Istrian Shorthaired Hound

While there is limited documentation of the breed's origins, frescos depicting a very similar-looking dog were created as early as the late 15th century and written accounts have been logged from the 18th and 19th century as well, indicating the Istrian Shorthaired Hound may truly be an ancient breed. If true, that would easily make it the oldest hound breed in the region, which it is already largely considered. There is speculation that because of their general build and personality traits, they stemmed from a combination of European scent hounds and the dogs were often traded by the Phoenicians, an ancient civilization that populated much of the Mediterranean coast. Throughout their history, they seem to have been revered for their prized hunting abilities, as that is often the greatest association with the breed in general. Although they may have been used for centuries, the first studbook was not created until 1924, which was still a quarter century from their initial recognition by the FCI in 1949. It took another quarter turn until the first breed standard was published in 1973 and yet another before it was acknowledged by the UKC in 2006. They are still regularly used as hunting dogs in the region but have yet to transition into any kind of of companion animal as their reserved and particular dispositions haven't lent them any favors in the average household.