Dog breed · Ancient Greece
The Laconian (Ancient Greek: Λάκαινα, romanized: Lákaina), also known as the Spartan, is an extinct dog breed from ancient Laconia, in Greece. In antiquity, it was famous for its swiftness and keen sense of smell, and typically used for hunting.
Widely depicted in classical art and literature, the breed was about eighteen inches high at the shoulder, typically tawny or black-and-tan, and highly valued for chasing both larger game (such as deer and wild boar) and smaller prey (like hares).
Multiple names were used for the Laconian breed, though their exact usage and relationships remain debated. Some controversy exists with the nature of the relationship between the term Castorian and Laconian, with some scholars considering Castorians a subtype of Laconian, and others considering it only possibly related. There is also some debate on the relationship of the term Vulpine and the Laconian with most scholars regarding the Vulpine as a legitimate designation for the Laconian, either as a variety of the breed or as a possible predecessor.
Characteristics: Two principal surviving sources describe the breed: Xenophon (c.350 BC) and Aristotle (c.350 BC).
Both sexes gained sexual maturity at eight months old and remained sexually active throughout their lives. Gestation lasted sixty to sixty-three days. Typical litter was of eight pups. Puppies typically opened their eyes after twelve days. On average, the male lived for ten years and the female twelve.
Typically either tan with white markings on the face, throat, chest, legs, and stern or black with similarly placed tan markings.
Based on artistic depictions of the breed, the Laconian was estimated to be about eighteen inches high at the shoulder and weighed between thirty and forty pounds, or roughly the size of a "very large beagle or small harrier."
Characteristics: Two principal surviving sources describe the breed: Xenophon (c.350 BC) and Aristotle (c.350 BC).
Both sexes gained sexual maturity at eight months old and remained sexually active throughout their lives. Gestation lasted sixty to sixty-three days. Typical litter was of eight pups. Puppies typically opened their eyes after twelve days. On average, the male lived for ten years and the female twelve.
Typically either tan with white markings on the face, throat, chest, legs, and stern or black with similarly placed tan markings.
Based on artistic depictions of the breed, the Laconian was estimated to be about eighteen inches high at the shoulder and weighed between thirty and forty pounds, or roughly the size of a "very large beagle or small harrier."
