When “home” is an area that’s also home to wildcats, bears, wild pigs, bears, and other predatory animals, chances are good that there will be at least one native dog breed that’s a dandy hunter. About one third of the territory of the Republic of Montenegro is mountains and forests filled with carnivorous critters, and the ancient Montenegrin Mountain Hound has been the breed of choice to have on hand. Its innate hunting prowess has given it the description: “One mean hunting companion.”

The dogs were developed in the Planina region of what was Yugoslavia, and at that time, it was known as the Black Forrest Hound, or simply the Black Hound. Over time, it became known as the Yugoslavian Mountain Hound, but a name change came yet again when, after a referendum in 2006, Serbia and Montenegro split into two independent countries. Serbia’s mountain hound was named the Serbia Mountain Hound, and the Montenegro was given the name Montenegro Mountain Hound. When the Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognized it, it was as a Montenegrin breed.

You may have “met” this breed before (so to speak) if you were a fan of the hand puppet, “Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog” that appeared with some regularity on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. The puppet, identified as a Yugoslavian Mountain Hound (now the Montenegrin Mountain Hound)  during many appearances, was best known for mocking celebrities in an Eastern European accent (you can see a clip of “Triumph” from his 2003 appearance on the Jay Leno Show here). 

The Montenegrin Mountain Hound was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 2008.

Image found on Pinterest is one we’d like to properly credit. Anyone?