Black Forest Hound Complete Breed Guide

With a keen nose and strong prey drive, the Black Forest Hound has only one thing on their minds: hunting. These dogs are intelligent, gentle, and love being around people, but once they smell something, good luck getting their attention.

This breed goes by several names: the Black Forest Hound, Slovakian Hound, and Slovenský kopov, but no matter what you call them, these dogs have one thing on their brain: hunting. With many hunting breeds make up their bloodline (the Austrian Black and Tan Hound, Chart Polski, and Magyar Agar), it's easy to understand why they're a true hound at heart. Black Forest Hounds are mostly kept as hunters, but they can be family pets too. These dogs need space to get their energy out and put their nose to work, but they're happy to come home to a family that loves them and lets them explore their independence.

Lifestyle & Living Conditions

Black Forest Hounds can make good family pets. They're friendly with children and dogs but may be wary of strangers. These pups also see small animals as prey, so they may not be the best fit for homes with cats and other critters. Black Forest Hounds like having room to roam, so they prefer to live in countryside homes but should have access to spend time indoors with the family too.

Exercise & Activity

The Black Forest Hound has impressive energy and are widely recognized for their agility. They're fast dogs that need exercise each day, especially if it involves being outdoors and tracking prey. Keep them on a leash in open areas, as they're known to dart off when they smell something and are hard to catch once they get going.

The Black Forest Hound is smart, independent, and easy to train. These pups were bred to hunt, so their perfect day revolves around tracking scents, barking, and looking for their next catch. When they smell something interesting, it’s tough to divert their attention away until they locate the source.

Black Forest Hounds have short, glossy coats that are black with tan markings. They’re easy to groom and only need to be brushed a few times each week to keep their fur in good shape. Black Forest Hounds that hunt should be groomed more thoroughly, though, to remove dirt and any bugs they pick up while out in the field.