Serbian Hound

Like many storied European hounds, the Serbian Hound has a long, verbal history with very little actual documentation or confirmation of their origin. Some historians claim the breed came into existence as early as 1000 BC, the product of crossbreeds with the dogs left by Phoenician traders. While many others may claim knowledge of the Serbian Hound's history, then known as the Balkan Hound, it stands to reason that the first written description of the breed stemmed from the 11th Century, penned by a man named Frank Laska. Regardless of what has changed throughout history, this breed remained a popular favorite in the Balkans due to their exceptional noses, dedication in the field and their excellent overall temperament -- much of which did not seem to change much throughout their timeline, if modest records are any indicator. A breed standard was finally drawn in 1924 but it wasn't until 1939 that the breed standard was written. In 1940, it was finally recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale. Throughout the entirety of its history, this breed retained the name Balkan Hound until 1996, when the FCI officially changed its name to the Serbian Hound. In 2006, they were finally recognized by the United Kennel Club.