Breeding of Estonian Hounds started in 1947 when U.S.S.R. Ministry of Economy decided that each Soviet Republic must have its own dog breed. Official standard was approved in 1954 in Moscow.
To create Estonian Hound, Russian-Polish Hounds, Dachshunds, Foxhounds, Beagles, Swiss Hounds, Lucerne Hounds and Bernese Hounds were used.
General Appearance.
Medium size, strong and dry in general appearance. Strong bonestructure and well-defined muscles. Skin should not be loose or have wrinkles. Stable temperament. Agile. While searching may trot and gallop; when tracking should prefer to gallop.
Head.
Skull is round, moderately wide, eyebrows are clearly defined but not highplaced. Stop should not be too strongly defined. Muzzle is straight and the lenght should be equal to that of the scull. Lips should be dry and well fit. Nose is black (dog with yellow patches may have dark brown nose).
Teeth.
White, strong, scissorbite.
Eyes.
Dark brown, almond-shaped. Eyelids should be dark.
Ears.
Thin, long, drooped, low placed, with rounded tips. Ears snuggle against cheeks. Hair should be short.
Neck.
Rounded, muscular, dry, with smooth skin.
Forechest.
Wide, rounded and deep, should reach the elbows.
Front feet.
Dry and muscular; straight and parallel. Lenth of the forefeet is about 1/2of withers height. Front angulation should be 115...120o. Elbows should not be loose. Shoulderblade should be oval.
Body.
Withers stretch over the backbone. Back is straight, wide and muscular. Loin is short, wide, muscular and sloped. Croup is short, wide, muscular.
Hind feet.
Dry and muscular; straight and parallel. Angulation should be well defined.
Paws.
Oval "catpaw". Claws should be vertical to ground.
Movement.
Free with good drive and shove.
Tail.
Sword-shaped narrowing towards the tip. The end of tail should reach the ankles. The dog carrys the tail below the topline.
Coat.
Short, rough and shiny. Undercoat weakly developed. Tail should be evenly covered with coat and thus leave an impression of thikness. The coat on the tip of the tail should be slightly shorter.
Colour.
Usually with black patches (limited with tan colour). The size of the patches is unlimited. Yellow-coloured patches are also allowed. The tip of the tail must be white.
Height.
Males 45...52 cm, females 3 cm lower. Height of the croup should be 1...1.5 cm lower than that of the withers.
Faults.
Height below or over that set in standard. Too light or heavy in bone. Long or wavy coat, spotted colour. Light eyes. Heavy neck. Narrow or weak front. Soft or stooped topline. Long straight croup. Elbows turned out, soft wrists. Undefined angulation, ankles turned in or out. Short feet. Soft paws, paws turned in or out. Too long or short tail.
Eliminting faults.
Aggressiveness towards people. Eyes of different colours or albinism. Too soft, wavy or short coat. Black patches or spots on white, brown or coffee-couloured patches. Heavy head, arched or stooped nose. Lack of pigmentation. Hooked "broken" tail.
Breeding of Estonian Hounds started in 1947 when U.S.S.R. Ministry of Economy decided that each Soviet Republic must have its own dog breed. Official standard was approved in 1954 in Moscow.
To create Estonian Hound, Russian-Polish Hounds, Dachshunds, Foxhounds, Beagles, Swiss Hounds, Lucerne Hounds and Bernese Hounds were used.
General Appearance.
Medium size, strong and dry in general appearance. Strong bonestructure and well-defined muscles. Skin should not be loose or have wrinkles. Stable temperament. Agile. While searching may trot and gallop; when tracking should prefer to gallop.
Head.
Skull is round, moderately wide, eyebrows are clearly defined but not highplaced. Stop should not be too strongly defined. Muzzle is straight and the lenght should be equal to that of the scull. Lips should be dry and well fit. Nose is black (dog with yellow patches may have dark brown nose).
Teeth.
White, strong, scissorbite.
Eyes.
Dark brown, almond-shaped. Eyelids should be dark.
Ears.
Thin, long, drooped, low placed, with rounded tips. Ears snuggle against cheeks. Hair should be short.
Neck.
Rounded, muscular, dry, with smooth skin.
Forechest.
Wide, rounded and deep, should reach the elbows.
Front feet.
Dry and muscular; straight and parallel. Lenth of the forefeet is about 1/2of withers height. Front angulation should be 115...120o. Elbows should not be loose. Shoulderblade should be oval.
Body.
Withers stretch over the backbone. Back is straight, wide and muscular. Loin is short, wide, muscular and sloped. Croup is short, wide, muscular.
Hind feet.
Dry and muscular; straight and parallel. Angulation should be well defined.
Paws.
Oval "catpaw". Claws should be vertical to ground.
Movement.
Free with good drive and shove.
Tail.
Sword-shaped narrowing towards the tip. The end of tail should reach the ankles. The dog carrys the tail below the topline.
Coat.
Short, rough and shiny. Undercoat weakly developed. Tail should be evenly covered with coat and thus leave an impression of thikness. The coat on the tip of the tail should be slightly shorter.
Colour.
Usually with black patches (limited with tan colour). The size of the patches is unlimited. Yellow-coloured patches are also allowed. The tip of the tail must be white.
Height.
Males 45...52 cm, females 3 cm lower. Height of the croup should be 1...1.5 cm lower than that of the withers.
Faults.
Height below or over that set in standard. Too light or heavy in bone. Long or wavy coat, spotted colour. Light eyes. Heavy neck. Narrow or weak front. Soft or stooped topline. Long straight croup. Elbows turned out, soft wrists. Undefined angulation, ankles turned in or out. Short feet. Soft paws, paws turned in or out. Too long or short tail.
Eliminting faults.
Aggressiveness towards people. Eyes of different colours or albinism. Too soft, wavy or short coat. Black patches or spots on white, brown or coffee-couloured patches. Heavy head, arched or stooped nose. Lack of pigmentation. Hooked "broken" tail.