ORIGIN: Lithuania.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD: 2019-10-12.

UTILIZATION: Since ancient times, Lithuanian hounds have been used for hunting of large animals (deer, elk and wild boar). The job of the hound is to find fresh traces of an animal, or the animal itself, in the hunting area, raise the animal from its resting place and force it to move, bark and follow its traces, stop the injured animal, and bark if it is dead. Lithuanian hounds are very versatile dogs. Although their main job is hunting large fauna, these dogs are also suitable for hunting small animals such as hares, foxes, roe deer, and are used for duck hunting. Hunters are especially fond of the Lithuanian hound for its melodic bark and its strong modulation when yelping at fresh traces of small or large animals. Dogs of this breed are very suitable to be trained to look for injured animals. They can successfully follow blood traces of an injured animal and are used as blood trackers. Dog with a great sense of smell and strong bark.

At the end of the year, the Lithuanian Kennel Club (LKD) invites dog lovers to a traditional canine event - international dog shows. This year they take place on December 18 - 20 in Vilnius.

It is a great chance to spend three days at international dog shows and to admire FESTIVE VILNIUS, shop for Lithuanian souvenirs, and enjoy the pre-holiday atmosphere.

Only dogs with a complete set of relevant documents enclosed will be accepted. The entry fee must be transferred to the Lithuanian Kennel Club bank account in full (including bank charges). Cheques are not accepted. Entry fees can be refunded only if a dog dies. The discount for the second and subsequent dogs can be applied only if the owner's name and address are identical to those on the first dog entry form.

Sharing insights on contemporary cynology, reviewing achievements, and shaping future plans were the key objectives of the annual meeting of the FCI Commission for Education and Public Relations, which took place in Lisbon, Portugal, on 9–10 May, 2026.

The meeting provided an opportunity not only to review the Commission’s activities and accomplishments over the past year, but also to discuss the challenges facing the canine world today, define future priorities, and elect a new President and Board of the Commission.

A new book entitled „The Lithuanian Hound“ was published in 2021 by Vilnius University Press.

The authors of the publication are Mantas Milinavičius, Marius Smetona and Anželika Smetonienė – Lithuanian Hounds breeders and lovers.

The Lithuanian Hound is not yet recognised by the FCI but breed lovers and breeders make a huge effort for this to happen.

„It is one more step forward towards recognision, which is extremely important for preserving and promoting our national dog breed, – says Ramune Kazlauskaite, the President of the Lithuanian Kennel Club.

Some extracts from the book:

On May 27, 2025, the Lithuanian canine community came together for the seminar “Canine Structure Overview”, a focused educational event dedicated to understanding the principles of dog anatomy.

The exhibitors are responsible for the welfare of the dogs at FCI international dog shows. It is forbidden to expose a dog to a situation that can be dangerous for its health and welfare, such as for example leaving it in the car in excessively hot or cold weather and/or treating it in a cruel manner. Violation of this ruling will result in exclusion from the ongoing and future dog shows.

The entrant/exhibitor declares that any dog entered has been adequately vaccinated (standard vaccinations, the validation of the vaccination in accordance with the vaccine’s producer advice) of which proof can be shown.