The Magyar Agár
General Description
The Magyar Agár is a Hungarian sighthound of elegant yet rugged structure. While they bear some resemblance to their cousin the English Greyhound, there are a number of significant differences in conformation between the two breeds. Magyar Agárs are longer in body than they are tall, and have a heavier bone structure than Greyhounds. Their heads are more wedge-shaped, with substantial jaw muscles and shorter snouts, giving them a less refined appearance. They also have much thicker skin with a short, dense and smooth coat that is slightly longer during winter months. As such, they are very hardy dogs and can tolerate lower temperatures better than some of the other short-coated sighthounds. They have rose-shaped ears that are raised about half way and oval-shaped eyes with a bright and gentle looking expression. They weigh between 49 pounds (22 kg) and 68 pounds (31 kg) with a height between 25 inches (64 cm) and 27 inches (69 cm) at the withers. They come in a variety of colors.
The sturdy frame of the Magyar Agár makes it ideal for coursing game over a rough terrain. Given their conformation, Magyar Agárs do not have the initial acceleration speed as Greyhounds on short sprints, but they possess greater endurance and stamina, making them much more suited to running longer distances for longer periods of time. In the old days, these dogs would have been expected to trail alongside their masters on horseback.
Temperament
The Magyar Agár makes a delightful and loyal companion, perfect for individuals and families that enjoy an active lifestyle. However, they are NOT the breed for everyone. The Magyar Agár requires a lot of early and continued socialization in order to be well-rounded, mentally balanced and happy.
With proper training and socialization, the Magyar Agár can make a wonderful family pet. They tend to be very fond of children and get along well with other dogs/animals in the home. Magyar Agárs are very loving and loyal to their families and also make excellent watch dogs.
Although happy to spend a large portion of the day lounging around the house, the Magyar Agár needs plenty of regular exercise. If you are looking for a dog that is content with a quick 20-minute walk around the block then this is NOT the breed for you. The Magyar Agár requires at least an hour walk every day - preferably more - and benefits from additional running either next to a bike or out on a hike.
Health
The Magyar Agár is generally a very robust and healthy breed with a typical lifespan of 12 to 14 years. Being a large breed, proper nutrition, exercise and maintance of lean body weight from the beginning are crucial to longterm health.
While the breed tends to be healthy and long-lived, there have been reports of Epilepsy, thyroid disease and Progressive Retinal Atrophy in a few individuals/breeding lines. For this reason, NAMAA strongly advocates health testing of ALL breeding stock, as well as non-breeding stock where possible, so that the longterm health and welfare of the breed can be protected and advanced. Health testing has only recently gained a following in some European countries, which makes it all the more imperative that breeders in North America breed only from health-tested dogs.
We encourage members and breeders to register their dogs' health test results through the following organizations:
Orthopedic Foundation For Animals (OFFA)
Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF)