On October 5th, I took Gil and Pi on a little outing to Walnut Creek to attend the second annual reunion of a small group of Transylvanian Hound fanciers/owners. Being that the Magyar Agar is a Hungarian breed, and being the dog nerd that I am, I had done some research on other breeds from the same region and stumbled upon the Transylvanian Hound. The Transylvanian Hound, or Erdélyi kopó as it is known in Hungary, is a very rare scenthound breed used primarily for tracking large game like wild boar and deer.
Like the Magyar Agars, the Erdélyi kopó nearly became extinct after the second world war when Romania and Hungary split apart and a new political regime took over what had once been a larger empire. Slowly, through the efforts of dedicated breeders, the Erdélyi kopó is making a come-back. The Transylvanian Hound Club of America is part of that effort, and nearly 3 years after it's inception there are now over 20 Erdélyi kopós registered in the United States.
I found out about the gathering through Facebook and contacted the host to see if it would be okay for the boys and I to come for a visit. I was not only invited, I was welcomed with open arms! The hounds enjoyed some playtime while the humans enjoyed a lovely potluck dinner and friendly conversation.
At the final tally, we had 2 Magyar Agars, 12 Erdélyi kopós, and 3 Vizslas. It was a great little Hungarian family reunion!
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