Old Serbian Greyhound
The Old Serbian Greyhound existed in two main types, these being the smooth-coated and rough-coated varieties. The more numerous bearded type was reportedly very aggressive and was the favourite variety of the Serbian warriors, who employed its great power and drive in their conflicts, most notably against the Turkish invaders. Somewhat similar to the Irish Wolfhound in appearance, the Staro-Srpski Hrt is a deep-chested, broad-shouldered and long-legged breed, capable of great speeds, but not as fast as the Bosnian Greyhound or the modern sighthounds from around the world. Although it was primarily used to hunt wild boars, wolves, bears and deer, the breed was also a capable hunter of hares, foxes and other small game of the region. As is the case with most working sighthounds, including the modern English Greyhound breed, a variety of ear-types existed, including some erect-eared specimens, but also regional examples with cropped ears. In some areas, the tail was docked, to prevent it from breaking during work.
Regardless of coat type, the Old Serbian Greyhound was common in many colours, from pure white, yellow, fawn, red, grey, brindle and brown to various bicolours, such as white with darker patches, black-n-tan and grey with white markings. The average height is around 33 inches.