Slovenský Kopov

The Slovenský kopov is Slovakia's black-and-tan hound, and the national breed most Slovak boar hunting is done with.

History

It comes from the old Central European bracken and was standardised in Slovakia in the 1930s, bred strictly to hunting performance rather than appearance. Its job is boar: finding, holding and baying an animal that can kill a dog, which selected for nerve as much as nose.

Temperament

The breed is known for being courageous, independent and enduring, loyal to its handler and reserved with strangers, with a strong voice and a strong will.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and genuine hunting work; it is unhappy without it. Recall needs building early against a powerful nose. The dense coat is easy.

Health

Generally very robust from working selection; nothing is widely documented as breed-specific. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.