Dunker
The Dunker was developed in Norway in the 1820s by naval officer Wilhelm Dunker by crossing a Russian Harlequin Hound with Norwegian scent hounds to produce a reliable, cold-nosed hare hound with the distinctive blue-marle colouration that is the breed's hallmark.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
Norway
Lifespan
12–15 years
Weight
16–25 kg (35–55 lbs)
Height
47–57 cm (19–22 in)
Diet
Omnivore — high-quality food for an active scent hound.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
The Story
The Dunker was developed in Norway in the 1820s by naval officer Wilhelm Dunker by crossing a Russian Harlequin Hound with Norwegian scent hounds to produce a reliable, cold-nosed hare hound with the distinctive blue-marle colouration that is the breed's hallmark. The blue marle Dunker is one of the few marle-patterned hound breeds in Europe. Named after its creator, the Dunker is Norway's native scent hound and is used for solo tracking of hare across the Norwegian countryside.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
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Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
A medium-sized, well-proportioned scent hound with a dense, short coat. The distinctive colouring is either blue marle (a beautiful mottled blue-grey and black) or black, always with tan and white markings. The overall impression is of a calm, capable, handsome hunting hound.
Grooming
Low
Shedding
Moderate
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Friendly, calm, and gentle — the Dunker has one of the most pleasant home temperaments of any scent hound. Good with families. Independent and determined when tracking.
Living Profile
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •1.5–2 hours vigorous exercise daily. Very low grooming. Secure fencing.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Health Overview
Deafness — associated with the marle gene (double marle must be avoided). BAER testing recommended. Hip dysplasia. Generally healthy working breed.
Common Conditions
Fun Facts
The Dunker's blue marle colouration is unusually rare among European scent hounds — the marle gene that produces the beautiful blue-grey mottling came from the Russian Harlequin Hound in the breed's foundation cross and has been maintained as a breed characteristic since the 1820s.
