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The Cretan Hound is an ancient Greek dog from the island of Crete. There is evidence in the form of writing and pictures that the breed goes back for at least 3500 years. They are quite possibly the oldest dog breed in Europe. They were originally bred for use in tracking and pursuing hare and wild rabbit. They are relatively rare to find in other areas parts of the world as the Cretes keep the breed to themselves to the best extent possible. The Cretan Hound is a true and pure breed since the Cretes also neuter male dogs if they are not in the top ranks. This keeps the breed healthy, pure, and strong, but it also means that there are very limited numbers of these dogs.

This breed is accepted for registry in the DRA. In this organization, they are classified under the "hound" category. They are a hound breed that uses both sight and sound on the hunt, rather than one or the other. Although having a registered dog may not mean that much to the average pet owner who is only looking for a loving companion, it does increase the value of the dog for those who want to breed the animal or compete with him or her. The only time that the Cretan Hound is shown is in the international dog show held in Athens, Greece.

According to breed standards, males must be over 27 inches tall and females must be over 19 inches tall, when measured from the ground to the withers. Their weight can vary a bit, but they should be between around 44 and 66 pounds, with males being larger than females of the breed. These measurements mean that they are slender dogs, and are light on their feet. The skin is tight to the body, without wrinkles. The ears are pricked and will fold backwards when they are chasing prey. The eyes are small and almond-shaped, holding an expression of intelligence and wisdom. The head is elongated and the tail is long and curved, held in the upwards position, going over the top of the back. They should be strong and swift, able to traverse difficult, rough terrain.

Cretan Hounds have beautiful coats. The accepted colors are white, cream, sandy, fawn, gray, black, and brindle. They can be a single color, bi-colored, or tri-colored. The coat is fairly short. Their grooming is fairly easy, but should be maintained regularly. They need a thorough brushing at least once per week with a stiff brush to ensure that there is nothing stuck in the fur, and to remove any loose hairs. These dogs are average shedders. An occasional dry shampoo can be used, but wet bathing should be limited as much as possible.

They are quite intelligent and can be trained quickly, especially due to their instinctive hunting skills. Training should be consistent, with the human establishing his or her position as "pack leader" from the start. If you are firm, stable, and calm, the dog will respond well to training and learn quickly. The trained Cretan Hound will be very well-behaved, even in busy situations, maintaining its calm and almost royal demeanor. They are gentle with children and do well with other dogs. They need to have room to run and are not suited for life in apartments. The breed is quiet, rarely even barking, except to let the owner know of an approaching stranger. They are healthy and have average lifespans of 10 to 12 years.

Learn more about this author, Victoria Tiegert.
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