Dunker - Norwegian Hound

FCI:

Dunker - Group VI. - Scenthounds and related breeds, Section - Medium sized Hounds.

General Appearance:

It is balanced, moderate, calm, judicious, kind and friendly dog, but also appropriately confident. It is never aggressive. Because of its nature, but also for attractive  of  its hair colouring    it is gaining in Norway  the interest of the general public and it  is becoming more frequently than before companion dog. As a social breed it is slowly started spreading to abroad.

Training/ Behaviour:

The education is particularly problematic, without any kind of consistency, however, it cannot work. Moreover, it is necessary to keep in mind that it is a hound that was for generations   used exclusively for hunting. Training methods that are successful by other breeds they may not be the best for this breed.

Owner must respect its individuality. It can also be as an excellent hunting dog, and a social dog l, it can stay in a house or apartment. If it is not used for hunting, it needs a lot of movement, as far as possible every day. It is suitable when   there are long walks in the countryside, where, however, it must be kept on a leash, because it loves hunting. Its hunting instinct is extremely strong and docile individual or otherwise in such a situation it does not respond any recall.

Body:

This is a medium-sized, elegant and strong, but not heavy or even rough hound an attractive colour and rectangular body frame. Height at withers, male is from 50 to 55 (ideal. 53) cm female is from 47 to 53 (ideal. 50) cm.

Head cannot be carried too far. It is noble, the length and clean lines, which are viewed from above and from the sides parallel. The head must have a wedge shape. Nose must be black, the nostrils wide open. Scissor bite is required, a full set of teeth.

Eyes should be dark, circular in shape, rather large, but not protruding. They should be clear, calm and serious expression called glass or porcelain (whitish) coloured are permissible only in blue dappled (blue merle) individuals. The edges of the eyelids fit close to the eyeballs.

The earlobes are set rather low than high. They are suspended, smooth corresponding widths. To the curved ends are tapered. Flat part is closed to head, laid forward reach into the middle distance of the track (the connector inner eye corners) to the tip of the nose.

The tail is set at the upper line of the body. At the root should be strong, towards the tip tapers. It has to be straight, curved slightly upward, lying down reaching to the hocks or a little below them.

The forelegs are strong, dryly muscled and sinewy in their free parts, from the elbow to the feet. Feet, which must be directed straight forward and should not be turned in or out, must be arched, closed, heavily coated on back side. The pads are required firm.

The hindquarters when viewed from the side and angled properly when viewed from behind are parallel. Feet are the same as the forequarters and also must not be turned in or out.

The coat should be dense, hard, never be too short. Colour is blue roan (blue merle) with tan and white markings. Maroon colour or predominant black reaching from the muzzle to the hock with the called black mask of the face is less desirable. Great white shirt reaching up towards the shoulders is permitted as white colouration on the abdomen and it is called socks (white characters reaching from the feet up to the pasterns and fetlocks), white colour, however, must not occupy more than 50% of the body surface.