Slovakian Hound Dog Breed Information
Also known as: Slovenský kopov, Black Forest Hound
A medium black-and-tan Slovakian boar hunter, hardy and tireless, used by serious NZ pig hunters who want a dedicated big-game scenthound.
A highly affectionate, high energy dog. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool. The trade-off is vocal.
About the Slovakian Hound.
The Slovakian Hound is a medium black-and-tan working boar hunter from the Carpathian forests, used in NZ by a small group of serious pig hunters who want a dedicated big-game scenthound. The breed is bred to bay a 100 kg boar alone, holding it until the hunter arrives.
Personality and behaviour
Driven, independent, vocal on a scent and at bay. Affectionate with the immediate family but reserved with strangers. The trait that sets this breed apart from a more general-purpose pig dog is the willingness to commit to a single boar alone.
Care and exercise
90 minutes a day minimum plus regular hunting work. Coat care is a weekly brush. The breed is not a household pet by nature; without serious work it becomes restless and destructive. Best suited to NZ rural lifestyle blocks with regular pig-hunting opportunities.
The Slovakian Hound, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 3.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Dogs
Physical
avg 1.7Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Drooling
Social
avg 2.8Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Watchdog / Protective
Adaptability
Personality
avg 4.0Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Slovakian Hound.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Slovakian Hound costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Slovakian Hound costs about
$242per month
$56
$8
$37,548
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$93 / mo
$1,115/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$72 / mo
$869/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$39 / mo
$470/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$0 / mo
$0/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$38 / mo
$450/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $2,250 + setup $450) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Slovakian Hound compare?
This breed
Slovakian Hound
$37,548
12-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,700
- Food (lifetime)$13,380
- Vet (lifetime)$5,640
- Insurance (lifetime)$10,428
- Grooming (lifetime)$0
- Other (lifetime)$5,400
Reference
Average NZ medium dog
$38,920
12-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,200
- Food (lifetime)$13,200
- Vet (lifetime)$6,000
- Insurance (lifetime)$11,400
- Grooming (lifetime)$2,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,720
A Slovakian Hound costs about $1,372 less over a lifetime than the average nz medium dog, mostly lowergrooming and higherother.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZKC breeders test for these conditions and share results without being prompted. If a breeder won't share screening results, that is itself an answer.
Common
1 conditionWorking injuries (cuts, bites)
Boar hunting work; comprehensive vet first-aid kit essential.
Occasional
1 conditionHip dysplasia
An occasional condition in the Slovakian Hound. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
The Slovakian Hound in NZ.
- Popularity: Small NZ working population. Pet ownership rare.
- Typical price: NZ$1500–3000 from registered breeders
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Suits all NZ regions; ideal for South Island bush hunting.
- Living space: Rural lifestyle block with regular hunting work.
Who the Slovakian Hound is for.
Suits
- Serious NZ pig hunters
- Rural lifestyle blocks with paddock space
Less suited to
- Pet households
- Apartments or close neighbours (bay barking is loud)
Common questions.
Is the Slovakian Hound used in NZ pig hunting?
Will it live with other dogs?
If the Slovakian Hound appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Black and Tan Coonhound
An American treeing scenthound bred to track raccoon and bear up trees by scent and to hold them there with a deep, full bay. Larger and heavier than a Bloodhound's first cousin, with a working nose and a working voice, and almost unknown in NZ outside a small group of NZKC enthusiasts.
Bavarian Mountain Hound
A medium German blood-tracking hound used to follow wounded deer and large game. Used in NZ by professional hunters and DOC contractors for tracking work.
Beagle
A merry, scent-driven small hound that lives for a sniff and a song. Sociable, food-motivated and surprisingly stubborn for a 12 kg dog.
English Foxhound
The original English pack-hunting scenthound, bred to follow fox trails on a full day's ride. Athletic, sociable with other dogs, and almost never kept as a pet in NZ. Suits a working hound household with paddock space and a tolerance for noise and stamina.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.