It is a rough-coated scent hound still kept primarily as a hunting dog rather than as a pet.

The ears are broad and hang flat with a long upstanding curved inwards tail.

Again, because the Istrian Coarse-haired Hound has been bred primarily for hunting rather than as a companion, it tends to be willful and hence more challenging to train than many other breeds.

The origin of the Istrian Coarse-haired Hound has been disputed since the 1960s, with competing claims from Croatia and Slovenia.

In 2003 the Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognized the breed as originating in Croatia.