The Cretan Hound is a breed of Hunting Dog native to the Greek island of Crete. With a recorded history, which is believed to extend for at least 4,000 years, the Cretan Hound is considered one of the oldest European dog breeds. Primarily used for hunting rabbits, the Cretan Hound is intermediate in form and function between a wing and a lighthouse. The Cretan Hound is a very rare breed that is almost never found outside of Crete, and is not yet recognized by any major international kennel club. The Cretan Hound is also known as Kritikos echinylatus, Cretan Hunting Dog, Cretan Rabbit Dog, Cretan Tracing Dog and Cretan Tresor.
The Cretan Hound was developed many centuries ago, written records were kept for dog breeding, and much of its history has been lost over time. Almost nothing about the lineage of the breed is little more than pure speculation, although there are several theories that are supported by some evidence. It is all clear that the Cretan Hound was developed on the island of Crete and is an incredibly old breed. Dogs almost identical to the Cretan Hound appear on the oldest Cretan artifacts, and the breed is almost certainly at least 4,000 years old.
The first artifacts depicting the Cretan Hound begin to appear during the period when Crete was the center of the Minoan civilization, the first major European power. After Minos, the famous first king of Crete, the Minoans were famous in the ancient world for their advanced technology, military strength, merchants exploring the world, and maritime skills and expert skills as sailors. Some of the best evidence suggests that the Cretan Hounds near the Minoans come from the island of Santorini, which was also part of the Minoan civilization. Professor S. Recent archaeological digs from Santorini, led by Marinatos, have depicted a wall mural depicting dogs that are essentially indistinguishable from the modern Cretan hound. The Minoans developed almost certainly and kept the Cretan Hound for the same reasons their descendants the Greeks had found for millennia, to hunt rabbits and other small animals found on Crete.
Although the evidence is largely convincing that the Minoans developed the Cretan Hound, it is unclear how it was developed. The ancestors of the Cretan Hound have two major lines of thought. The first, and most popular, assumes that the breed was descended from ancient Middle Eastern hunting breeds, particularly those of ancient Egypt. Originally, all domestic dogs were almost identical in appearance, similar to the dingoes of Australia and the modern pariah dogs of India and the Middle East. Prehistoric artwork from around the world shows dogs that are remarkably similar in form and function. It first began to change in ancient Egypt and ancient Mesopotamia from 7,000 to 14,000 years ago. The artefacts of the time clearly show a variety of dogs, including a fleet of footprints of giant mastiff-type dogs for hunting and protection. The earliest known breeds of dogs were the tessam, a favorite Hunting Dog of the Egyptian pharaohs. The images of Tessem that survived reveal that it was similar to the modern day Pharaoh Hound and, to a lesser extent, the Cretan Hound. The ancient Minoans had extensive trade and political contacts throughout the Middle East, and were probably also mentioned in the Bible (as Capuchar Island). It is entirely possible, and perhaps very likely, that Minoan traders encountered Middle Eastern Hunting Dogs while working abroad and brought some back to Crete. Many believe that these dogs were ancestors of the Cretan Hound, or at least greatly influenced its development.
The vast majority of Cretan hounds are almost exclusively banned as Working Dogs, with appearance being a very secondary consideration if it is to be considered at all. This means that the Cretan Hound is more diverse in appearance and less standardized than most modern breeds. However, the breed has been kept pure for centuries, if not millennia, and exhibits many common features.
The Cretan Hound is a medium to large breed. This breed is the most sexually dimorphic of all dogs, meaning that there is considerable variation in the size and appearance of males and females. Male Cretan hounds are usually about 27 long at the shoulder, and females are typically around 19 . This breed is usually well proportioned, but most of the breed members are slightly longer than they are tall. Although weight is strongly influenced by height, construction, and sex, most breed members weigh between 44 and 66 pounds. The Cretan Hound is a very lightly constructed dog that is similar in construction to most scuntheids. In general, the Cretan hound is slightly heavier than most schenoids and its ribs are usually not clearly visible. The Cretan Hound has long and slender legs. The tail of the Cretan Hound is one of the most important characteristics of the breed. The tail is of medium to long length and is carried in a straight circle above the back. It is very important that the tail is neither too tight nor too loose.
The head and face of the Cretan Hound are quite primitive and wolf-like. They are quite tall and reminiscent of a lighthouse, though not usually to that extent. The head and the muzzle combine to form a wedge shape. The two are not completely different and blend in with each other very easily. The muzzle is of approximately the same length as the skull and from the base to the tip. The nose of the Cretan Hound can be black, brown, or dark, depending on the color of the dog. The Cretan Hound’s ears are incredibly expressive and highly mobile. They may be at the bottom, semi-pillar or backwards (rose-shaped). The eyes of the Cretan Hound are medium-sized, drab and dark-colored.
The Cretan Hound’s coat is short and smooth. The coat is the longest on the tail, buttocks, and neck, and the shortest on the fronts of the head, face, ears, abdomen, and feet. Because the Cretan Hound is bred regardless of appearance, it is quite variable in color. The Cretan Hound is usually a solid-colored dog, with different colors appearing on different parts of the body. The most common are white, sandy, cream, green fawn and black. Brindle-colored (black-striped) Cretan hounds are also quite common, and partially colored and triangular colored dogs are also occasionally seen.
The gestation period in lasts for 60-64 days The primary period of the reproductive cycle of the female is called Proestrus and goes on for around 9 days. During this time the females begin to draw in males. The subsequent part is the Estrus when the bitch is receptive to the male. It goes on for around 3 to 11 days. The third part is the Diestrus. Usually, it happens around day 14. In this period the bitch’s discharge changes for distinctive red and reaching its end. The vulva gets back to average, and she will no longer allow mating. The fourth part called the Anestrus. The time span between heat periods ordinarily keeps going around a half year. The litter size ranges between 6 to 8 puppies at a time
The Cretan Hound is a very low-maintenance breed. These dogs sometimes do not require professional grooming, just an occasional brushing. In addition, only those routine maintenance procedures that all breeds require such as nail clipping and an occasional bath are necessary. Cretan hounds shed but only minimally.
As with all breeds, initial socialization and puppy training classes are recommended. This breed has a reputation for being difficult to house. However, in every other case, it is very easy to train them. For example, They like to perform tricks and learn new ones quickly. They respond very well to training based on positive rewards rather than harsh or negative methods. This breed is required to live with his family and is likely to result in undesirable behaviour if he is regularly left alone for long periods of time.
This breed is classified as “”somewhat active””, but is average. Long segments of quiet activity are often spread with brief bursts of high activity, often simply moving around the house or yard. In addition to walking, daily play sessions are required. Another dog can be a good exercise partner, but they will still need quality playtime with his owner. A fence-backed backyard is a good idea; Bichons are surprisingly fast, and if someone makes a dash for freedom, it can be difficult to catch or call you back. They enjoy obedience, agility and participating in rally competitions.
They should perform well on high-quality dog food, whether it is commercially manufactured or prepared with the supervision and approval of your vet. Any diet should be appropriate for the age of the dog (puppy, adult or senior). Some dogs are at risk of being overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treatment training can be an important aid, but giving too much can lead to obesity. Know which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. If you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet, check with your vet. Clean, freshwater must be available at all times.
It does not appear that any health studies have been conducted on the Cretan Hound, making it impossible to make a definitive statement about the health of the breed. However, most fundamentalists believe that this breed is in excellent health, and no serious genetically inherited problems have been reported at higher rates of this breed. This good health is likely a result of breeding practices undertaken by Cretan breeders. Only the best predator (usually the healthiest) dogs are allowed to breed, ensuring that only their genes are allowed to be passed on to the next generation. This does not mean that the Cretan Hound is immune to genetically inherited health conditions, only that it generally suffers from fewer of them and lower rates than most modern breeds. Because the population of this breed is so small, it can be at risk of many health risks associated with rare breeds.
Although skeletal and visual problems are not thought of in this breed at high rates it is advisable for owners to keep their pets by both the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) Do the test. OFA and CERF perform genetic and other tests before identifying potential health defects. This is particularly valuable in detecting conditions that do not appear until the dog has reached an advanced age, it is especially important for anyone considering breeding their dog , Which has tested them to prevent the spread of potential genetic conditions to their offspring.
Although health studies have not been done for the Cretan Hound, a number have been on similar and closely related breeds. Some of Hound’s biggest concerns in those breeds include:
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