THE MOST FAMOUS TRACERS
(texts translated in english by: Tsagaraki Athanasia
Greek Public School English teacher Graduate of the English Department of the Aristotle University -Thessaloniki)
BLOODHOUND  
It is also called ‘dog of Saint Umbertine’ named after the famous Belgian Saint that made the dog famous in 1800.
Height: 60-67cm. Weight: 40-48 Kilos. It is considered as the most capable Tracer with the best developed sense of smell. Some say that it is ‘a dog behind a nose’. Slow in its work but insistent and with great resistance it is used in hunting under harsh conditions and for following -up the traces under difficult conditions. It is considered as the progenitor of many European tracing breeds but also of breeds out of Europe. Read more 
Greek Hound (ellinikos ichnilatis)
It is our own national hunting breed. It is famous and used by the largest number of hunters in Continental Greece. According to Dr St. Basourakos, it is the progenitor of all tracing breeds of Europe that were created when the Roman Empire exported it in the rest of Europe, after they had conquered Greece. The most basic morphological difference from its relative breeds in Europe is the small ears which are placed on the upper part of the skull and not in its middle. Also it distinguishes for its tracing abilities and insistence combined with its intelligence, all of which make it the most suitable tracer for the Greek environment and terrain. Read more 
SEGUGIO ITALIANO  - Italian Hound   
Height: 48-58 cm Weight: 18-28 Kilos. The national hunting breed of Italy is considered as one of the best hare-hounds. According to the Italian people it comes from the Mediterranean and more particularly from Greece or Egypt and was thus transported in Italy by the Cretan people and later the Phoenicians. It is bred in two types – smooth-coated and rough-coated and in 2 colours Black/ reddish-fawn and light-fawn: Read more 
Hound of Jura 
One of the most well known Swiss tracers. The Swiss people too consider the Egyptian dogs that were transported there by the Phoenicians, as the progenitors of their own. They have created many breeds depending on colour and size. Also, there are 3 types of a smaller size used in hunting regions where hunting is allowed. Read more 
SMALL SWISS HOUND - Schwyzer Niederlaufhund 
Its height varies from 33-41cm in females and males. This breed was once more, especially created for hunting within the controlled hunting regions, as all small Swiss breeds that tend to replace the large breeds in hunting, due to the limited area where hunting is allowed. They are stubborn dogs but with great passion for hare-hunting. Read more 
SWISS HOUND - Schweizer Laufhunde
Its height varies from 45-50cm and its weight from 18-25 kilos. This tracer is one of the most popular and is considered that it comes from the Egyptian dogs that were transported there by the Phoenicians. It is used in hunting the hare as well as the wild boar. It is the dog that together with the Bloodhound was widely used for the creation of other hunting breeds. Read more 
 LUCERNE HOUND 
From 33-41cm for small-sized individuals and 50 – 55cm for the large-sized ones. They are hare hounds, used for the hare- just as all the other Swiss hounds - within the controlled hunting regions. They are stubborn dogs and persistent in persecuting, with a loud voice and very resistant that can easily hunt in the gnarled Swiss Alpes.Read more 
Bernese Hound 
There are many breeds of small Swiss tracers which differ in colour and coat and thus are separated into different breeds. Generally, they all come from the Phoenician dogs. Read more 
AUSTRIAN HOUND - Osterreichischer Bracke - Brandlbracke Vieraugl.
A black/red colored tracer. Powerful, with an acute sense of smell. It is used in hunting the hare as well as the wild boar. Read more 
SERBIAN HOUND -BALCAN HOUND Serbski gonic - Balkanski Gonic.
According to the Serbs it is an ancient breed and comes from Phoenician dogs. Its height reaches 45-54 cm. and is an indefatigable tracer, suitable for hare hunting. What creates a paradox is the fact that the Cretans were earlier navigators than the Phoenicians, and of course the Greek Hound had been the progenitor of all other hound breeds of Europe, but strangely enough, people choose to support that the Phoenician dogs had been the progenitors of all breeds. Read more 
YUGOSLAVIAN MOUNTAINOUS HOUND -Crnogorski planinski gonic 

In the past it was called Black Hound. Its height starts from 49-50 cm, and it is the most popular tracer in this particular region but completely unknown out of these bounds. It has a common origin with the other Balkan Hounds. Read more 
TRI-COLORED YUGOSLAVIAN HOUND - Jugoslavenski Trobojni Gonic
It’s a medium-sized tracer of 45-50 cm height. It is almost unknown abroad but relatively famous in its country of origin (Serbia Montenegro). Its origin is ancient. It is considered as coming from this particular region. Read more 
Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound - Bosanski ostrodlaki gonic It is also called Illyrian Hound while in its country it is also named “Barak”. Its height varies from 45-56cm. It is almost unknown except for its country of origin. Read more 
POLISH HOUND - Ogar Polski
In Poland they call it Podzary. Its height varies from 56-65cm and was a result of breeding native breeds with Bloodhounds. Apart from its country of origin, it is completely unknown.Read more 
TYROLEAN HOUND - Tiroler Bracke 
With a height varying from 44-50 cm, it is a tracer that is considered to have originated from Celtic Hounds. Surely, its use has been known since 1500 A.D. since Emperor Maximilian’s reign and on. It is insistent and stubborn with a good sense of smell and a powerful voice. There had also been a small sized dog which, however, is no longer bred. Read more 
Segugio Maremano
The youngest Italian Hound breed that has been recently recognized. It is almost exclusively used in hunting the wild boar and with great success and in hare-hunting. Read more 
Transylvanian HOUND  - Erdelyi Kopo 
Height: 55-65 cm Weight: 30-35 kilos. There are two varieties: the medium-sized and the tall- sized one. It has a good character and is easily trained. It is used in all kinds of hunting and is especially loved for its tracing ability and its easy adaptation to different kinds of terrain. It comes from the dogs of the Magyar settlers that conquered Hungary - which is its place of origin, and from Polish Hounds. It is almost unknown out of its country of origin. Read more
Black Forest Hound - Slovakian HoundIts country of origin is Czech Republic-Slovakia. Height: 45-50cm. Weight: 18-20 kilos. An indefatigable tracer especially for the wild boar, but also used in human rescue. Insistent, hard-working and independent. It gets very attached to its owner and is considered as a native breed. Read more. 
Grand Bleu de Gascogne
Height: 63-70 cm. Weight 30-40 kilos.
The oldest French hound breed. It tends to become extinct. It comes from the Bloodhound and was the most popular breed of dog for the French nobles. It is not frequently met out of the French bounds. Read more
Petit Bleu de Gascogne
Height. 48-56 cm Weight: 20-25 kilos
It is the cousin of the large sized but lighter and faster with the same tracing ability and brightness. It is most often used in hare hunting–usually in packs, and it has a powerful and peculiar voice that many times resembles a crying sound. Cunning and intelligent, with an acute sense of smell and a great ability for long persecution. It is an excellent hare hound for the French people. It is well known abroad too. Read more 
Porcelaine French Scent Hound  - Porcelaine Height: 55-58 cm Weight: 25-30 kilos
It is considered to have originated from the White Bloodhound of Lorraine and the Swiss Hound. It is a most capable tracer that can very easily be trained. It is used to hunt the hare in pairs or in packs. It is rather infrequently met today. Read more
ARIEGEOIS HOUND Height: 55-60cm. Weight: 20-30 kilos
It is the result of breeding pure French Hounds with Briquet Hounds. Obedient and friendly with great endurance and training ability, it is used for hunting the hare in pairs or in packs. It is popular in France but almost unknown abroad. Read more 
LEVESQUE HOUND 
Height: 63-72 cm. Weight: 25-35 kilos
It was created in 1870 by Monsieur Levesque  by cross-breeding a Foxhound with a Gascon Saintongeois Vendeen. It is used in deer and wild boar hunting with horses. Today, there are only a few individuals of this particular breed. It is completely unknown abroad. Read more 
ANGLO-FRENCH HOUND – Anglo-Franchais
It is the result of cross-breeding English and French hound breeds. There are three varieties that distinguish dogs on terms of height and two varieties of the three, based on their color-combination. There is the tri-colored combination and the black/white combination. They are all good tracers especially when they hunt in packs. They have inherited the elegance and beauty of the French Hounds but also the speed and robustness of the English ones. Read more 
BAVARIAN MOUNTAIN HOUND 
The king of the Bavarian mountains and the Alps. A most capable tracer that will follow the traces of the wounded prey for hours until it finds them and shall not leave, until the hunter approaches. Patient and insistent it is the ideal hound for selective hunting by German, Swiss and Austrian hunters. Read more. 
Hanover Hound
Height: 48-55 cm. Weight: 17-20 kilos
It comes from Northern Germany; it is medium-sized and with a powerful physique. Working and conscientious it is attached to its owner, dedicated to him and its work. It can be easily trained. Read more 
POSAVAC HOUND
A Yugoslavian Tracer with a great tracing ability for hare and deer hunting. Friendly and social, it shows great resistance and insistence. Even if it is famous in its homeland, it is not known abroad. Read more 
ISHTAR HOUND
It comes from the homonymic province of Yugoslavia. It is exclusively used in hare hunting on the dry, rocky lands of the province. It is a lively dog of mediocre size, in three varieties depending on its height and coat; it is agile, intelligent and well-built. It is considered to be native and its characteristic is that it barks on the traces from the first moment it spots them. Based on its coat, there are two varieties: smooth-coated and rough-coated. It is well known abroad and is quite successfully used. Read more 
BILLY HOUND
It is a tall French tracer that is used for hare, deer and wild boar hunting. It has a very good sense of smell, speed and resistance. Read more
poitevine Hound
A tall tracer (70cm) for hunting the wild boar, the deer but also the hare. One particular characteristic is its powerful voice. It is rarely met in France and almost unknown abroad. Read more 
Large Anglo-french Hound
One more breed that originated from the Foxhound and French Hounds. Tall and suitable for hunting large game. It keeps its exceptional sense of smell, which it has inherited from the French Hounds and the speed and sturdiness of the Anglo-Saxon breed. Read more 
Small French English Hound- Anglo-Francaise de Petite Venerie
 Its height varies from 45-54cm and its weight can reach 20 kilos. It comes from the Small Bleu de Gascogne and Saintose, the Harrier and the Beagle.  It is used for fox and wild boar hunting. Read more 
FRENCH HOUND
With height up to 72cm it is suitable for big game hunting with horses. Very fast and with a great sense of smell, it is suitable for hunting in big packs and for long pursuing.  Read more 
FOXHOUND
The legendary English dog for hunting the fox in large groups that exceed 100 individuals. It prefers open fields and adapts with difficulty in the dense and difficult to reach regions. Friendly and working with a good sense of smell, it is considered as the most representative English dog breed. In its breed, standard height, which usually exceeds 65 cm, is not determined. Read more 
AMERICAN FOXHOUND
As its name indicates, it comes from the English foxhound. Since 1650 that is said that it first appeared and up to 1830 that was recognised, it is thought that it cross-bred with various hounds in order to enhance its speed on the large American plains. Today, it is not very widespread- even in America. Its height varies from 54-65cm. Read more 
 Black and Tan Coonhoud
An American breed that came from the “talpot” (old English tracer) the Bloodhound and the Foxhound. It is used for hunting with horses and is widespread in America. Its height reaches 68cm. Read more 
Dalmatian Hound
Some consider the Bengal Brach that has become extinct as this breed’s progenitor, some others the Alano Arlekino and others the Pointer or even the Brach of Ishtar. What is certain is that it comes from far and appeared during the period of the Balkan wars, when it was used as a messenger in Dalmatia where it took its name from. Disney with the film “101 Dalmatians” made the breed famous worldwide and thus became widely known; it is bred all around the world. Its height varies from 55-61 cm. and its colour is white, with small black stains on the body. Read more 
Beagle Harrier
An English breed with a multiple use: for hare, deer, fox and pheasant hunting. It is more durable and more rapid than the Beagle, it is more easily trained and adapts more easily in the pack. There is a disagreement regarding its origin which is claimed by the French and the English, but there is no doubt about its progenitors which are the Harrier and the Beagle. Read more 
The BEAGLE
The smallest English Tracer and the most famous one worldwide. It is successfully used in hunting the wild rabbit and the hare. Lively and insistent, unwearying and of excellent character. It is very clean and calm and easily adapts to the life of its owner. For many years it had been one of the main subjects of experiments in medical laboratories because of its calm character. Read more 
Drever  - Swedish Hound
It is a basset that resulted from cross-breeding the Westphalia Basset and the Dachsbracke and it is the most famous tracer in its country but almost unknown abroad. Its height reaches 45cm. Read more 
Dunker – Norwegian Hound
It took its name from Wilhem Dunker, who created the breed by breeding native dogs. It is a tracer with great abilities and very famous in its country of origin. Its height varies from 45-55 cm. 
HYGENHOUND
The most famous Norwegian tracer with an exceptional sense of smell and very resistant. Its height varies from 50-60cm. Its weight from 18-25 kilos. It is being used for hunting the hare as well as larger prey. Its resistance, good character and trainability have made it famous out of its country of origin too. Read more 
 The HAMILTON HOUND
Conte Adolf Patrick Hamilton first presented two dogs of the breed in a show, and since then the breed was named after him. It is the result of cross breeding the Foxhound, the Harrier and the German Hound. Its height varies from 53-61 cm. and its country of origin is Sweden.Read more
The HALDEN HOUND - Haldenstövare
Hans Larsen Bisseberg was the farmer who started this breed by mixing the Foxhound, the Beagle and the Harrier. Although they are good tracers they are not even widespread in Norway- their country of origin. Its height reaches 52-56cm. Read more 
SCHILLER HOUND - Schillerstovare
Its height varies from 53-61cm and its weight from 18-24 kilos. This Swedish hound is a mix of English and Swiss hounds that Mr. Schiller used. It is completely unknown except for its country of origin. Read more 
FINNISH HOUND - Suomennajokoira
Height: 45-50 cm and weight: 15-18 kilos. A well known and ancient tracer with a good sense of smell, used for hare hunting. It is completely unknown, except for its country of origin. Read more 
 SPANISH HOUND -  Sabueso Espanol
This dog has been popular in Spain since the reign of King Alfonso. It is not popular out of the Spanish borders, but there it is considered as the best hare and rabbit hound. Read more 
BassetArtesienNormand
It was created one century ago, by cross- breeding the Artesien Basset and the Norman Basset. It is very successfully used in hare and rabbit hunting. Insistent and persistent it can easily enter the holes and the slots in the ground in order to flush the rabbits out. Because it has a calm character it is also raised for company. Read more 
Artois Basset 
An excellent tracer of French origin, insistent and methodical with an incredible aggressiveness towards its prey but also towards its kin. It is considered as the most suitable hare hound. Its size and speed do not deter it from attacking even bigger preys with incredible courage- for example, the deer or the wild boar. Read more 
Basset Bleu de Gascogne                           
Friendly, social and easily trained. It is also used for birds and other preys. It has got an exceptional sense of smell and is very insistent. Unfortunately, individuals of this particular breed are very few even in France, and out of the country their presence is infrequent. Read more 
Basset Hound
The most famous basset, with the American nationality but French origin. It is very famous because of its great tracing ability but also because of its likeable and peculiar appearance. It is used in hunting the hare, the deer and the wild boar. Read more 
DACHSBRACKE
A German Hound with two varieties: Westfalia and Alpino. They are used in hare and fox hunting. They have a very acute sense of smell, great insistence and passion. Read more 
Brittany Basset - Basse Fauve de Bretagne
A most capable and insistent tracer. It is devoted to its owner and easily adapts to city life. It is the result of cross breeding the Brittany Griffon and the Basse Griffon Vendeen. It is almost exclusively used in hare hunting. Read more 
Basse Griffon Vendeen
There are two varieties: small and middle-sized. It is an exceptional tracer that was widely widespread in the old days, but it has nowadays become a dog of company, thanks to its cute and intelligent appearance. Today it is used for deer hunting. 
Brittany griffon  - Griffon Fauve de BretagneA middle-sized tracer, most capable and suitable for the fox and wild boar hunting. Tough and durable it can pursue its prey all day long without ever showing marks of tiredness. Read more 
GRIFFON NIVERNAIS
A French tracer of the oldest ones that approached extinction and was saved in the dues of the previous century by certain lovers of the breed. Suitable for all kinds of hunting. Tough and insistent it is good for all types of terrain, gnarled or wooded. Read more 
GRAND GRIFFON VENDEEN
Its height reaching 65cm, it is the biggest Griffon, the most powerful and courageous for hunting the wild boar with horses or in the conventional way. It is very insistent and aggressive with its prey but its resistance is mediocre and does not allow it to hunt for long. It is infrequent in France and almost unknown in the rest of Europe. Read more 
BRIQUET GRIFFON VENDEEN
Medium sized but very capable and fast. It is used in large prey hunting and hare hunting too. Even though it was endangered, during the last few years the French dog loving community has showed a great interest for its rescue and thus now it continues to exist. Read more 
RHODESIAN RIDGEBACK
A dog with a powerful sense of smell that is used in hunting the lion and the African wild boar. Bold and courageous it is also used for defence and company. Characteristic is how the skin inverts on its ridge resembling, as they say, with a blow by the paw of a lion. It belongs to the tracing hound breeds. It comes from South Africa. Read more 
DOGO ARGENTINO
Up to 1978, it belonged to the breeds used for defence and protection but then it was registered as a tracing hound because of its ability to hunt the Pecari, the wild boar and the puma. It is very aggressive and unfortunately it is used in dog fights. It cannot be used as a domestic companion because it is very energetic and needs large spaces. The Alano, the Pit Bull, the Bull Terrier, the Bulldog, the Spanish Mastif, the Pyrenese Mastiff, the Dogue deBordeaux, the Pointer, the Boxer, the Irish Wolfhound and the Perro de Pelea Cordobés are the dogs that Doctor Antonio Martines crossbred so as to create this dog for hunting the Puma. Since 1931, it has become very famous not only in Argentina but also abroad. Read more