The Bulgarian Hound – it’s also a Barak!
Narrated from: Dog BreedsBarak, but not an Obama – what is it, what is it? Why, it’s the Bulgarian Hound! The Bulgarian Barak is a dog breed that is considered to be very old – it is claimed that Barak dogs are descendants of dogs that came from Asia 1 340 years ago! And the amazing thing is that these dogs are still around, and the breed is gathering popularity once more.
What type of dog are they?
Baraks belong to the scent hound group – these are resilient, sturdy hunting dogs, which rely primarily on their sense of smell to track their prey and guide the hunter towards it – or vice versa.
Looks
All dogs are beautiful – you just need to find the right one for you!
Bulgarian Hounds are medium-sized dogs, reaching between 45 and 60 cm. in height. They are well-built, with bodies relatively lean for a scent-hound and with proportionate heads. They are similar to beagles.
The Barak’s coat is one of its most prominent features. They belong to a subgroup of Balkan hunting dogs known as “wire-haired”. The name “Barak” in fact comes from the Turkish language and means shaggy. The hair of these dogs is long, but not too long – about 6-7 cm.
Baraks come in a wide variety of colors and shades – red, yellowish red, black, black-and-gray, white, etc.
Character
If one thinks dogs are dumb animals, then one has never tried to negotiate with a dog.
Bulgarian Hounds are typical representatives of the hunting scent-hound group. They are very loyal and attached to their masters. Baraks are resilient trackers, and very independent dogs, since in mountain conditions they often have to operate alone, tracking the prey quite far ahead of the hunter and signaling with barking.
Origin
One needs to know where one is coming from in order to know where one is going… or where one should find the bouncy ball!
The origin of the Bulgarian Hound is rather uncertain. One theory claims that the Turks brought them from Asia when they invaded Europe, and the dogs spread as far as Austria; other scientists believe that Baraks were bred by the Ancient Thracians.
The Balkan Peninsula being a major Euro-Asian crossroads, there is little doubt that the modern outlook of the breed has been formed by cross-breeding between local dogs and hunting dogs imported from all over the world. However, since the breed is developed by Bulgarians right now, their official origin is connected with the Old Bulgarians (Bulgars), who also came to the Balkans from Asia, but about 700 years before the Turkish.
Nation of the dog
For art dogs not a nation of their own? Are they fewer than humans? Is there a place where humans live without dogs?
Baraks are a rather small ethnic group in the great doggy nation. The breed has been mis-managed (or rather – not managed at all) for a long time; it is still not officially recognized by the FCI, and organized efforts for the development of these beautiful dogs have begun only recently. The Barak and its relatives are mainly found in Bulgaria, Bosnia, Turkey and other Balkan countries.
However, once, Baraks were very popular, and it is even believed that after the Fourth Crusade, returning French knights brought them back from the Balkans, thus starting the famous line of Griffin hunting dogs.
And they are the perfect match for…
A dog! A dog! My apartment for a dog!
Baraks have a strong hunting instinct, which makes them hard pets to manage. However, they are perfectly suited for hunters, as they are proficient in hunting both small and larger game, with wild hogs being a specialty of theirs. Still, time will tell how the breed will develop – these dogs might turn out to be less of a nuisance than other scent-hounds, thus making them a desirable alternative to other, rather too energetic breeds. And, with their elegant and cute muzzles, Baraks are sure to appeal to the masses!
Professional CV
Soldiers, firefighters, guards, hunters… and you think all they are good for is lazing on the couch?
As we have said many times, Bulgarian Barak dogs are hunters – that’s what they do best. Baraks have a long history of hunting behind them, and their shaggy coats and strong legs make them the perfect choice for hunting in hard, rugged terrain, especially during the harsh winter months.
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