shop


The Furry Critter Network

Magyar Agar Breed Description

Back to Canine Breed Menu


thm-img


Breed Organization

United Kennel Club (UKC)

Native Country
Hungary

Other Names
Hungarian Greyhound, MA

Life Expectancy
Approximately 12-14 Years

Litter Size
No Information Available

Breed Group
Sighthound

General Description

The Hungarian Greyhound 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. Hungarian Greyhounds 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 oval-shaped eyes with a bright and gentle looking expression. They come in a variety of colors. The amount of "greyhoundness" in the MA is the point of controversy among European breeders and enthusiasts. This issue revolves around the fact that greyhounds were bred with MAs in the 19th century and early 20th century. Some prefer an "old fashioned" variation of the MA with its robust frame and musculature, while some prefer a more "greyhound-like" dog with a lighter frame and more speed. The sturdy frame of the Hungarian Greyhound makes it ideal for coursing game over a rugged terrain. Given their conformation, Hungarian Greyhound 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.


Breed Standard

Head: From the top and sides, resembles a long triangle. Relatively broad skull. Slight stop. Powerful muzzle. Strong jaws. Strong cheeks.
Ears: Set on fairly high, medium-sized, not too thin, semi-pendulous, V-shaped.
Eyes: Medium-sized, preferably brown.
Body: Long, muscular. Neck not very long, well-muscled. Relatively wide brisket. Chest deep, not too flat. Slightly curved loin. Slight tuck-up. Firm, fairly broad, straight back. Broad, slightly sloping croup.
Tail: Long, not too thin, slightly curved at the tip, always carried below the topline.
Hair: Close-lying, not too fine. Thick in winter.
Coat: All colors are allowed, solid, spotted or brindle.
Size: Dog: 65 to 70 cm (25,5-27,5 in).Bitch: slightly smaller.
Weight: Dog: approx. 30 kg (66 lb).Bitch: approx. 25 kg (55 lb).

History

The Hungarian Greyhound is believed to be descended from Asian Greyhounds brought to Hungary in the ninth century by the Magyars and probably crossed with local hounds. In the nineteenth century, crosses were made with the Greyhound to make the breed faster. Originally named the Hungarian Greyhound (agar means "greyhound" in Hungarian).

Behavior

This breed is affectionate and docile. They are unlikely to bite or be snippy with people, although they have a much stronger guarding 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 agárs 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.

It can live in the city but needs regular opportunities to run. As with other sighthounds, it should be kept away from cattle. It does not like cold (although it can tolerate lower temperatures.)and must be brushed twice a week.

Function

In addition to making fine companion animals, the elegant appearance and wash-and-wear coat of the Magyar agár make it very suitable for conformation showing. Although rare outside of Europe, a small number of Magyar agárs do reside in the United States. North American Magyar agár owners 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. In addition, the Magyar agár is eligible to compete in LGRA and NOTRA amateur racing events and ASFA lure coursing events.

Health

No negative reports outside the norm for sighthounds.


Back to Canine Breed Menu

Featured Rescues

"Don't Shop ... Please Adopt"

laptop pro

ASPCA

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world.

Our organization was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans and must be protected under the law. Headquartered in New York City, the ASPCA maintains a strong local presence, and with programs that extend our anti-cruelty mission across the country, we are recognized as a national animal welfare organization. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country.

The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”


laptop pro

Petfinder

If you can’t find the pet you’re looking for on Petfinder, don’t give up. Some shelters maintain waiting lists for specific breeds, so don’t be afraid to ask! There are also breed-specific rescues for just about every breed, and most of them post their pets on Petfinder. (Petfinder can even e-mail you when a pet that fits your criteria is posted — just click “Save this Search” at the top of your search results page.)


laptop pro

Rescue Me

Jeff Gold, Founder, Rescue Me! Animal Rescue Network

Jeff Gold lives in Watkinsville, Georgia on the same property as Rescue Me's Animal Rehabilitation Center, with 18 rescue animals. Shown with him in the photo to the left are Maggie, Izzie and Cortez. In 2003, after learning there was nobody doing boxer rescue work in Georgia, Gold founded Boxertown, an organization which helped find homes for over 500 boxers during its first two years. Based upon this success, Gold came up with the vision for Rescue Me! ― a network which helps all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals find good homes, anywhere in the world. RescueShelter.com is also a free service of Rescue Me! and provides the world's largest and most up-to-date directory of animal rescue organizations for all breeds of dogs, cats and other animals, including a comprehensive directory of wildlife rehabilitators in over 150 countries.



Top