endurance. While hunting, the Estonian Hound uses its loud, resonant voice, making it easier for hunters to locate it from a distance. As you can see, this is truly extraordinary scenthound. In Estonia, it is primarily used for hunting hare and foxes, as it is trained to avoid hoofed animals.

4) Companion
The Estonian Hound is not just a skilled hunter—it’s also a wonderful companion. This breed is friendly, affectionate, and enjoys being part of the family. With a calm and even-tempered nature, they get along well with all family members, including children. They can tolerate a bit of rough play but should always be treated with respect. They thrive on human interaction and don’t like being left alone for long periods. If left without company, they can become anxious or even destructive out of boredom. The only problem might be other household pets. The Estonian Hound is a hunter afterall and they might try to hunt down some smaller animals. On the other hand, they are typically very good with other dogs, especially if raised from the puppyhood.

5) Not for everyone
Even though this is a wonderful playful and loving companion, they are still not for everyone. All the hounds are not the easiest to train because they are all kind of independent and can be a bit stubborn, which makes training more challenging.and they need experienced owners. Even more importantly, the Estonian Hound is an extremely energetic breed that requires an active family. They need daily exercise—long walks, jogging, hiking, vigorous playtime, or interactive training sessions—anything that keeps their body and mind engaged. Without enough activity, they may develop behavioral problems such as excessive barking or destructive tendencies.

6) Size
I already mentioned before that the Estonian Hound is slightly larger than the Beagle. To be more specific, this breed typically stands between 42-52 cm (17-20 inches) at the shoulder and weighs around 15-20 kg (33-44 pounds). As with most dog breeds, females tend to be slightly smaller than males.

7) Coat and Color
The Estonian Hound has a short, dense, and slightly rough coat with a bit of undercoat, making it well-suited for various weather conditions. Most commonly, they come in great looking tri color, which means they are white with black and tan markings, but they can also be bicolor – white and yellow or white and red.

8) Maintenance
Speaking of coat it is important to mention the maintenance as well and luckily it is not that hard with the estonian hound. They do shed all year round, so regular brushing to remove all the dead and loose hair and minimize the shedding is recommended, but thats about it. No other grooming is required. Of course, just like with any other dog breed, you should regularly check their eyes, ears, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.

9) Rarity
The Estonian Hound is popular and beloved in its own country – Estonia and actually, it was officially declared the national dog of Estonia by the government in 2019. But outside Estonia, this breed remains extremely rare, basically almost impossible to find outside Estonia. According to the data of Estonian Kennel Club, there are only few dozens of Estonian Hound puppies registered each year.

10) Health
The Estonian Hound should be rather healthy and hardy dog breed. Unfortunatelly, there are no health studies published online about this breed, but the average lifespan should be around 13 or 14 years, which is typical for dog of this size. Of course, just like any other dog breed on this planet, they can sometimes suffer from some health issues, such as joint problems, some allergies or patellar luxation, but overal, this should be healthy breed on average.

History:
The history and ancestry of Vojvodjanski Pulin is unclear and there are several theories about it. All of them agree that this is very old dog breed.
One of the most widely accepted theories suggests that the Vojvodjanski Pulin developed through the crossing of various local herding dogs from the Pannonian plains. Another theory claims that it is an ancient breed, thousands of years old, possibly descending from black Asian Spitz-type dogs, Laikas, or even the Alopekis dogs of Greece. While we may never know its exact ancestry on 100%, we know for sure that the Pulin has existed for at least several hundreads years, possibly thousand years.
If you are familiar with other European herding dogs, you probably notice, that the Pulin is quite similar to Hungarian Mudi or to Croatian Sheepdog. And indeed, it is believed that the Vojvodjanski Pulin played a role in development of both breeds.
Unlike many modern dog breeds, the Pulin was never bred for appearance but rather for its working ability—primarily herding sheep and other livestock. For centuries, it served this purpose across the regions of present-day Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania. However, it was in the Vojvodina region of northern Serbia that the breed took its final form and became known as the Vojvodjanski Pulin.
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Utilization:
As mentioned earlier, the Pulin has always been primarily used as a herding dog. They are highly skilled at herding sheep, cows, and goats. They truly are amazing herders and they can work basically with any animal.
When needed, the Pulin can also serve as livestock protectors, but of course, they are relatively small for this purpose. It is more traditional for the Pulin to work with other powerful livestock protector dog, such as Tornjak or Sarplaninac. The strong LGD protects the livestock, while the Pulin control it and herd it.
With their endless energy and stamina, Pulins are naturally gifted herders. However, their abilities extend beyond herding—they have historically been used as watchdogs and even as vermin hunters. This is a truly versatile breed.

Temperament:
I already mentioned that this is highly energetic breed. In addition to their boundless energy, they possess several other traits that make them exceptional herding dogs. They are extremely alert, focused, intelligent, and intuitive. This breed is also deeply loyal—to both its owner and the livestock it protects. Athletic and highly trainable, the Pulin is perfectly suited for herding work.
However, the Pulin is not just a hardworking dog—it is also a wonderful companion. They are incredibly affectionate with their family and generally good with children. Of course, like with any breed, interactions between dogs and very young children should always be supervised.
The Pulin is known as very playful dog that is always ready for any kind of playtime or outdoor adventure. On the other hand, they are also known as wary of strangers – it takes some time for Pulin to gain a trust for a complete stranger.
Overall the Pulin makes superb companion, but they should live in active family and they generally do better in countryside rather than in city as typical apartment dogs.

Appearance:
As mentioned earlier, the Pulin shares a similar appearance with the Hungarian Mudi and the Croatian Sheepdog. However, the key difference is that the Vojvodjanski Pulin is larger than both. This breed typically stands between 47-52 cm (18-21 inches) tall and weighs around 10-15 kg (22-33 lbs), with females naturally being slightly smaller than males.
The first thing you will most likely notice about the Pulin is their unique wavy coat. But it can sometimes be curly or flat. The coat is always smooth and short on head and legs.
They typically comes in black color, it is by far the most prevalent color, but they can also be white, yellow, fawn, red, brown or brindle. Black dogs are preffered and the other colors are slowly dissappearing.
The Vojvodjanski Pulin has a deep and broad chest, muscular and athletic body, small erect ears, relatively small head in relation to the rest of the body, narrow muzzle and powerful jaws.

Health and grooming:
The Pulin has a coat that generally repels dirt and he does not require frequent bathing. Also the grooming is not very hard. A weekly brushing is sufficient and their coat does not need trimming. You can regularly brush the coat to remove all the dead and loose hair – it will only be beneficial. Just like with all dogs, you should regularly check the dogs ears, eyes and nails and clip them or clean them if needed.
The Pulin is generally healthy dog breed with average lifespan around 14 years. Just like all dog breeds, they can suffer from some health issues, especially at older age. Those include hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy or progressive retinal atrophy. But this is rather healthy and hardy dog breed!

 Strong lookalikes:

1. Doberman
   I believe there are four strong lookalikes of the Rottweiler, and no one will be surprised that one of them is the Doberman. Both breeds share the same black-and-tan coloring, similar height, and a muscular, tough appearance. However, the Doberman has a more slender and agile frame compared to the bulkier Rottweiler. While both make excellent guard dogs, the Doberman is much more energetic than the Rottweiler.
2. Laizhou Hong (Chinese Red Dog)
   This video features a mix of well-known breeds like the Doberman and rare ones like the Laizhou Hong, also known as the Chinese Red Dog. The similarities with the Rottweiler is no coincidence, because the Laizhou Hong was developed in China by crossing Rottweilers with local working dogs. They share the same black-and-tan coloration, muscular build, and protective nature. However, Laizhou Hongs tend to be leaner and more agile than Rottweilers.
3. Serbian Defense Dog
   Another rare breed you’ve probably never heard of—but one that looks extremely similar to the Rottweiler—is the Serbian Defense Dog. This breed was developed in the 1980s as an attempt to recreate the ancient Serbian Mastiff. To achieve this, breeders crossed powerful dogs like the Neapolitan Mastiff, Bosnian Tornjak, and—you guessed it—the Rottweiler, which explains the striking similarities. The Serbian Defense Dog is even bigger and heavier than the Rottweiler, with an even stronger protective instinct.
4. Beauceron
   ​The last of the four strong Rottweiler lookalikes is the Beauceron, a powerful French herding breed. At first glance, their black-and-tan coat, similar facial features and muscular build make them look very similar to a Rottweiler. However, the Beauceron is a true herding dog, known for its incredible intelligence, endurance, and agility. Unlike the stockier Rottweiler, the Beauceron has a leaner and more athletic frame. But especially thanks to their coloring, i consider them as one of the strong lookalikes.

Moderate Lookalikes

1. Canis Panther
   Now i will mention 6 dog breeds that do resemble the Rottweilers a lot, but they differ in some areas a bit more than the previous dogs. The first one is the rare and intimidating Canis Panther. The Canis Panther was developed in the USA as a personal protection dog by mixing Dobermans, black Great Danes, black Labradors and American Staffordshire Terriers.
2. Cane Corso
   The Cane Corso is a powerful Italian mastiff breed that shares some key similarities with the Rottweiler, but also several distinct differences. Both breeds are robust, muscular, and naturally protective, making them exceptional guard dogs. In appearance, they both have very intimidating muscular stature, but the Cane Corso has even larger head than the Rottweiler and on the first sight they look heavier than the Rottweiler. They also have different coloring, but when they are in black color, they definitely look like Rottweilers a lot!
3. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
   The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog is a close relative of the famous Bernese Mountain Dog. It’s a strong, muscular working breed with a tri-color coat, making it a moderate Rottweiler lookalike. Even their face has some similarities. However, the Swissy has a thicker coat, a more relaxed expression, and a slightly bulkier frame. And, of course, its coloration differs slightly from the classic black-and-tan Rottweiler.
4. Hovawart
   The Hovawart, when in black-and-tan coloration, looks like a long-haired version of the Rottweiler. Just like the Rottweiler, it has a strong, muscular build and a confident, protective nature. This versatile German breed excels not only as a guardian but also in tracking and search-and-rescue work. And here’s a fun fact—when Hovawarts come in a golden color instead of black-and-tan, they become one of the closest lookalikes to the Golden Retriever!
5. Tosa Inu
   The Tosa Inu is another breed that, if it had a black-and-tan coat, could easily be mistaken for a Rottweiler. Like the Rottweiler, the Tosa is a powerful, muscular, and highly protective dog. However, the Tosa Inu has a more mastiff-like appearance with looser skin and a heavier build.
6. Gaddi Kutta
   When the Gaddi Kutta has a black and tan coat, it can almost look like a long-haired Rottweiler, right? They also have similar protective instict, they are probably even more protective and territorial than the Rottie. The Gaddi Kutta is primarily used as a livestock protector and it is also known as Himalayan Sheepdog or Indian Panther Hound.

More Distinct Lookalikes

1. Bullmastiff
   Now we will finish the video with 5 more distinct lookalikes. In terms of body structure, the Bullmastiff is a solid Rottweiler lookalike. However, the Bullmastiff has a more mastiff-like face with a broader skull, shorter muzzle, and typically looser skin. And of course, the color is also different.
2. Tibetan Mastiff
   There are various types of Tibetan Mastiffs, depending on the region where they were developed. Some of them have slightly shorter coat and lack the mane, which is famous for Tibetan Mastiffs. If that is the case and they come in the black-and-tan color, than can resemble Rottweilers quite a bit. However, even then, they are significantly larger and have a more mastiff-like build than the Rottweiler.
3. Slovensky Kopov
   The Slovenský Kopov, also known as the Slovakian Hound, is a breed that might not be the first to come to mind when thinking of Rottweiler lookalikes, but thanks to the black-and-tan coloration, the resemblance is definitely there. However, unlike the stocky and muscular Rottweiler, the Slovenský Kopov is a leaner, more agile scent hound, bred primarily for hunting rather than guarding. It has a longer snout, a sleeker body
4. Cimarrón Uruguayo
   Lets end the video with two powerful dog breeds, that share Rottweilers strong body structure, but lacks the color and face similarities. The first one is Cimarron Uruguayo. You can see on the first sight, that the Cimarron is more molloser-like with broader head and shorter muzzle.
5. Presa Canario
   Similarly to Cimarron, the Presa Canario shares strong and muscular body with the Rottweiler, but they are much more mastiff like. They also have shorter muzzle, broader head and looser skin. Overall they are heavier-looking than the Rottweiler.