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Discover everything about Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer
Explore the breed's characteristics, health, and history — and find trusted breeders
Looking for a Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer?
At a glance
Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer overview
The essentials — key facts, traits, and health priorities — before you dive deeper.
Health grade
Relative to other breeds
S
A
B
C
D
E
Very healthyHigher risk
The Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer is considered a robust working breed for which no specific genetic tests are currently mandatory. Nevertheless, buyers should be mindful of conditions common in large hunting breeds, such as hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED), as these can severely limit mobility. Additionally, eye conditions like progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) should be addressed by verifying that the parent dogs have undergone the necessary health screenings before you commit to a purchase.
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Height
57–68 cm
Weight
24–35 kg
Practical
- Puppy price: 1,200 – 2,500 €
- Coat: Dense, rough top coat with a soft undercoat
- Origin: Slovakia
Typical coat colors
- Various shades of gray
- sometimes with black mask or markings
Temperament
Energy
Trainability
Family fit
With kids
Daily life
Care effort
Shedding
Barking
City-friendly
Guard instinct
What matters most
Especially with a Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer, choosing the right breeder is the single most important decision you'll make. Serious breeders consistently test the parents for inherited conditions, prioritize healthy early socialization, and stay accountable long after handover. A cheap puppy without health screening tends to become the most expensive dog later on.
See HonestDog breeder standards →Is the Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer right for you?
The Slowakischer Rauhbart (Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer) is a robust, enduring, and eager-to-work Vorstehhund (pointing dog)—bred for versatile hunting in fields, forests, and water, where it searches with a keen nose, points, and retrieves reliably.
Perfect for you if:
- You can provide demanding scent work, dummy training, or actual hunting work on a daily basis—given its selection, it is not just a casual walking companion.
- You enjoy being outdoors in all weather conditions and ideally live in a rural area with access to vast natural spaces.
- You offer clear, calm leadership that channels its strong work ethic in the right direction without unnecessary harshness.
- You are looking for a loyal partner who is closely bonded to its people and becomes completely relaxed and switches off at home after a hard day's work.
Less ideal if:
- You expect it to turn away immediately upon seeing a hare—it was bred to track game and indicate it with high concentration.
- You have little time for mental stimulation and believe that just racking up miles on a bicycle will tire out a working dog.
- You live in the middle of the city and cannot regularly provide safe off-leash time or long-line training in green spaces.
The real vibes check
A Slowakischer Rauhbart is not a dog for the side-lines—it is a highly specialized outdoor colleague that thrives outside and becomes invisible indoors, as long as its mind has something to do. If you give it a real task, you get an unshakable team partner; if you don't, it will find its own project, usually at the expense of the local wildlife.
Breed Profile
The Slovakian Roughbeard is a medium-sized dog with a charming appearance. He belongs to FCI group 1 "Herding dogs and driving dogs" and is characterized by its striking appearance. The breed is often bred into two lines: the working dogs, with a greater focus on performance, and the show dogs, which are bred primarily for exhibitions. The Slovakian Roughbeard has an expressive appearance with attentive eyes and a characteristic, dense and rough coat.
- Height
- 57 - 64 cm (Female), 62 - 68 cm (Male)
- Weight
- 24 - 30 kg (Female), 28 - 35 kg (Male)
- Life Expectancy
- 12 - 15 years
- Character
- Intelligent, courageous, adaptable
- Coat
- Dense, rough top coat with a soft undercoat
- Coat Color
- Various shades of gray, sometimes with black mask or markings
- Price
- 1200 - 2500 €
History
The Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer, also known as the Slovenský hrubosrstý stavač, is a relatively young dog breed whose targeted breeding began in the 1950s in what was then Czechoslovakia. The goal of breeders led by Koloman Slimák was to create a robust and versatile pointing dog capable of handling the demanding climatic and geographical conditions of the Slovakian hunting grounds. To achieve this, they purposefully crossed the Weimaraner with the Cesky Fousek and the German Wirehaired Pointer. The result was a high-performing, wire-haired hunting dog with the distinctive grey coat color of the Weimaraner. The Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer was primarily bred for versatile hunting, retrieving, and for work in both field and water. It is characterized by an excellent sense of smell, great stamina, and a strong hunting instinct. Unlike many older breeds, its development is fully documented due to this systematic breeding approach. After the breed quickly gained hunting significance in its homeland, it received final and official recognition by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in 1983. To this day, this large pointing dog is kept almost exclusively as a working hunting dog and remains a rather rare sight outside of its country of origin.
Original Use
The Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer was bred as a versatile hunting dog for field and water work as well as for retrieving.
Origin
Slovakia
Date
1950
Character & Temperament
The Slovakian Roughbeard is an intelligent and courageous dog with a balanced nature. He is adaptable and can adapt well to different life situations. The Rauhbart is people-oriented and has a strong bond with his family. He is playful and loving, but also independent and independent. The Slovakian Roughbeard can stay alone well if it is accustomed to it early on and is given enough activity and mental stimulation. He is not prone to excessive separation anxiety, but does enjoy being around his people. Good socialization and training are important in order to guide his natural alertness and protective behavior into appropriate channels. Due to its original purpose as a herding dog, the Slovakian Roughbeard shows innate hunting and prey-catching behavior. Consistent education and targeted training are therefore necessary to control this behavior and provide alternative employment opportunities. The Roughbeard is alert and reacts to changes in its environment.
| Trainability Picks up commands quickly and wants to please. | Eager to learn |
| Watchfulness Strong territorial instinct — may actively confront intruders. | Very high |
| Openness to Strangers Careful around unfamiliar people — thaws slowly. | Cautious |
| Hunting or Herding Drive Powerful instinct that can override recall when triggered. | Strong |
Fun Fact!
The Slovakian Roughbeard is an ancient breed that is closely linked to the history and culture of Slovakia. It has traditionally been used as a guard dog, hunting companion and herd protector and has a long tradition as a loyal and reliable companion.
What Awaits You
The Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer is a dog of moderate strength, working type, but with noble traits. He must be fit and able to work on the plains, in the forest and in the water and, above all, to work after the shot to search for and retrieve wounded game. He is obedient and easy to train. The Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer is a dog of moderate strength, working type, but with noble lines.
Housing & Care
The Slovakian Roughbeard is a versatile dog that can be kept in both rural and urban areas. However, it is important to provide him with enough exercise and mental stimulation. This can be done through regular walks ive games and involvement in various activities can be achieved. A fenced garden or a nearby park is ideal for satisfying his need for exercise. This breed is good with children, provided it has been trained to interact with children from the start and interactions are supervised. Socialization with other animals should also occur early on to ensure positive compatibility. With proper introduction and supervision, the Slovakian Roughbeard can get along well with other pets, including cats.
- Family Friendly
Loves family life and thrives in a group.
Family-oriented - Child Friendly
Gets on well with children — with adult supervision.
With supervision - Dog Friendly
Usually gets on fine with other dogs.
Generally tolerant - City Friendly
Can manage in the city, but only with very active owners.
Difficult in cities
Owning a dog is a privilege, but it's also a real responsibility. Before you bring one into your life, be honest with yourself about the commitment it takes.!
Training & Education
The Slovakian Roughbeard is intelligent and eager to work. He enjoys learning and is eager to please his owner. Consistent but loving training with positive reinforcement is therefore effective. This breed is suitable for various activities and dog sports such as agility, obedience training and tracking. The training should be varied, interesting and challenging in order to stimulate the rough beard mentally and physically. It is important to keep the Slovakian Roughbeard sufficiently occupied to avoid boredom and unwanted behavior. However, it is also important to be careful not to over-exercise the dog, as this can lead to stress and imbalance. A balanced mix of training sessions, mental games and sufficient rest time is recommended. Training should be based on positive reinforcement and encourage the dog to make good decisions. It is important to promote frustration tolerance and impulse control so that the Slovakian Roughbeard becomes a balanced and well-behaved dog. A sensitive and loving approach based on the breed's natural dispositions will result in a happy and obedient dog.
Nutrition & Care
The Slovakian Roughbeard needs a balanced, high-quality diet that is tailored to its activity level and individual needs. It is advisable to choose high-quality dog food that contains all the necessary nutrients. The exact amount of food should be adjusted according to the dog's age, weight and activity level. Fresh water should always be available. The rough beard has a dense, rough top coat with a soft undercoat. The coat requires regular brushing, especially during shedding, to remove dead hair and prevent matting. This breed sheds moderately, but regular brushing will help remove loose hair and make grooming easier. The Slovakian Roughbeard copes well with the climate in Germany. Its thick fur provides it with protection from the cold and it can adapt to different weather conditions.
| Care Level Regular brushing and occasional professional grooming. | Moderate |
| Exercise Needs Needs several hours of serious exercise every day. | Very active |
| Shedding No or minimal hair loss — suitable for allergy sufferers. | No shedding |
| Trainability Picks up commands quickly and wants to please. | Eager to learn |
Our experts are still reviewing this information. Spotted something wrong? Email us at info@honestdog.de.!
Health
A
Robust
Health grade
The Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer is considered a robust working breed for which no specific genetic tests are currently mandatory. Nevertheless, buyers should be mindful of conditions common in large hunting breeds, such as hip dysplasia (HD) and elbow dysplasia (ED), as these can severely limit mobility. Additionally, eye conditions like progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) should be addressed by verifying that the parent dogs have undergone the necessary health screenings before you commit to a purchase.
Grade is relative to other breeds — AI-generated by our veterinary-genetics model.
In daily life this can mean
You should focus on joint-friendly rearing and a healthy weight, as well as having the eyes checked regularly to ensure your dog stays active for a long time.
The breeder's role
Reputable breeders have the hips, elbows, and eyes of the parent animals tested to reduce risks in the lineage.
No Health Tests Available
No specific health tests are currently available for this breed.
What owners say about the Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer
Thomas B., Jäger aus der Eifel (Rüde, seit 2021)
Als Jagdschein-Anwärter war ich auf der Suche nach meinem ersten Jagdgebrauchshund. Viele erfahrene Jäger haben mir im Vorfeld vom Slowakischen Rauhbart abgeraten – es hieß oft, die Rasse sei für Erstlingsführer extrem anspruchsvoll, manche meinten sogar 'fast nicht machbar'. Ich habe mich trotzdem herangewagt und es keine Sekunde bereut. Man muss sich allerdings im Klaren darüber sein, dass diese Hunde absolut keine unfaire Härte oder grobe Erziehungsfehler verzeihen. Wo ein sturer deutscher Jagdhund vielleicht einfach wegschaut, zieht sich der sensible Slowake komplett in sein Schneckenhaus zurück.
Bei der Ausbildung im Revier zeigt sich mein Rüde extrem führerbezogen. Er jagt von Natur aus eher kurz – meist bleibt er im Radius von maximal 100 Metern im Blickfeld und hält immer den Kontakt zu mir. Seine absolute Passion ist das Wasser und das Apportieren. Er bringt alles mit einem wunderbar weichen Maul zurück. Für mich ist er der perfekte, feinfühlige Jagdbegleiter, der aber eine sehr konsequente, absolut gewaltfreie und faire Hand braucht.
Sabine M., Halterin aus Hessen (Hündin, seit 2022)
Wir haben uns in das edle, silbergraue Aussehen und das freundliche Wesen des Slowakischen Rauhbarts verliebt. Als aktive Familie wollten wir einen Hund, der uns überallhin begleitet. Was uns sofort positiv aufgefallen ist: Unsere Hündin hat absolut keine 'Mannschärfe' oder unkontrollierte Aggression. Sie begegnet Fremden und anderen Hunden grundsätzlich freundlich und verspielt. Als Wachhund taugt sie daher überhaupt nicht, was uns aber auch sehr recht ist.
Man darf jedoch nicht unterschätzen, dass es sich hier um einen hochspezialisierten Jagdhund handelt. Nur 'Spazierengehen' reicht ihr nicht. Sie braucht eine Aufgabe. Wir lasten sie intensiv mit Dummyarbeit und Fährtenarbeit aus. Eine reine Zwingerhaltung käme für sie niemals infrage – sie ist extrem anhänglich und braucht den direkten Familienanschluss im Haus, um glücklich zu sein. Wer einen reinen Couch-Hund sucht, wird mit dieser arbeitswilligen Rasse definitiv nicht glücklich.
Paraphrased from real owner reports
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Frequently asked questions about the Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer
Is a Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer the right dog for me?
The Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer is an active dog that needs plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. Research the temperament, grooming needs, and space requirements before deciding.
How long does a Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer live?
The average life expectancy of a Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer is 12-15 years. With proper care and regular vet visits, your dog can live a long, healthy life.
How much grooming does a Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer need?
Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer grooming requirements include regular brushing, nail trimming, and dental care. HonestDog provides detailed grooming tips for every breed.
Is a Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer good for families with children?
The Slovakian Rough-haired Pointer can be a great family dog. Proper training and socialization are key. HonestDog provides family suitability information for every breed.
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