Zerdava

The Zerdava is a Turkish hunting dog from Artvin province on the Black Sea coast, and it is close to disappearing.

History

It comes from the mountains of north-eastern Turkey, where it was used to hunt marten, badger and other small game in dense forest — its name refers to the marten. Turkish universities surveyed the remaining population in the 2010s and found it in the low hundreds, prompting conservation work in the region.

Temperament

The breed is known for being agile, brave and closely bonded to its handler, wary of strangers and possessed of a strong hunting drive for its size.

Care and training

It needs substantial exercise and secure boundaries, plus an outlet for the hunting drive. The short coat needs little.

Health

Generally hardy; a very small surviving population is the standing genetic caution. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.