Tom's Take on the Breed Standard

I have found it easiest to use a simple metaphor in explaining the difference between the Magyar agar and the greyhound, and in the process describe the breed. For you purists out there – please forgive me for taking this tact. Take a greyhound and stretch him out a few inches so that his length is greater than his height. Throw a large triangular-shaped head on him with some floppy ears. And then add a significant amount of bone and muscle. I have heard some observers use the phrase “they’re like a greyhound on steroids” when comparing the agar to greyhound.

The Magyar agar is a lot of hound. If you like a robust hound that can go with you while you’re on horseback for 30 or so miles – the Magyar agar is for you. After all, this is what the Hungarians bred them to be: hounds accompanying them on long horseback rides across the Hungarian plains.

Although the agar is ideally a country hound, they make wonderful city hounds as well, just so long as they can get plenty of exercise. And this is the key in sharing your life with an MA. They need a lot of exercise. They are also very rugged. If you keep your MA outside all the time they will be very healthy in all seasonal weather if they have a suitable dog house and water. We know one MA owner who became interested in the MA when he used one in a dogsled team! Thankfully he always made sure the MA had a racing blanket and came in at night from the cold. Like all sight hounds they prefer the “master’s” bed to sleeping outside. Our MA girls stay outside during the day but come in at night to be with us.