Mary Allen
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is an excellent tracker with a high readiness for work. In the family circle, a reliable working dog is a friendly companion, captivating with its balanced, gentle character. For harmonious coexistence, a hunting dog from southern Germany needs a lot of exercise, as well as physical and mental stress.
Off-Road Specialist with a Great Passion for Hunting
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a relatively young dog breed from the 19th century. At the time, hunters wanted to develop a working dog with tracker endurance that would be most useful in the mountains and another rugged terrain.
To date, only dogs that have passed the test for hunting qualities are allowed for strict breeding. Since 1959, the performance-oriented, hard-working Bavarian Mountain Hound has been a recognized breed by the FCI breeders’ association.
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is still a pure hunting dog, usually kept only by hunters and foresters. They especially admire his excellent sense of smell and the self-confident work style of a four-legged friend. In addition, there are excellent climbing properties, which allows them to be used in difficult, steep terrain.
Nature of the Bavarian Mountain Hound
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a persistent, ready to work and obedient hunting companion dog with a calm, balanced character. He is bold and self-confident on the hunt, and in his spare time with his family stands out as a friendly, energetic, and playful companion. This dog breed is initially reserved towards strangers but shows neither shyness nor aggression.
Bavarian Mountain Hounds are extremely affectionate and loyal. They love to be stroked and they love to cuddle. They quickly develop a deep bond with their owners. When you choose this South German breed, you are getting a dedicated partner who will be with you in sorrow and sorrow.
Bavarian Mountain Hound: Training & Maintenance
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a real bundle of energy. Thanks to the special selection, this breed has an extremely high level of performance, which cannot be found on daily walks alone. These animals are passionate about hunting and want to exercise their innate talents in tracking, stalking, and chasing game on a daily basis. In order to keep a good-looking Bavarian according to the species, you must let him work as a hunting dog. For this reason, breeders sell these dogs only to hunters and foresters. The exception is dog handlers who train these animals as working dogs in search and rescue operations.
Due to their strong desire to move, the Bavarian Mountain Hound is not suitable as a pure apartment dog. Like a tough boy of nature, this hunting helper feels right at home in the outdoors. He needs a house with a garden, preferably in the countryside. These four-legged friends were bred for the steep rocky paths in the mountains and enjoyed spending hours roaming the woods and fields with their owners.
Bavarian Mountain Hounds have a pronounced “will to pleasure”. This desire to please their owners makes dog training relatively easy. Learning-aspiring dogs are quick to understand and, with consistent, loving training, quickly become obedient housemates.
However, when training, you should ensure that the dog regularly practices what he has learned, despite his rather quick understanding. Otherwise, it may happen that the animal forgets commands and actions that it has already learned, although it has already learned them.
Care & Health of the Bavarian Mountain Hound
The short, somewhat wiry coat of the Bavarian Mountain Hound does not require much grooming. Brush it thoroughly once or twice a week and check your dog carefully for ticks, thorns, and injuries after being outdoors for a long time. Because of their long-hanging ears, these four-legged friends are prone to ear infections. With regular ear care and checking for parasites, you can prevent this in most cases.
Due to strict breeding rules, the Bavarian Mountain Hound rarely develops hereditary diseases. Otherwise, these animals are not subject to any special diseases. With proper maintenance and careful care, the average life expectancy of this breed is from twelve to 14 years.