Portrait of the Kopov Bracke

The Wild Boar Dachshund, also called Slovensky Kopov, is a medium-sized dog breed that is mainly found in Slovenia and other parts of Central Europe. It was originally developed for hunting wild boar, but it is also kept as a family dog.

The wild boar hound has a strong, athletic build with a short, dense coat that can come in colors such as black, red, and brown. It has a strong muzzle and drooping ears that give it a distinctive appearance. They are very intelligent and learn quickly, which makes them excellent hunting dogs, but they are also loyal and affectionate and make good family dogs.

The Black Deer Bracke needs plenty of exercise and exercise to stay happy and healthy, and they also need regular grooming, including brushing and bathing, to keep their short coats in good condition. In general, the Black Deer Bracke is a hardy and long-lived dog breed with little susceptibility to health problems. If properly cared for, it reaches an age of 11-13 years.

The most important data about the Kopov-Bracke

Origin of the Slovensky Kopov

The Slovensky Kopov originally comes from Slovakia and was used as a hunting dog for wild boar and predators as well as a guard dog. Especially in driven hunts for wild boar, the game sharp dogs are very popular in Slovakia as well as in Germany. The ancestry of the Slovensky Kopov can be traced back to the Celtic Bracke. The Slovensky Kopov is often known only by the name Kopov or as the Slovakian Black Deer Bracke. Under the latter name, the breed is also officially recognized by the FCI since 1963.

Nature & Character of the Slovensky Kopov

The Slovensky Kopov is very self-confident and headstrong. Therefore, it is usually not recommended to start with a Kopovbracke as an inexperienced dog owner. Kopovbracken are very intelligent, bold, independent and alert. Kopovbracken work very confidently and must be trained very consistently. The Kopov wants to push his limits, so a definite and consistent authoritarian upbringing is essential. Of course, Kopvos should not be trained with force and coercion, but with patience, consistency and reward. His limits must be shown to the dog from the beginning. The Slovakian wild dog is usually fond of children and friendly. Who enjoys the confidence of a Kopov, has gained a very affectionate and loyal friend and hunting companion.

Appearance of the Kopov-Bracke

At first glance, the dog breed looks very similar to the Doberman - and by many also confused with it. The coat is very similar and both dogs are slender and have a similar build. However, the Slovensky Kopov is significantly smaller. The height at withers is about 40 to 45 cm, the weight is 15-20 kg. Males are only slightly larger than females.

The legs of the Kopov are short in proportion to the length of the back, which makes the dog appear stable and strong. The dog makes a very alert impression, the tail as well as the ears hang. The coat is short and smooth and mainly black, in the chest and head area as well as on the paws brown and tan markings are added.

Education & Husbandry of the Slovensky Kopov - What to consider

The education of this breed is challenging due to its character and requires some experience. Therefore, this dog breed is not suitable for beginners. The Slovensky Kopov likes to test its limits and questions all commands and orders given to it. The trust of this stubborn breed must be earned through consistency, patience, fairness and love. Nothing is achieved with this breed by strictness or even violence, on the contrary. In this case, the Slovakian Wild Boar will completely refuse to serve and the trust between man and dog will be completely broken.

The Slovensky Kopov also makes some demands on its keeping. Since this breed is very active and was bred for hours of hunting, the running dogs need a lot of exercise and workout. Due to their strong hunting instinct, the best place to keep them is a house with a spacious but fenced property. In this way, the Bracke is kept from hunting and can still move freely and let off steam.

Diet of the Slovensky Kopov

The dog breed from Slovakia is not known for a sensitive stomach, so there is no need to pay attention to special needs when choosing food. The most important factor in the choice of food is quality. The food of a dog is a significant and often unfortunately underestimated factor in keeping the dog healthy, which is why excellent food quality should be the top priority. Whether the dog owner would like to resort to dry or wet food is unimportant and can be decided according to personal preferences. Feeding according to the BARF method with raw meat is also possible.

It is important that proteins as well as fats and carbohydrates are included in the food. Meat should therefore always be supplemented with vegetables, pasta or even rice. Vitamins and minerals are also important to keep all the functions of the body running and ensure that the dog is healthy. For those who are unsure about choosing the right food, there are a variety of food guides where all questions are answered. Alternatively, the veterinarian of the respective dog can also give a food recommendation. This has years of experience, knows the age, activity and health of the dog in question and can use this data to make a good assessment of what and how much the dog should be fed. Apart from the food, fresh water should be available to the running dog at all times and care should be taken to ensure that the four-legged friend drinks enough.

Health - Life Expectancy & Common Diseases

The life expectancy of this breed is above average and is around 12 to 15 years. There are no known typical diseases for the Slovensky Kopov. Through purebred breeding without crossbreeding, hereditary diseases have been eradicated. Only the floppy ears of the Slovakian Schwarzwildbracke can tend to inflammations, because hanging ears have a lack of ventilation and in the resulting warm and humid climate bacteria feel particularly comfortable. Therefore, the ears should be checked and cleaned regularly. Other susceptible areas, such as eyes, teeth/gums and paws should also be kept in mind by the dog owner. It is also advisable to have an annual check-up at the vet, where diseases can be detected early and necessary vaccinations and worming can be performed.

This breed does not tend to be overweight if fed correctly. The Slovensky Kopov is such an active dog by nature that it is very difficult for it to put on fat. The breed is also quite robust in the face of temperature extremes. The dense coat protects well against rain and so it is possible to work outside even in wet conditions. Excessive heat should never be exposed to a dog, otherwise it can lead to heat stroke.

How should I groom my Kopov?

Coat care is one of the few points in which the Slovensky Kopov is quite uncomplicated. The short, smooth coat requires very little grooming. Occasional brushing can help maintain the coat's natural luster and remove dirt and loose hair. In the case of coarse soiling, the dog can also be bathed, but here it is essential to use special shampoo for dogs or to use only clear, warm water for cleaning. This will not damage the dog's natural skin barrier, which is important to avoid skin diseases.

The ears of this breed, as well as the eyes, should be wiped with a soft and damp cloth several times a week to remove dirt. If the claws do not wear out naturally, for example, because the dog only walks on soft forest soil, they must also be trimmed regularly so as not to limit the dog's ability to move.

How should the Kopov be kept busy?

The urge for movement is very strong in the Slovensky Kopov. The breed rests very little and is constantly in action. Daily exercise is therefore essential for the well-being of these dogs. However, due to the equally strong hunting instinct, exercise must be either restricted by a leash or, and this would be best for this breed, the Slovensky Kopov is allowed to hunt alongside a hunter. In this activity, the Slovakian Wild Boar goes up and shows its best side with full zeal. Outside the hunting season the dog can be balanced with dog sports. Here, everything that appeals to the hunting instincts is suitable. Also as a companion next to the bike or jogging, the persistent and athletic dogs are suitable.

Strengths of the Kopov

Keeping this breed is recommended only for very experienced people, moreover, in the best case for active hunters, where a dog of this breed can behave according to the species and breed. The self-confident and lively character can otherwise quickly have a negative effect on the respective dog owner.

The strong hunting instinct can also become a disadvantage of this dog breed. If the Slovakian Wild Boar is not allowed to hunt and fulfill its destiny on behalf of humans, it will find a way to do so on its own. The needs of this breed are enormous and its peculiarities require a lot of goodwill and understanding of man, so as not to be interpreted negatively to it.

Does a Slovensky Kopov fit my needs?

The Slovakian Black Boar Breed is suitable only for a few, very experienced people in its demands on activity, attitude and education. Beginners or physically limited people are strongly advised not to purchase this breed, because an unused dog can very quickly show behavioral abnormalities, which make a harmonious coexistence of dog and human impossible. Every dog needs exercise, but the Slovensky Kopov likes to move all day long and discover new things. The purchase of such an active dog, which is not easy in character, should be well thought through, even by people who are already experienced.

The dog should be able to be offered an attitude corresponding to his nature, which in this particular case is very time-consuming. Space, time and also financial means should therefore be available as well as a lot of patience. The Slovensky Kopov is not an easy dog. Therefore, if you know from the beginning that he cannot meet your demands, you should look for another breed out of fairness to the dog. Nothing stands in the way of keeping a dog in a family with children, provided that the dog is properly exercised, as the breed is usually very patient when dealing with children. Nevertheless, a medium-sized dog has a certain amount of strength simply because of its body size. The children in the family should therefore ideally already be somewhat older and stable.

Whoever leads a very active life, has a lot of experience in dealing with dogs of strong character and ideally still pursues the activity of hunting, can find a loyal hunting companion in the Slovensky Kopov with a lot of patience and calmness.

When should the Kopov be trained for hunting?

When to start hunting training of Kopov dogs will be answered differently depending on the owner and breeder. The hunting instinct is very strong in Kopovbracken, too early introduction to hunting can make the dogs so gamey that it has a negative effect on their social ability. Therefore, some experienced owners say that contact with warm game in the first year of life is not mandatory. The earlier the puppy is trained to hunt, the sharper it will pursue game and the more difficult it will be to control.