Montenegrin Mountain Hound

The Mountain Running Dog of Montenegro is derived from the same stock as the other Balkan running dogs. In the past, the breed was called the 'Black Running Dog'. The first standard was written in 1924 and the breed is recognized by the International Cynological Federation on May 8, 1969 during the Warsaw session. The breed is extremely rare: it is very little spread in its region of origin and unknown outside.

The FCI standard describes the Mountain Running Dog of Montenegro as balanced, attached to its master, docile and trustworthy. It is considered gentle with children and never aggressive.

The Mountain Running Dog of Montenegro is a medium-sized running dog with a solid and agile appearance. The tail covered with abundant hair is carried in sabre shape below the line of the back. It reaches the hock. The dolichocephalic head presents divergent lines of the skull and muzzle. Placed slightly obliquely, the eyes of oval shape are light brown to dark brown in color. The edges of the eyelids are pigmented black. Attached high, the ears are medium length, thin to medium thick. They hang without crease and well against the head. The end is of a more or less pronounced oval shape. The coat is short, dense, rough, not thick, glossy, well-laid, smooth, with a fairly well-developed undercoat. The coat color is black and tan. The tan markings, whose intensity varies from light red to bright red, are found above the eyes, on the muzzle and on the lower parts of the limbs. The tan markings above the eyes are the size of a hazelnut. On the lateral parts of the muzzle, they extend at most to the corner of the lips.