Mary Allen
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a breed of dog originating from Germany. He belongs to FCI group 6, the group of hounds, scent hounds, and other related breeds, as well as section 2, the section of scent hounds. He is on the list of domestic dogs and has been declared by the FCI as a working dog with a working test. The thoroughbred hound has a wide-awake mind and tracks down tracks in no time. He is very popular with hunters and is also often kept as a companion and family dog.
Bavarian Mountain Hound Dog Breed Information
Size: Males: 47-52 cm, females: 44-48 cm
Weight: Males: 20-28 kg, females: 18-25 kg
FCI Group: 6: Hounds, scent hounds, and related breeds
Section: 2: Bloodhounds
Country of origin: Germany
Colors: deep red, deer red, reddish-brown, reddish-yellow, pale yellow, reddish grey
Life expectancy: 10-12 years
Suitable as: rescue, search, hunting, and companion dog
Sports: –
Temperament: Agile, Brave, Loyal, Calm, Spirited
Leaving requirements: high
Drooling Potential –
The thickness of hair –
Maintenance effort: medium
Coat structure: dense, smooth, moderately rough
Child-friendly: rather yes
Family dog: rather yes
Social: –
Origin and Breed History
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a relatively young dog breed. In contrast to many other old breeds, it does not have a long breed history. The targeted breeding of the dog breed did not begin until the middle of the 19th century, since hunting technology and thus the demands on hunting dogs changed around this time. A desire arose for a dog that would be more robust and durable than its predecessors. The hunters hunted more and more intensively and in impassable areas. The weather conditions also made it difficult for the dogs to follow tracks in a targeted manner and to withstand the weather. A dog was needed in excellent condition and with an above-average talent for tracking. For this reason, the Bavarian Mountain Hound was bred.
Breeding began with a crossing of the native Bracken with Hanoverian scenthounds. The robustness and strength of the Bracken, in connection with the endurance and the smallness of the Hanoverian scent hound, brought essential characteristics into the history of the breed. Attention was paid to orderly and well-dated breeding. At the end of the 19th century, the Bavarian mountain sweathound was finally recognized as an independent dog breed. Initially, performance tests were not taken because the condition and performance could still be improved. Breeders then decided to cross-breed Tyrolean Bracken, which brought with them a high level of performance and stamina. From the middle of the 20th century, breeders put their full focus on the dogs’ performance. Only dogs that passed a performance test could be used for breeding in order to be able to guarantee performance. It was also important where the bred dogs were placed.
The entire breeding and the following breeding lines are based on orderly and strict breeding. Every Bavarian mountain sweathound that is bred from today has also been tested for its performance. Only dogs that pass performance tests may be used for breeding.
The German dog breed was officially recognized by the FCI in 1959. The last valid standard was published in 2017 and is still valid today.
What is a Bloodhound?
Bloodhounds are a special type of hunting dog used to seek out the injured game. They are known for their talent in so-called tracking. The historically known term for the bloodhound is the name Bracke.
Nature and Temperament of the Bavarian Mountain Hound
The Bavarian mountain sweathound is known for its strong hunting instinct and its above-average talent for tracking. He has a wide-awake nature and is very focused. He shows a high willingness to work and is keen on the job. Despite his high level of alertness, the hounds show no sign of nervousness. They read tracks carefully and remain calm even in stressful situations. Their poise helps them keep cool and make the right decisions when hunting. A Bavarian Mountain Hound is an enrichment for every hunter. The bloodhound, which comes from Germany, usually builds up a close and deep bond with its owner, which is based on complete trust and reliability. But although the Bavarian is willing to enter into such a trusting relationship with his human, he is rather reserved and shy towards strangers. However, he is by no means shy or tends towards fearful or aggressive behavior. Especially when working with the dog, it thaws quickly. When the Bavarian mountain sweathound realizes that he can rely on his handler, he is ready to apply everything he has learned when working with a stranger.
In any case, the focus of the Bavarian mountain sweathound is on performing and approaching its tasks with great commitment. The Central European is not a dog to do things by halves and is an enthusiastic working dog. Hunters benefit from their instinct to track and their talent for tracking. Many of the dogs are also thrifty, making it easy for the hunter to follow tracks. But contrary to many expectations, the German Bloodhound is also very suitable as a family dog. His sunny and loving disposition makes him the perfect companion for the whole family. The calmness of the bloodhound and its friendliness also make living with the little ones a wonderful experience.
What is the Difference Between the Bracke and the Bavarian Mountain Hound?
The Hound is an older breed of dog that generally has its roots in the Middle Ages. From her many sweathounds have developed. In addition, the Hound, in contrast to the Bavarian Mountain Hound, is louder on tracks and is also used by hunters to drive the game before the shot, while the Hound is mostly used exclusively for tracking. However, the Bracken represented today and the Bavarian Mountain Hound is very closely related.
The Appearance of the Bavarian Mountain Hound
The appearance of the Bavarian mountain sweathound is characterized by a strong but elongated physique. The medium-sized dogs are athletic and therefore well patterned with strong legs and a relatively narrow waist. The dogs are robust and persistent at the same time, which is definitely reflected in their physique. The head is broad and harmoniously shaped, with a detached forehead. The strong and relatively short neck is characteristic. They also wanted to make this stronger and firmer by crossing in the Tyrolean Hound, which means that today’s Bavarian Mountain Hound no longer has a bottleneck. The German hunter’s body is perfectly designed for hunting. It is rather longer than high and sinewy.
When fully grown, the dogs reach a weight of between 17 and 30 kg, depending on gender and the associated body size. Males reach a stick size between 47 and 52 cm, bitches are only 44 to 48 cm tall.
The coat of the Bavarian Mountain Hound is kept short and can appear rough or smooth. It is usually very dense so that the dog can withstand any weather conditions while hunting. In terms of color, the standard allows everything from reddish yellow to bread colors and reddish-brown to deer red. A flow of the coat is also allowed. In many dogs, the back and ears are darker in color than the rest of the body. The fur, as well as the physique, is geared towards hunting small and small game. The Scenthound should be well camouflaged and not restricted by long fur or being overweight. For this reason, the hunters also have no badges. Only the mask on the face and on the ears is typical for the Bavarian Mountain Hound.
Training and Keeping the Bavarian Mountain Hound – This is Important to Note
There are quite a few things to consider when keeping the German hunter. Basically, the friendly dogs are very easy to train and are suitable both as a hunting and companion dog as well as a family dog. But if you want to get a Bavarian mountain sweet hound, you should have a lot of time and stamina. This dog breed needs an enormous amount of exercise and, in addition to mental demands, above all physical exertion. Intelligent dogs are not pets that can be kept well in a small city apartment. A house or a large apartment with a garden or a large terrace is best suited. In addition, the way to nature and the countryside should not be too far, so that long and extensive walks can be the order of the day.
The training of the Bavarian Mountain Hound is quite simple. It is recommended to start training as a puppy. By working with the dog early on, a deep bond with the owner can be built up, which is not only essential when hunting, but also so that the tracking instinct of the scent hound can be suppressed under certain circumstances. Hounds generally have a very keen sense of smell, so it’s not uncommon for a track found to turn the next walk into a nerve-wracking adventure. It is important that hunting dogs know where their limits are and when they are allowed to let off steam.
How Much Does a Bavarian Mountain Hound Cost?
The Bavarian mountain sweathound is definitely one of the more expensive dog breeds. The price for a Bavarian Mountain Hound starts at around $1,200. On average, a Bavarian Mountain Hound costs $1,500-2,000.
Nutrition of the Bavarian Mountain Hound
The diet of the Bavarian mountain sweathound is based on the same principles as that of almost all other hunting dogs. If they are used for hunting, the dogs have a very high energy consumption. The energy consumption of a dog is generally decisive for how much and which food should be fed. If a dog is exposed to a lot of exercises or if a bitch is pregnant, the dog needs more or more energy-dense food. The same goes for puppies as they are still growing. Dogs that are less busy or seniors require less and lower-energy food.
Since the Bavarian mountain sweathound is always exposed to a lot of exercises, protein-rich food should be fed. Muscles need protein to work efficiently and grow. In dogs, as in humans, protein causes the strongest feeling of satiety. Dogs in particular benefit from this on the hunt, since they can cover long distances with stamina and consume enough of their food. The German Bloodhound also likes to be fed organically and raw. This form of nutrition is known as BARF and is particularly popular with large and sporty dogs. Raw organic meat is fed in combination with vegetables and fruits as well as oils, seeds, and flakes. The amount depends on the dog’s body weight and activity level.
Sometimes Bavarian mountain sweathounds tend to have stomach problems or suffer from stomach torsion. To counteract this, you should make sure that the dog finds rest after eating. It is strongly discouraged to play with the dog after food. It is best to feed two to three meals a day so as not to overload the athlete’s digestive tract. It can also be helpful to switch to a special food to protect the gastrointestinal tract.
Healthy – Life Expectancy & Common Diseases
A healthy Bavarian Bloodhound can live up to 12 years. Generally, the hunting dog is not affected by complicated genetic diseases, but like many medium-sized dogs, this breed is prone to hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia leads to malformation of the hip joint and is a typical disease of the German Shepherd Dog. Proper nutrition and sufficient exercise can counteract the disease and its progression. In some cases, the hip joint of the dogs has to be replaced with an artificial one in order to enable them to live a long and pain-free life.
How Old Does a Bavarian Mountain Hound Get?
A Bavarian Mountain Hound has a life expectancy of up to 12 years in full health.
Care of the Bavarian Mountain Hound
The care of the Bavarian Mountain Hound is very uncomplicated. Although the coat of the hunter is dense, it hardly needs any care from the outside. Regular brushing is quite sufficient. However, since the sporty dogs are often kept in the countryside, they rarely walk on asphalt paths or harder ground. This can mean that the claws of the scenthounds should be trimmed more often because they cannot wear themselves out. Unfortunately, forest paths and meadows hardly offer the right opportunity for this.
Bavarian Mountain Hound – Activities and Training
Training with a Bavarian Mountain Hound can be incredibly fun. The dogs are very focused on doing their owner’s every command and command correctly. It is a pleasure to watch a dog of this type at work. The Bavarian mountain sweathound approaches problems calmly and attentively and likes to master them together with his people. The dogs usually complete the basic training with flying colors and a simple “sit” is quickly no longer an obstacle. After the Bavarian Mountain Hound has learned the basic commands, he is ready to go through any training imaginable. Due to their talent for tracking, the dogs are of course particularly suitable for tracking and as a hunting dogs. They are very popular as avalanche and person search dogs. But these clever hunters also cut a fine figure as rescue, companion, and protection dogs.
Due to their sporty appearance and their sunny disposition, the medium-sized dogs not only enjoy long walks but are also enthusiastic about all dog sports. Bavarian bloodhounds are not only suitable as tracking dogs, but they are also talented in agility, popular sports, or obedience. Since their play instinct is in many cases less pronounced than in other dog breeds, flyball or frisbee is not recommended. However, the interests of the dog are always very individual, so it is advisable to simply try out many things until you find something that both the dog and its owner enjoy.
Good to Know: Special Features of the Bavarian Mountain Hound
Probably the most striking feature of the Bavarian mountain sweathound is its fine nose and its above-average stamina and performance. Historically, it is clear that the scenthound was bred to embody these traits. Breeders have put a lot of energy and planning into this breed with fantastic results. Many hunters think highly of the Bavarian Bloodhound. But paired with his balanced nature and his loving nature, he is also very well suited as a family dog. He’s hard to rouse, even when the little ones in the family play with the hunter’s cute floppy ears. Some hunting dogs do not have these characteristics, which makes the Bavarian Bloodhound unique among hunting dogs.
Cons of the Bavarian Mountain Hound
Since the Bavarian Bloodhound needs a lot of exercises and likes to work both physically and mentally, there should be plenty of time to keep the dog busy. Aside from the time involved, developing hip dysplasia carries the risk of high vet bills, especially as the dog ages. A new hip joint is not affordable for many owners, which is why they have to put their darling to sleep earlier than necessary to avoid pain and suffering.
The hunting instinct of the Bavarian Mountain Hound can also be a burden for the owner if it is not trained properly or not at all. Many hunting dogs that are untrained are prone to misbehavior. If the Bavarian mountain sweathound sniffs out a trail on walks and commands prove to be ineffective, it may well happen that the dog is over the mountains for the time being. Hounds usually find their way back to their owners, so it’s important to stay calm and stay in the same place. But to prevent this situation, you should train enough and only let the dog off the leash when retrieval is working well.
Is the Bavarian Mountain Hound Right for Me?
Anyone considering getting a Bavarian Mountain Hound should be sure that they are a fan of long walks and lots of exercise in general. This dog breed is absolutely not suitable for people who live in small city apartments or are in any way restricted in movement. For this reason, it is not advisable for the German hunter to be kept by seniors.
Purebred Bavarian Mountain Scenthounds may only be kept by scenthound handlers in Germany. This is especially true when it comes to using the dog for hunting.