Magyar Agar

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Magyar Agár is also called a Hungarian Greyhound. It is a type of sighthound originating in Hungary and Transylvania. It is used for hunting and coursing, and is also kept as a companion.

Magyar Agár
Other names Hungarian Greyhound
Country of origin Hungary, Transylvania now part of Romania
Traits

Contents

[edit] Description

[edit] Appearance

The Magyar Agár is a sighthound of elegant yet rugged stature. While they bear some resemblance to Greyhounds, there are a number of significant differences in conformation between the two breeds. Magyar Agár are longer in body than they are tall, and have a heavier bone structure than Greyhounds. Their heads are more wedge-shaped, with substantial jaw muscles and shorter snouts, giving them a less refined appearance than most Greyhounds. They also have much thicker skin with a short, dense and smooth coat that is slightly longer during winter months. As such, they are very hardy dogs and can tolerate lower temperatures better than some of the other short-coated sighthounds. They have rose-shaped ears that are raised about half way and eyes are oval in shape with a bright and gentle looking expression. They weigh about 49-68 lbs and are 25-27 inches at the shoulders. They come in a variety of colors.

The sturdy frame of the Magyar Agar makes it ideal for coursing game over a rugged terrain. Given their conformation, Magyar Agar are not as fast as Greyhounds on short sprints, but possess greater endurance and stamina, making them much more suited to running longer distances for longer periods of time. In the old days, these dogs would have been expected to trail alongside their masters on horseback.

[edit] Temperament

This breed is affectionate and docile. They are highly unlikely to ever bite or be snippy with people, although they have a much stronger gaurding instinct than some other sighthound breeds. They are usually well behaved around children and also with other dogs. They are somewhat reserved but should not be overly shy. They are intelligent, easy to train and faithful. As with all dogs, early socialization is a must.

Magyar Agar are very adaptable and can live comfortably in apartments as well as outdoor kennels as long as they are provided with adequate exercise and human interaction. If kept inside, they are very easy to housebreak and make wonderful house pets. During the day they will spend a good portion of their time sleeping, but they are by no means "couch potatoes" and do require daily exercise to stay fit and happy. Long walks, free running and trotting next to a bicycle are the best ways to exercise Magyars since they are not usually too keen on ball-chasing as are other breeds.

Although they can live peacefully with cats and other small animals inside the home, it is important to remember their coursing heritage. They are an excellent coursing dog, and are still employed for such purposes in Hungary. As such, they will tend to want to chase down anything that resembles prey. However, with proper introduction and supervision, they can coexist very well with cats and small dogs.

[edit] History

These dogs accompanied the Magyars to present-day Hungary and Romania in the 900s. They are not well known outside of Hungary and Romania.

[edit] Modern Uses

In addition to making fine companion animals, Magyar Agars are also very well suited to a number of activities. Their elegant appearance and wash-and-wear coats make them very suitable for conformation showing. Although rare outside of Europe, Magyar Agar owners in the United States and Canada do have opportunities to show their dogs in United Kennel Club, North American Kennel Club/Rarities, American Rare Breed Association and International All Breed Canine Association conformation events.

[edit] Miscellaneous

The Magyar Agár has an average life span of 12-14 years.

[edit] External links

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Hounds
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Sighthounds
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Dogs originating from Hungary
Hungarian Vizsla · Komondor · Kuvasz · Magyar Agar · Mudi · Puli · Pumi · Transylvanian Hound