Russian Harlequin Hound vs Circassian Orloff Wolfhound - Breed Comparison

Very little is known of the history and development of the Circassian Orloff Wolfhound. It is suspected that it is related to the Hare Hound, Deerhound and the Greyhound. They were taken from Siberia to the Circassian southern mountains to hunt hare and small prey. The breed is also like the Borzoi but more intelligent and it is much faster than the other sighthounds.

The color and some other minor characteristics have evolved over the centuries to be different from the Siberian that was originally brought to the mountains. All the historical data suggests that the original parents of all these sighthounds was the Celtic Greyhound

The origins of the Russian Harlequin Hound are somewhat vague as there are many Russian hunting hounds and many of them have a similar ancestry.

The Russian Harlequin Hound is an indigenous hound whose origins go back to the 18th century. The first breed standard was published in 1925.

The breed was then developed during the early 1900s – being a mix of Russian Hound and English Foxhound. The Russian Harlequin Hound is a rare dog breed and you will find it almost exclusively in Russia.

The Circassian Orloff Wolfhound had many of the characteristics of any sighthound. He has strong straight legs and they are longer than most sighthounds which allows the Circassian to run amazingly fast. The head is long, the muzzle is wide, and the eyes are large and dark. They have a deep chest and medium tail. They also have a graceful and aristocratic demeanor.

The Russian Harlequin Hound is a medium to large sized dog that stands between 55 – 68cm in height and weighs between 18 – 31kg.

He has a solid build with long, straight legs with a long tail that can be slightly curved. The head is broad and square with medium sized ears which are floppy. The short coat is essentially white with tri-colored markings of white, tan and black.

Temperament:

The Russian Harlequin Hound has an amicable expression to his face and is a friendly social dog breed. He is lively and energetic, and with his hunting background will required a good deal of exercise.

They make great family pets, getting on well with children in the home and making friends with any other pets in the family. He is a gentle dog and with training and socialization is well mannered and obedient.

He loves his human family and wants to spend time with them in their company. He isn't suited to life in the city and a small property, but will require a home with bigger grounds.

Fun and games are right in this breeds wheelhouse. They love to run. They need to run. Their activity level is very high, and they need lots of space and regular exercise. They are very intelligent and need mental stimulation as well. They are great at lure coursing and they love racing of course

The Russian Harlequin Hound has always been a hunting dog, known for his excellent hunting skills. He isn’t only a good hunting dog, but he makes a good family pet too.

If you’re looking for an unusual dog breed that is also intelligent, loyal and loving, then you might want to consider this Russian Harlequin Hound.

Again, little is known about the health of this ancient breed, except to propose that it faces many of the same challenges as the Greyhound. This would include skin irritation, bloat, osteosarcoma and esophageal achalasia.

Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer.

Esophageal achalasia is rare and affects the esophagus’ muscles. The upper muscles can’t relax and that causes the lower muscle or sphincter not to open and no food can get to the stomach.

Your Russian Harlequin Hound is a rare dog breed that can reach 12 years of age if well cared for. There are some dog ailments that must be watched for. Cancer, ear infections and skin allergies can be problems to look out for. Other troublesome ailments can be -

Bloat:

This is a more common disease with deep-chested dogs, and the deep chested Russian Harlequin Hound is prone to bloat. Gas is trapped in the stomach and the stomach can actually twist. It can be life threatening. Your pet will have a hard, swollen belly and will be restless and salivating. Get him to the vet immediately. He may well require immediate surgery.

Hip Dysplasia:

This condition is all about problems with the hip joints. It is sad for any dog with this disease as it can be painful for your pet to walk. Inflammation and arthritis can mean your pet being in pain. He can become lame too.

There are anti-inflammatory medications and your vet will suggest other treatments to make sure your pet is as comfortable as can be.

This dog is a lean running machine. Do not overfeed. It is also better to feed him two to three times a day in smaller portions rather than one large meal.

Health issues

They tend to be allergic to insecticide and anesthesia. It’s best not to treat your yard for insects if your Circassian Orloff Wolfhound will be out in it.

Exercise and games

Fun and games are right in this breeds wheelhouse. They love to run. They need to run. Their activity level is very high, and they need lots of space and regular exercise. They are very intelligent and need mental stimulation as well. They are great at lure coursing and they love racing of course.

Exercise:

The Russian Harlequin Hound needs both mental and physical stimulation. He is a curious dog and wants to be out and about sniffing around and exploring. He will need to have a walk every day as well as lots of ball- and rope games. He will suit being the pet of a busy, outdoorsy family as opposed to a family of couch potatoes.

Grooming:

The Russian Harlequin Hound is looked upon as a low maintenance dog breed, and with his short, dense coat you can get by with just brushing him twice a week. Because he is such a lover of the outdoors check him over for ticks and fleas when you brush him.

Check inside his ears for redness and infection.

Open his mouth and look for bad, rotting teeth.

Check him over for any unusual lumps.

Make sure his eyes are clear and free of discharge.

Trim his nails.

Diet:

Every dog should be fed excellent food as this encourages good health. Commercially manufactured dog foods can be wonderfully convenient and nutritious if you get the better quality ones.

Try and include some simple, tasty home-made food to his diet . High-quality dry dog food will provide a balanced diet, but you want to make it a little more tasty for him by giving him some chopped up boiled chicken, brown rice, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. This can be added into the dry kibble twice a week.

Try and include some raw meat occasionally. Fresh, cool water should always be available around the clock.