Magyar Agár
- Large
- FCI Group 10 (Sighthounds)
The Magyar Agar is an elegant Hungarian sighthound built for the chase: fast, tough, and full of stamina. Friendly with active families, this loyal large breed makes a vigilant watchdog and steady companion.
- Height
- 24 to 28
- inches at the shoulder
- Weight
- 49 to 68
- pounds, adult
- Life expectancy
- 12 to 14
- years, median 13
- Senior from
- 9.8
- years, about
Senior starts in the last quarter of a breed's expected lifespan, following the 2019 AAHA canine life stage guidelines. Individual dogs vary.
About the breed
- Origin
- Hungary
- Recognized
- 1963
The Magyar Agar is a fast sighthound with substantial endurance. Elegant in build, with strong bone structure and well-developed muscles, this large breed was traditionally used for hunting and still makes a vigilant watchdog and faithful companion.
Friendly and well suited to active people, the Magyar Agar can be a bit reserved but usually gets along with other dogs and kids. Its loyal, protective nature is part of what makes it a solid watchdog.
This is an original Hungarian hunting breed. Experts believe the Magyars brought these dogs when they first settled the Carpathian Basin around the 9th century. Compared with Greyhounds, Magyar Agars are typically longer and heavier in build. Breeders crossed the two in the 19th and 20th centuries to add endurance to the Greyhound line and to rebuild dwindling stocks of Magyar Agar after World War II. A major US kennel registry recognized the breed in 2006.
Care
The routines that matter most for this breed. Open one at a time.
Nutrition
Feed your Magyar Agar a high-quality food matched to its life stage, breed size, and activity level, whether that is puppy, adult, or senior.
Because of their deep chests, these dogs may be more prone to bloat, also known as twisted stomach. A few feeding habits can help reduce the risk:
- Break the daily food into several smaller meals.
- Use a bowl designed to slow fast eating.
- Avoid feeding right before or after vigorous activity.
Bloat is a serious condition, so ask your veterinarian about other options, including surgical ones, for managing the risk.
Grooming
The Magyar Agar's short coat needs little maintenance. For most of the year, weekly brushing does the job. In winter, when the dog carries a denser undercoat, you may need to brush more often.
Trim the nails, clean the ears, and brush the teeth regularly.
Exercise
Magyar Agars enjoy a good part of the day napping, but they are still active dogs that need plenty of exercise. Daily brisk walks and opportunities to run in a fenced yard provide suitable exercise.
They also take well to dog sports such as lure coursing, racing, agility, and competitive obedience, which give both body and mind a workout.
One note for safety: these dogs were born to chase, and that instinct tends to take over around small pets or wildlife. Use caution when little critters are nearby.
Training
Magyar Agars are intelligent and responsive to early, positive, reward-based training. This is a sighthound bred to chase, so practice recall inside a fenced area long before trusting it off leash.
The breed can be reserved with strangers, which makes calm, repeated introductions to new people worth the time. Expose young Magyar Agars to varied people, places, and situations to reduce fear-based or defensive behavior and help them become well-mannered adults.
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