Hellenic Hound

The Hellenic Hound has been around for thousands of years and is believed to have originated from the Laconikoi Kynes, a scent hound native to southern Greece. His history has not been well documented and it is unsure exactly how this ancient breed originated. It is known that he was documented by ancient writings throughout southern Greece. The Hellenic Hound remained pure because of the mountainous areas in Greece where he originated. Ancient Greece included the Balkans and the Hellenic Hound was also found in that region, unchanged by outside dogs. When sea travel became commonplace, the Hellenic Hound began accompanying Greeks throughout Europe. This allowed the Hellenic Hound to spread throughout Europe. Many other scent hounds originating within Europe have the Hellenic Hound within their ancestry. He was used extensively to scent and track hare and other small game. Hunters found him to be invaluable in searching our small game in dense underbrush. In 1996, the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) officially recognized the Hellenic Hound. He was the first Greek breed to be recognized by the FCI. The Hellenic Hound was recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2006, allowing him to participate in all UKC sanctioned events. In 2009, the UKC revised the breed standard from its originally adapted version. There are too few registerable Hellenic Hounds located within the United States for them to achieve registration status with the American Kennel Club (AKC). He is considered to be a rare breed throughout the world, especially in the United States and Canada. In his native Greece he is a very popular hunting dog and companion.