It’s the only breed of scenthound in Czechoslovakia, and though it may be unfamiliar to many of us, the Slovensky Kopov, a well-known hunting dog since antiquity, is currently an AKC FSS breed. The first written accounts of the Kopov date to the 17th and 18th centuries when early accounts wrote that it was forbidden to cross the breed with other breeds (designer “breeders,” are you reading this?)

The name “Kopov” is derived from the Hungarian word “kopo” meaning scent hound, and early ancestors of the breed include the Austrian Black and Tan Hound, the Chart Polski, and the Magyar Agar.  Every breed has its “calling card,” and the Kopov’s is a remarkable sense of direction – a good thing to have in a large game hunting dog.

For 30 second glimpse at a Kopov (barking), see below: