Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher vs Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound - Breed Comparison

Once known as the Illyrian Hound and also known also as the Barak, the Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound was developed in Bosnia, and as a scenthound, it would hunt large game. Barak belongs to the hound group so typically this dog wants to chase wild game which he used to do long ago for his master.

The breed was developed into what is's current looks are. In the 1890’s he was crossed with Italian gun dogs with local scent hound stock. It is a rare breed, and outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is all but unknown.The dog is also known as the Bosnian-Rough-Coated Hound or the Illyrian Hound. In 2006 the breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club as the Barak in the Scenthound group. Unfortunately, while the Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound is still found in Bosnia, there is plenty of conflict in the country, and the future of the dog is unknown.

The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an ancient dog breed and dates back to 1780. It is believed that this dog breed is extinct, but that the German Pinscher of today is family of this dog breed. The dog used to be good on the farm as an all-purpose working dog.

When you look at the history of dogs, there are so many that have come and gone, never to be seen or heard of again. Other animals become extinct because of environmental factors, but with dogs it’s a bit different and most, like the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, died out simply because it became unfashionable.

Maybe the jobs that this dog was designed to do no longer existed and he died out because he was no longer needed.

The medium to large sized dog is known for his coarse, shaggy coat of wheaten, black, red or grey shades. Some dogs are bi- or tri-colored. The shaggy coat has a thick undercoat and this is what provides insulation for the dog to cope in extremely cold weather conditions. He is a moderate shedder and he will need to be brushed thoroughly twice a week to remove his loose hairs.

Some dogs have white marks on the head. The height of this dog ranges between 46–55cm at the withers and he can weigh in at between 16–24kg. He is well known for his facial hair – a moustache and beard on the muzzle with large, brown eyes and an intelligent, alert and playful expression.The Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound is a robust dog with a deep chest that provides him with a well proportioned appearance. The brown eyes have bushy eyebrows, the ears fairly long and floppy and the tail long and somewhat feathery.

The Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound makes an exceptional pet because he is loyal and friendly with his family members and patient and tolerant of children’s antics. He also gets on well with other pets in the house.

Described as a medium sized dog, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is an extinct variety of the German Pinscher. Like that dog, the Swiss Shorthaired had a muscular, strong square build.

Possibly he also had his ears and tail docked at that time. It is thought that he stood between 40 – 48cm in height and weighed in the region of 11 to 15kg.

He had the typical looks of the Doberman Pinscher with short smooth hair in black and tan, short erect ears and a tail that was traditionally cropped. He was lean and muscular with brown eyes. They were working dogs in their day and were not considered the best dogs to have for the first time dog owner.

Tempeament

These dogs have always been hardworking, brave and fearless. They make good family pets too and get on well with children. They would have been adaptable too to life in the city or the countryside, so long as he got his exercise.

A well bred Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher was alert and a good guard dog, and one wonders why this dog with its good qualities died out.

Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hounds are loyal, loving dogs. They are intelligent too and easy to train. With training and socialization, they are well behaved and a pleasure to have in the home. He makes an excellent pet for any family who bears in mind that he needs lots of exercise. When he uses up his energy with games, walks and other activities, he becomes a playful friend with children in the house.

His temperament fits his tousled looks and he is outgoing, amicable, social and friendly. He wants to be a member of the family and to be part of all the activities going on. When he is happy and well cared for, he makes a splendid pet.

The Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is no longer around but he would no doubt have made a good family pet. He would have wanted to protect his human family.

He was a stubborn, bold dog, and maybe socialization and training didn’t exist then, but he would have benefited from it.

He’s the kind of dog that would have adapted well to life in the city or the countryside, but you could never neglect his exercise needs. In the right environment, this Pinscher would have made a loving, loyal pet.

The Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound is a generally healthy breed, but just like with other dogs, he can also be prone to some hereditary health issues.

Hip Dysplasia

This is essentially a kind of degenerative arthritis and can be painful for your pet. You’ll notice that he battles to get up after lying down. There are some treatment options that can alleviate his pain and make him more comfortable, but there is no cure.

It is essentially where the dog’s hips partially dislocate and it is a genetic condition. It is more usual in larger dogs but any dogs can battle with hip dysplasia.

Patellar Luxation

This occurs when your dog’s kneecap is dislocated. It can be a genetic malformation or trauma. A dislocated kneecap is a common knee joint abnormality and a dog with a dislocated kneecap will have abnormal hind-limb movement, occasional skipping and even lameness.

It is not too sure about the health status of this extinct dog but we can assume that he would have been prone to some of the typical dog illnesses there are.

Hypothyroidismd, bloat, cancer, cataracts, infections and obesity were just some of the diseases this dog would have had to contend with.

Hypothyroidism:

The thyroid glands in the neck produce hormones. These hormones affect the functioning of the body. Hypothyroidism in dogs is usually caused by shrinkage of the thyroid gland or inflammation.The disease occurs more often in Pinscher dogs.

You may notice a dulling or thinning of your dog’s hair, weight gain and reduced activity. Hypothyroid dogs also tend to battle more with ear- and skin infections. Veterinary treatment will become necessary.

Catarats:

It causes a whiteness,cloudiness or opacity on the lens of the eye. It's not painful for a dog but it can cause loss of vision. Surgery can improve vision for the dog.

Exercise

This bearded dog is energetic so he will need to be exercised by you. You can take him on walks or take him to the park or play ball games with him. He will be prone to excessive barking and other kinds of destructive behavior through no fault of his own if you buy a pet like this and just plonk him in your back garden. He wants to be a part of your family and exercising him daily is part of owning a pet like the Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound.

Training

The Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound is a strong-willed dog and intelligent too. Train him and socialize him because then he becomes such an obedient, amicable pet who just wants to please.

Feeding

Your Barak is an energetic breed so he will need top quality food packed with vitamins and minerals that can provide him with the energy he needs. When it comes to feeding your Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound, store-bought dog food comes in a dry form or wet canned form.

If you’re unfamiliar with these foods, you can also speak to your veterinarian about the best food for your pet. Many dogs are lucky because their owners provide homemade diets – raw or cooked meat, vegetables and rice. A good multivitamin with omega 3 is also recommended for your pet as this can ensure his coat is shiny and his eyes bright and alert. Fresh, cool water must be within reach day and night.

Diet:

In those days of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher, maybe commercially manufactured dog foods weren’t available. If the dog were still around today, you would feed him dry kibble for medium sized dogs.

Probably the owners of these dogs fed them from the food they ate. It can be a good idea to feed any dog you have with some homemade food.

This can include things such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. This is the kind of simple food that dogs love.

Being a farm dog in his day, he was probably tossed raw meat occasionally and this would have done him the world of good.

General Care:

Although the short, smooth hair of the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher is looked upon as low maintenance, the dog would have needed a good brush twice a week just to keep it shiny and healthy.

After a hard day of work on the farm, the Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher would have required a nice warm, dry spot to sleep.