The Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound or Bosanski Otrodlaki Gonič, also called the Barak, is a hunting dog breed developed in Bosnia. The breed is a scenthound, originally used to hunt large game. The Bosanski Otrodlaki Gonič's name is translated as coarse haired, broken-haired, and roughhaired (among others), and refers to the texture of the shaggy coat (usually called broken-haired or hard in English.)

History

The usual derivation of the word Barak is from a German word, Bracke, referring to hounds. The former name given to the Barak breed was Illyrian Hound, referring to a pre-Slavic people of the area. Today's breed is descended from indigenous dog types, crossed with an Italian gun dog in the 1890s.  "Local hunters, wanting to produce an efficient scent hound, developed this breed in the nineteenth century, using the available stock of dogs." The early type of today's smaller Istarski Kratkodlaki Gonič breed may also have contributed to the Barak. The Bosanski Otrodlaki Gonič was first recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1965 under the name of Illyrian Hound. The name was changed to more accurately describe its area of origin in Bosnia. The breed is in Group 6, Scenthounds, Section 1.1 Large-sized Hounds, and is breed number 155. It is also recognised by the United Kennel Club (US) as the Barak, in the Scenthound Group.   The breed is not recognised by any other major kennel clubs in the English speaking world, although many minor kennel clubs, internet dog registry businesses, and rare breed registries promote and register it as a unique pet. 

Appearance and Size

The most striking feature of the Bosanski Otrodlaki Gonič is its shaggy, hard coat of yellowish (wheaten or red) or greyish colours, often with a white blaze on its head along with other white marks. The standard calls for a body length ten percent greater than height; these proportions are given to differentiate the Bosanski Otrodlaki Gonič from other hounds of the area which are "a bit low on leg".   Height ranges from 46-55cm (18-22in) at the withers, and weight is between 16-24kg (35-53lbs). The dog normally carries its tail curved slightly upward, and its face has a bushy moustache and beard.

Personality

The breed standard describes its behaviour as lively, as well as courageous and persistent. Unlike many other large hounds and hunting dogs, they are known to make good pets and companions.

Wikipedia and GNU

The content of this entry is from the Wikipedia article "Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.