Hungarian GreyhoundCharacteristics, history, training and care

Hungarian Greyhound. · Canarian / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized.

The Hungarian Greyhound (Magyar Agár) is a large, strong and elegant sighthound with a short, dense coat, used for hunting by sight and for racing. The standard describes it as tireless, fast, tough and robust, sometimes faster than the Greyhound over certain distances, but also as a very good companion and a loyal guard.

Quick facts

Common name	Hungarian Greyhound (Magyar Agár)
Scientific name	Canis lupus familiaris
Country of origin	Hungary
Official recognition	FCI, definitively since 29 March 1963 (group 10, short-haired sighthounds; standard no. 240)
Lifespan	12–14 years, according to Wikipedia
Size (males)	ideally 65–70 cm at the withers
Size (females)	ideally 62–67 cm at the withers
Weight	22–31 kg, according to Wikipedia
Coat type	Short, dense, harsh, smooth; undercoat in winter
Common colours	All sighthound colours, except the disqualifying ones
Energy level	High
Suited to an apartment?	Not really
Temperament	Reserved, but not shy; sensitive, intelligent, faithful, watchful
Tendency to aggression	Low; well-developed guarding instinct
Good with children	Good, according to Wikipedia
Good with other animals	Good with other dogs; poor with small animals
Genetic predispositions	No breed-specific diseases are known

Primary category:Dog breeds
Explore this animal's categories:
Dog breeds Large dog breeds Sighthound breeds

History and origin

The FCI standard says the Magyar Agár is an ancient hunting breed whose origins go back to the time when the Magyars conquered the country, as shown by skulls found in archaeological excavations.

In the 19th century, to increase its speed, the breed was crossed with other sighthounds. Wikipedia says the breed comes from Hungary and from lands that belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, such as Transylvania, and that the name “Hungarian Greyhound” is misleading: it is a distinct breed.

How the breed developed

The Magyar settlement – Sighthounds reach the Carpathian Basin.
19th century – The breed is crossed with other sighthounds for speed.
29 March 1963 – The FCI recognises the breed.
6 April 2000 – The current FCI standard is published.

Breed rating

Feature	Stars
Training and intelligence	★★★☆☆
Easy to train	★★★★☆
Intelligence	★★★★☆
Independence	★★★☆☆
Stubbornness	★★★☆☆
Behaviour and temperament	★★★★☆
Affectionate with family	★★★★☆
Friendly with children	★★★★☆
Good with other dogs	★★★★☆
Good with cats and other animals	★★☆☆☆
Loyalty	★★★★★
Tendency to be aggressive	★★☆☆☆
Tendency to bark	★★☆☆☆
Needs and care	★★☆☆☆
Shedding	★★☆☆☆
Needs frequent grooming	★☆☆☆☆
Activity and lifestyle	★★★★☆
Energy level	★★★★☆
Daily exercise needs	★★★★★
Suited to apartment life	★★☆☆☆
Health and longevity	★★★★☆
Life expectancy	★★★★☆
Predisposition to genetic diseases	★★☆☆☆
Working abilities and uses	★★★★☆
Good hunting dog	★★★★★
Good companion dog	★★★★☆

Indicative rating: 5 stars means the highest level. The breed has no AKC profile, so the rating is based on the FCI standard and Wikipedia.

Physical characteristics

The standard says it gives an impression of strength, with very well-developed bone and muscle, but it is also elegant. The body is slightly longer than it is tall, and the muzzle is about half the length of the head.

General appearance

Wikipedia says it has semi-erect “rose” ears and oval eyes with a lively, gentle expression. The hair is short, dense, harsh and smooth; in winter it may grow a fairly abundant undercoat.

Feature	Hungarian Greyhound
Size	Large
Height at the withers	males: ideally 65–70 cm; females: ideally 62–67 cm
Weight	22–31 kg (Wikipedia)
Coat	Short, dense, harsh
Ears	Rose ears
Type	Sighthound

The standard accepts all colours and combinations known in sighthounds, except the disqualifying ones. Wikipedia says black and tan, blue and tricolour are not accepted.

Training and socialisation

The standard describes it as tireless, full of stamina, fast, tough and robust. By nature it is somewhat reserved, but not shy; it is sensitive, intelligent and faithful. It is watchful and has a well-developed instinct to protect people, home and property.

Wikipedia says it is affectionate and docile, is not quick to bite and usually gets on well with children and other dogs. It has a stronger guarding instinct than other sighthounds.

Tips for effective training

Be gentle. It is sensitive.
Keep it on the lead. It hunts by sight and sets off after anything that runs.
Let it run in safety. Only in fully fenced areas.
Socialise it young. It is somewhat reserved by nature.

Activity needs and lifestyle

The standard says it is very good at racing and coursing, with good results especially over long distances. Wikipedia says that in the past these dogs ran alongside their owners on horseback.

Activity	How often	Why it matters
Long walks	daily	Great stamina
Free running in a fenced area	several times a week	Its need for speed
Coursing or racing	occasionally	It excels over long distances

Tips for a balanced life

The fence must be high.
In winter, an abundant undercoat protects it from the cold.
Do not leave it unsupervised with small animals.

Care and health

Coat and skin care

The short, dense coat should be brushed once a week with a rubber mitt. In winter the undercoat is thicker, and it sheds in spring.

Common health problems

There are no published health studies for the breed and no known specific diseases. As with any sighthound, it is worth watching for:

Condition	Description	Common symptoms
Running injuries	Scratches, cuts and strains after running	Limping, blood on the paws
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (bloat)	The stomach fills with gas and may twist; this is a veterinary emergency	Swollen belly, trying to vomit without success, drooling, restlessness

Other care

Check the paws after running.
Check for ticks after outings in nature.
Trim the nails regularly.

Diet and nutrition

A large, active sighthound needs good-quality food, adapted to its workload.

Tips for a healthy diet

The table gives a starting estimate, calculated with the formula from the Merck Veterinary Manual. The first two calorie columns show the calories per day for a healthy adult dog. The last column shows what this means in dry food with 3,500–4,000 kcal per kilogram.

Dog's weight	Calories per day (neutered)	Calories per day (not neutered)	Dry food per day (approximate)
22 kg	1,140 kcal	1,280 kcal	280–370 g
26 kg	1,290 kcal	1,450 kcal	320–410 g
31 kg	1,470 kcal	1,660 kcal	370–470 g

Split the food into two meals a day.
Do not let it run right after a meal.
In sighthounds, the ribs are easy to see; what matters is that it is not too thin.

Foods to avoid

Some human foods are dangerous for dogs: chocolate, coffee, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol (a sweetener used in chewing gum), macadamia nuts and alcohol.

Reproduction and development

Physical and emotional maturity

In dogs, sexual maturity usually comes between 6 and 12 months, but in large breeds it can be delayed until about two years. The body also reaches its adult form later than in small breeds.

Mating and pregnancy

Pregnancy lasts about 63 days, counted from ovulation. Mating a female on her first heat is not recommended. The FCI standard requires that only healthy dogs of typical breed appearance are used for breeding.

Caring for the puppies

In large breeds, a litter has around 7 puppies on average. Socialisation starts in the first weeks: gentle handling, everyday noises and new people.

Interesting facts

Faster than the Greyhound. The standard says it is faster over some distances.
Sighthound and guard. It has a stronger guarding instinct than other sighthounds.
More than a thousand years old. Archaeological skulls show it existed at the time of the Magyar settlement.
Not a “Hungarian Greyhound”. Wikipedia says this name is misleading.
A good nose. Although it hunts by sight, the standard praises its nose.