Estonian Hound - TOP 10 Interesting Facts

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.