Huntaway vs Hellenic Hound - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Huntaway vs Hellenic Hound - Breed ComparisonHellenic Hound is originated from Greece but Huntaway is originated from New Zealand. Hellenic Hound may grow 11 cm / 4 inches shorter than Huntaway. Hellenic Hound may weigh 26 kg / 57 pounds lesser than Huntaway. Both Hellenic Hound and Huntaway has almost same life span. Both Hellenic Hound and Huntaway has almost same litter size. Both Hellenic Hound and Huntaway requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Herding dogs
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Greece
New Zealand
Height Male:
47 - 55 cm
18 - 22 inches
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
Height Female:
45 - 53 cm
17 - 21 inches
52 - 62 cm
20 - 25 inches
Weight Male:
17 - 20 kg
37 - 45 pounds
25 - 46 kg
55 - 102 pounds
Weight Female:
15 - 18 kg
33 - 40 pounds
20 - 35 kg
44 - 78 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 8
5 - 7
Size:
Medium
Large
Other Names:
Greek Hound or the Hellenikos Ichnilatis The Hellenic Hound, Greek Harehound
New Zealand Huntaway, New Zealand Sheepdog
Colors Available:
Black with tan markings
commonly black and tan, tricolour, variable
Coat:
Short, smooth, sleek
smooth or rough
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Playful, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Courageous, Energetic, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, Responsive, Sweet
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
No
Yes

History

hellenic houndDeveloped in Southern Greece, the Hellenic Hound was bred to hunt hare and is an ancient breed. It is a medium sized breed with strong scent and tracking skills. It is believed to have been in existence for thousands of years. The ancestry of the breed included the Lagonikoi or laconikoi, native to southern Greece in ancient times. The breed was spread by sailors on Greece trading ships and colonization.

Todays Hellenic Hound is found throughout Europe. Kept somewhat isolated by the mountains, the breed was protected from outside breeding and they remained pure for centuries. It is a fearless, smart and hyped up purebred. The Hellenic Hound needs to have a job and if you don’t give him one, he will find one. He is smart and independent which sometimes makes him stubborn. It also takes this dog longer to mature than others, sometime between two and three years. It is not good for first time owners. Today’s hound is still a popular hunting dog and companion animal as well. They are rarely seen outside of the Greek country.

In 1996 the Hellenic Hound was recognized as the first Greek dog breed into the FCI. They are not recognized by the AKC. Its numbers continue to decline.

huntawayThe Huntaway or New Zealand Huntaway is a herding dog that originated in the New Zealand sheep country. Their main purpose is to drive sheep and they are not an old breed. They were developed late in the 19th century for their working skills. The only real criteria was that they were black and tan. A dog must win a trial in order to be placed in the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association studbook. They drive sheep mainly through their deep, loud voice.

In the New Zealand high country there was a need for a working dog with stamina, agility and intelligence to work the sheep as a drover (herder). The dog had to be able to handle rough, steep land and work with very large groups of sheep. The sheer area of land that the sheep graze and the dog would have to cover, demanded that this dog have stamina and strength to cover large pasture land and work for days if necessary. Before this the shepherds had used British sheepdogs but they preferred dogs that barked while working. So they bred the British Sheepdogs with Collies, Border Collies, Labrador, Rottweiler, Doberman and other barking sheepdogs to create the Huntaway. In addition to the bark, they bred for stamina and size.

They were participating in field trails in 1870 and ads for them were seen in newspapers by 1884. They became a separate breed in the 20th century. Today they are spreading around the world and are becoming very popular. It is not recommended that they be kept as pets however, since they are true working dogs.

Description

hellenic hound puppy - descriptionToday’s Hellenic Hound is not a big dog but rather very average or medium. It is an athletic dog and looks like it. It has a balanced body with a deep chest and thick neck. It has medium height legs that are strong and muscular with paws that are prepared for the terrain it always works on. Its coat is short and tight. The colors of the Hellenic Hound are black with tan or white on the chest. Their heads are noble and rounded with a rectangle shaped muzzle. They have v shaped, long ears and round eyes. Their toe nails are black and so is their nose. It has excellent scent glands, very quick responses, speed and stamina. Their tail is thick and tapers off.

huntaway puppy - descriptionThe Huntaway is a large dog with a deep chest and a black and tan coat. They are strong, big and muscular with voices to match. They herd, head, work the sheep in pastures and force them into pens. They are bred to have that big authoritative, deep bark. They do not yap. Their bodies are well proportioned but longer than high. They have well - padded feet and a deep chest for stamina, along with strong legs and body that allows them to run fast and change directions at will.

The tail of a Huntaway if long, while their heads are shaped like blocks while the muzzle is long and the nose is black. They have dark, round eyes and long ears. An unusually attractive dog, they have dense fur with fringe on the tail and chest. There is characteristics a very large variety in the in the way the breed looks from one dog to the next. Thus they do not participate in confirmation events, as the standard is based on working characteristics rather than appearance guidelines. They are more a “class” than a “breed”.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

hellenic hound dog - characteristicsyes, they are very fond of children as long as they are carefully socialized.

Special talents

Great hunter, stamina ,scent, voice

Adaptable

He needs to have a yard or land. He doesn’t do well in apartments.

Learning

The breed is very intelligent and can be very trainable. However, they can also be stubborn and that makes training harder.

Children friendliness

huntaway dog - characteristicsThey are very good with children and love to play with them.

Special talents

Stamina, speed and independence

Adaptability

Not really. Don’t do well in small spaces. Better off in the country.

Learning ability

Very intelligent, quick learner, loves learning new things.

Health Problems

hellenic hound puppies - health problemsThe Hellenic Hound is a fairly healthy breed having been isolated on the Island of Greece for the most part. They are susceptible to:

Joint dysplasia

Could be hips, elbows or knees. If untreated can lead to lameness or inability to walk.

Arthritis

Causes joint pain and can cause lameness or inability to walk.

Bloat

Can be fatal if not treated immediately. To avoid it don’t feed a large meal before or after exercise.

Hunting injuries

Can be a variety of things that occur during the hunt.

Ear infections

Need to keep the ears clean and dry in order to avoid infections.

huntaway puppies - health problemsThe Huntaway is a pretty healthy breed, developed as it was from the sheepdogs and collies. They still face some inherited issues such as:

  • Hip dysplasia – can cause lameness and arthritis
  • Cancer of bone – life threatening
  • Ear Infections – long eared dogs are prone to infections
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IIIA (MPS IIIA) – rare metabolic issue can cause neurological problems.
  • Dilated Caridomyopathy (DCM) – enlarged heart can cause heart failure

Caring The Pet

Feeding the puppy

hellenic hound dogs - caringFeed the puppy 2-3 times a day a total of 2 cups

Feeding the adult

Feed the adult twice a day a total of 2-3 cups

Points for Good Health

The Hellenic Hound has excellent stamina, speed and scenting ability.

Games and Exercises

This is a very active, athletic dog that needs to work and needs exercise. He is powerful, quick and has great endurance. It thrives on hunting but will need other activities on the days it doesn’t hunt. It needs a yard or land to play in. Agility, Field Trials, tracking, hunting and fly ball are all activities the Hellenic Hound will enjoy.

Feeding the Puppy

huntaway dogs - caringIf you are not using your Huntaway to herd, then feed a medium formula not a high protein, high calorie formula. Feed 3-4 times a day and 1-2 cups.

Feeding the adult

3 cups per day feeding twice a day high quality medium calorie food.

Points for Good Health

Exceptional stamina

Games and Exercises

This herding breed has a great need of mental and physical stimulation. They were born to herd and to do so over vast tracts of land in challenging conditions. They need to be challenged. They need daily exercise at a very high level. A Run them every day or take them on a couple of long walks. They will excel in field trials, Barnhunt, agility and rescue. They love to learn.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Huntaway vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Huntaway vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Huntaway vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Huntaway vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Huntaway vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Huntaway vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Huntaway vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Huntaway vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Huntaway vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Huntaway vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Huntaway vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Huntaway vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Huntaway vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Huntaway vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Huntaway vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Huntaway vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Huntaway vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Huntaway vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Huntaway vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Huntaway vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
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  22. Huntaway vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Huntaway vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Huntaway vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Huntaway vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Hellenic Hound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Hellenic Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Hellenic Hound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Hellenic Hound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Hellenic Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Hellenic Hound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Hellenic Hound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Hellenic Hound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Hellenic Hound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Hellenic Hound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Hellenic Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Hellenic Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Hellenic Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Hellenic Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Hellenic Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Hellenic Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Hellenic Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Hellenic Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Hellenic Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Hellenic Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Hellenic Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Hellenic Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Hellenic Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Hellenic Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Hellenic Hound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison