Canis lupus familiaris
Hellenikos Ichnilatis
Featured photohellenikos-ichnilatis.jpgThe Hellenikos Ichnilatis, or Greek Harehound, is a medium-sized Greek scent hound used for hunting hare in the mountains and islands of Greece. The breed is Greece's only officially recognised native hound breed and is believed to descend from ancient Greek hunting dogs depicted in Minoan and classical Greek art. The FCI registers it as No. 214 under Greece's patronage. Males stand 47–55 cm.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Hound
- Origin country
- Greece
- Origin period
- Ancient
- Coat type
- Short
- Coat colors
- Black and Tan, Black and Tan with White Blaze or White Chest Spot
- Average lifespan
- 11-13 years
- Recognition
- FCI 1966 · Group 6 — Scenthounds and Related Breeds (Section 1.2: Medium-sized Hounds)
Origin
The Hellenikos Ichnilatis ('Greek tracking hound' in Greek) is the only native Greek breed recognised by the FCI. The breed's claim to ancient ancestry rests on classical sources including Xenophon's 'Cynegeticus' (c. 400 BC), which describes hounds used for hare hunting in Attica and Boeotia, and on visual evidence from Athenian pottery and Hellenistic-period hunting mosaics. The Laconian Hound of antiquity — described by Arrian as the fastest and most fearless Greek hunting dog — is one possible ancestor, though establishing direct lineages across two millennia remains speculative.
Recognition
The Kennel Club of Greece standardised the Hellenikos Ichnilatis and submitted documentation to the FCI, which registered the breed under standard No. 214 in 1966, classifying it in Group 6, Section 1.2 (Medium-sized Hounds) with Greece as patron country. The breed is not recognised by the AKC or UKC. It remains the only Greek breed with FCI patronage and is used extensively by hunters on the Greek mainland and islands.
Standard
The FCI standard describes a medium-sized, lean, athletic hound with a long, clean, slightly domed head, a long muzzle, and pendulous, rounded, medium-length ears. The coat is short, dense, and harsh. The only recognised colour is black and tan — a rich black body with reddish-tan markings on the muzzle, cheeks, above the eyes, inside the ears, on the chest, legs, and under the tail; a white blaze or small white chest spot is permissible. Males stand 47–55 cm; females 44–52 cm.
Sources & further reading (3)
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-05-27
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-27
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-27
Frequently asked questions
What does 'Hellenikos Ichnilatis' mean?
'Hellenikos' is Greek for 'Greek' or 'Hellenic'. 'Ichnilatis' derives from the classical Greek 'ichnilatos' meaning 'tracker' or 'one who follows a track' — from 'ichnos' (track, footprint) and 'elauno' (to drive forward). The name therefore means 'Greek tracking dog', accurately describing the breed's function as a scent-trailing hound for hare.
Is the Hellenikos Ichnilatis Greece's only native breed?
The Hellenikos Ichnilatis is the only Greek breed currently patronised by Greece and registered by the FCI as a distinct breed under standard No. 214. There are other traditional Greek dog types — such as the Greek Shepherd Dog and the Greek domestic dogs of the Aegean islands — that have not received FCI recognition.
Is the Hellenikos Ichnilatis AKC recognised?
The Hellenikos Ichnilatis is not recognised by the AKC or UKC. The FCI has recognised the breed since 1966 under standard No. 214, with Greece as patron country.
