Bavarian Mountain Hound
Image: Bartek Lichocki/Shutterstock.com
The Bavarian Mountain Hound
One dog breed that’s more often encountered far from its original home
Image: Bartek Lichocki/Shutterstock.com
Quick Overview
Name: The Bavarian Mountain Hound/Bayerischer
Size: 20 inches tall to the shoulder
Weight: Around 15 kg
Grooming: Not much
Training: Reasonable
Exercise: About 2 hours a day
Temperament: Headstrong but loyal
Origins: Germany
Lifespan: 10 years plus
Breed Type: Hounds
A Little Bavarian Mountain Hound History…
There isn’t much to tell about this hound, in spite of hundreds of years of history to trace back through. The Germans were always ardent hunters and during the middle ages, they developed the breeds best for hunting to be companions. They generally used bloodhounds or scent hounds trained to follow blood trails of animals that had escaped the hunter’s bow. The Hannoversche Schweißhund breed was developed sometime during these dark ages. It would become a parent breed of the Bavarian Mountain hound in the 19th century.
This breed was selected for their great sense of smell, dense bone structure, and adaptability while hunting. This has led to a breed with a steady temperament that makes a great second dog, or family pet. They are excellent tracking dogs so if you lose something, try letting them sniff it out. They are a hardy breed that was part Hannoversche Schweißhund and part mountain dog from the alps. The crossbreeding between the two was eventually recognised as a breed in their own right that quickly became popular in Austria, Hungary, and throughout Germany.
And so the Bavarian Mountain Hound was born, the breed standard was set and the Club for Bavarian Mountain Hounds was founded. Nowadays, there is a British branch of that same club still in operation. You can also find the Bavarian Mountain Hound’s breed standard over in the UK Kennel Club pages, in the American Kennel Club, and throughout the various clubs of the world. They remain most popular in Europe and continue to work as hunting dogs to this day.
Bavarian Mountain Hound Facts
Every breed has some interesting special features to it and the Bavarian Mountain Hound is no exception. We looked up the best bits about this breed to give you the Five Minutes Spare rundown on the unexpected aspects of this breed:
- This breed was made to go after big game, back in the days when arrows were inefficient. The hounds would follow the blood trail and retrieve the prey for their owners, or at least make lots of noise until they found it themselves.
- These guys are perfectly at home in the cold weather of the mountains. If you have one as a pet, a cooling mat is a good investment, particularly in the summer.
- In America, they are called by a longer title: the Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound. We’re not sure why. There isn’t a Bavarian Mountain Sight Hound that needs to be distinguished from.
So as you can see, this is an interesting breed. All breeds are interesting, but we love mountain-bred-hunter-dogs for their sense of adventure and willingness to follow you into the depths of Hell itself.
You can sense the fearlessness and loyalty in their expression.
Image: ktm-zu/Shutterstock.com
Are Bavarian Mountain Dogs Hard to Train?
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a hard one to train, especially if you employ a stranger to do it for you. They are always rather reserved. They are not the type of dog to rush in without their owner’s permission when professionally trained, but this doesn’t make them any better with strangers. Early obedience training is essential for this sometimes stubborn breed. They are intelligent dogs who are fast enough to cotton on too difficult training. Take your time and be thorough. They are quicker to pick up hunting skills than any others.
What About Grooming?
They have a stiff, rough, reasonably short coat that shimmers while it is healthy. They don’t take much grooming but will cast in the spring and the autumn. To ensure your dog’s coat looks gleaming with health, give them a balanced diet and brush once a week. Make sure to brush their teeth with dog-friendly toothpaste, and keep their nails trimmed. Walking them on plenty of sidewalk/pavement surfaces will allow their nails to be naturally trimmed. If they have a hind claw you may need to trim individually. You can buy specialist clippers or take them to the vets to do this.
How Much Exercise do Bavarian Mountain Hounds Need?
These are medium sized dogs who will need around 2 hours of exercise a day. This equates to two long walks although one long walk and a really good play session might do just enough. If you can only get out once a day most days, this isn’t the right breed for you. Their boundless energy will annoy you if they are stuck indoors all day.
Common Health Issues of the BMH
You might want to get their family history checked out for evidence of any hip dysplasia or epilepsy. Asides from this, their working-dog genetics make them a distinctively healthy breed. Remember that buying from a registered breeder you will be privy to the familial history of your pooch. Even an unregistered, but honest, breeder will have this information.
Where Can I Buy a Bavarian Mountain Hound?
Make sure you purchase your dog from somewhere like a shelter or registered breeder, If you notify the local shelter that you have a preferred breed, they will contact you if one comes in. The Bavarian Mountain Hound is exceedingly rare in some parts of the world, so you may need a breeder from your local kennel club. Avoid puppy farmers at all costs and report them if you find them. Your local animal charity will be delighted to catch them in the act.
Five Minutes More…
Still looking for your perfect dog best friend. If so, heading over to our breed pages at Five Minutes Spare might help you make the best choice. You can browse our pages for news, facts, quizzes, anything you need to keep you entertained. Drop us a follow over on Instagram if you are a social media fan. We know we are…
