Sabueso Español - TOP 10 Interesting Facts - Spanish Hound

1) Origin
The history and ancestry of the Sabueso Español is surrounded by mystery. It is very old dog breed and the first mentions about this breed are from late Middle Ages, when King Alphonse XI described these dogs in his hunting book during the 14th century. One of the theory about the origin of these dogs claim, that the ancestors of Sabueso Espanol got into Iberian Peninsula with Celtic Tribes and that they might be related to Celtic scenthounds. But it is only a theory, that cant be 100% verified.

2) Hunting
Most of the Sabueso Espanol dogs are still used for what they are best at, which is, of course, the hunting. It is very adaptable hunting dog breed. They can hunt wild boars in the mountains of Northern Spain, but they can also hunt hare in Southern Spain. In the past, they were even used to hunt brown bears. This is very brave and determined hunter, with one of the best noses in the dog world. They have a so called cold nose, which means that they can piece together a "cold" trail, left behind the game that has been gone for a few hours. It is also extremely independent and smart hunter, which is loyal to the owner and absolutely passionate about the hunt. They just love it.

3) Howling
One of the most distinctive feature of this dog breed is its loud and booming howl. It is a great way how the dog communicate with the hunter and they change the howling style based on the hunt phase. The howl changes from long and loud baying to choppy short barks, which is indicating that they found the quarry.

4) Companions
Even though most of the Sabueso Espanol dogs are used for hunting, it does not mean that they are not great companion dogs. This breed is known for being very calm, relaxed, affectionate and loyal dog breed. They can easily live with other dogs in the family, as this breed is typically used to hunt in packs, but of course, other household pets might be a problem, due to the high prey drive of Sabueso Espanol. This breed is known to be quite gentle with kids as well, but of course, you should never leave any dog breed with a young child unsupervised. These dogs are not agressive, quite the opposite. They are high spirited, always ready for any kind of adventure and it is absolutely loving and devoted dog breed.

5) Exercise
As you can expect from a hunting dog breed, this is not a coach potatoe. On the other hand, it is not completely hyperactive dog breed neither, but they will be happiest to live with active owners in rural area. They are extremely endurant on the hunt and they can walk for hours without tiring, but when they are at home, their activity level is average. They love to sleep, cuddle and snooze. But of course, these dogs do need daily proper physical and mental activity to stay in good shape. It can be done by daily long walks, jogs, hikes, vigorous playtime or fun training session. Without enough exercise, they might develop some unwanted behaviour, such as excessive barking.

6) Shelters
Sadly, there are many many Sabueso Espanol dogs in Spanish shelters and most of them have minimal chance to get adopted. It is because people do not trust hunting dogs and even though the Sabueso Espanol has the sweetest temperament and it can adapt to companionship lifestyle extremely fast, most of them stay in the shelters for long long time. So if you would be interested in this dog, consider adoption from some of the Spanish shelters first, rather than buying a new puppy.

7) Size
This is a medium sized dog breed with elongated body, well developed chest, long floppy ears, and strong legs. The average height is between 48-57 cm, which is 18-22 lbs.

8) Coat and color
The Sabueso Espanol has a short, dense and smooth coat. The coat, ideally, has a white base in combination with irregular patches of orange color. The orange color can wary from almost russet brown to lemon color. They should not have any ticking.

9) Grooming
Speaking of coat, lets mention the maintenance and grooming as well. And luckily, this is low maintenance dog breed, that can keep its coat in great condition by itself. You can brush the coat from time to time to remove any dirt, loose hair and to redistribute oils all over the coat. No other grooming is required. You should take proper care about the ears and keep them clean and dry, as they are prone to develop ear infections. Just like with all dogs, you should also take care of the dogs eyes, nails and teeth if needed.

10) Health
The Sabueso Espanol should be rather healthy and hardy dog breed with average lifespan around 13 years. They can suffer from the typical doggy health problems, such as some joint problems like hip dysplasia, bloating, already mentioned ear infections or some allergies, but none of these problems should occur commonly in this breed.