The Bavarian Mountain Hound

BREED HISTORY

Like all Schweisshunde or “Leashhounds”, this breed is originally descended from the German scenthounds known as Bracken and was developed for the purpose of following wounded game.

Earlier leashhounds were heavier types, such as the Hanoverian, which proved too cumbersome for work in mountain regions. From the 1870s work by Baron Karg-Bebenburg to produce a lighter, faster type resulted in the Bavarian Mountain Hound.

BREED QUALITIES

When large game is wounded in the hunt, it may travel many miles in heavy cover only to hide and die a long, slow death. The development of dogs for trailing the wounded animal are common on the Continent.

The honor code of the German hunter demands an obligation to find all shot game - dead or wounded.

Bavaria is a mountainous state in southern Germany near the Austrian and Swiss borders and includes the Bavarian Alps. The hound from this region is a shorter and finer version of the Hanover, probably obtained from crossing the latter with Tyrolean Hounds.

The Bavarian is smaller, even shorter on leg, smoother of skin and sharper of temperament, but otherwise very similar to the Hanoverian.

He is a tracker par excellence and a fine hunter and can move with great agility in the altitudes of the Bavarian Mountains. These dogs are calm, quiet, poised and very attached to their master and family. They are highly specialized and must be worked steadily to bring out the best of their talents.

Thus, they are not dogs for the casual hunter.

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Bavarian Mountain Hound

Description: The Bavarian Mountain Hound is the least common in hounds. Originating from Germany in the nineteenth century, is primarily used as a hunting dog and is rarely seen in any numbers at all-breed dog shows. With its rectangular muscular body the Bavarian Mountain Hound will never give the impression of being leggy. The skull and muzzle are broad, there is a black or dark red nose, brown eyes, and medium-length drop ears. The tail is medium length and set high. The coat should be thick but smooth and glossy.

Other Names: Bayrischer Gebirgsschweisshung, Bavarian Mountain Scenthound   

    

Type: Hunting Dog        

Height: 21 in.

Weight: 53 - 80 lbs.

Color: Red, tan, fawn, reddish gray, grizzled or brindled.

Coat: Thick, short, longer on belly and legs.

Temperament: Easy going, affection, calm but not shy.

Special Needs: Exercise

Activity: High

Living Environment: Active family in a suburban or rural environment.

Health Issues: None Known

Country of Origin: Germany

History:  The Bavarian Mountain Hound was developed in the late nineteenth century in the Bavarian mountain regions. Descending from bloodhound like dogs and scenthounds. It was Prohibited to use large dogs to hunt in Germany, so the the need for good tracking dogs became important. The German word "Schwiss" in it's name means blood describing a dog that follows the sent of blood. This is different from the Bloodhound that takes its name from "bring true and noble blood" or "thoroughbred". The Bavarian Mountain Dog always hunts with a tracking line.

Class: Hound

Registries: FCI

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Bavarian Mountain Hound Learning to be a good dog

Every puppy needs to be taught good manners and have constructive lessons in basic control. This includes responding to its name, how to greet and behave politely around people and dogs, coming back when called, walking nicely on the lead, sit, down and stay on command, and allowing itself to be groomed and examined by you and your vet. As a dog owner you also need to learn what laws affect you and your dog.

Socialisation is vital if your puppy is to grow up as a well-adjusted member of your family, so try to expose your puppy to as many new experiences as possible – travel by car, vacuum cleaners, traffic, radio and television are all noises the puppy will have to get to know. It is possible to overwhelm the puppy, however, so do be careful.

Your puppy needs to learn how to get on with other puppies and dogs as soon as possible. However, until your puppy is fully protected by vaccination (usually at least a week after the course is completed, consult your vet for advice), he/she should not be allowed to mix with dogs of unknown vaccination status. Some of the viruses which cause disease can persist in the environment, so puppies should not be taken to parks or walked in other areas that other dogs have fouled. They can be taken out as much as possible in non-doggy areas, and can be carried if necessary to avoid unwanted contact from other dogs or soiled areas.

Your pup also needs to meet adults, vet, children, but make sure the children understand the ground rules first – your puppy is not a toy. The children must learn not to tease or bully the pup, and the animal must learn not to jump up or nip during play.

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Bavarian Mountain Hound Puppy Toilet Training

Toilet training should be quite a simple process, as long as you take the time and trouble to get into a good routine.

Initially, you will have to build your routine around your puppy’s needs, and these are reliably predictable when they are very young.

Puppies need to urinate immediately after waking up, so you need to be there to take your puppy straight into the garden without any delay.

Eating its meal stimulates its digestive system, and puppies normally urinate within fifteen minutes of eating, and defecate within half an hour of eating (although this might vary slightly with each individual).

Do not be angry if your pup has toileted overnight, but do praise when there is no mess.

Puppies have very poor bladder control, and need to urinate at least every hour or two. They can urinate spontaneously when they get excited, so take your puppy out frequently if it has been active, playing or exploring.

You may find it useful to keep a record of when your puppy eats sleeps, urinates and defecates. A simple diary list will do.

Repeat cue words like ‘wee wees’ and ‘poo poos’ or ‘be busy’ and ‘be clean’ while the puppy is actually urinating or defecating. Use different words for each action so that you will be able to prompt the puppy later on.

Always go with your puppy into the garden so you are there to reward and attach the cue words when your pup "performs"

Fortunately, puppies are creatures of habit, so as long as you introduce the garden to your puppy as its toilet area early on, you should be able to avoid most of the common pitfalls.

Toilet training errors

Unfortunately there are many reasons why ‘toilet training’ might not go as smoothly as it could, so make sure you do not make any of the following mistakes...

•  Over-feeding.
• Feeding an unsuitable diet or giving a variety of foods.
• Not feeding at regular times.
• Feeding at the wrong times (which could cause overnight defecation).
• Punishing the puppy for its indoor accidents (which can make it scared of toileting in front of you – even outside).
• Feeding salty foods (e.g. stock from cubes) which makes them drink more.
• Using ammonia based cleaning compounds (which smell similar to urine).
• Expecting the puppy to tell you when it needs to go out; this is unrealistic, so it is better to take them out at regular intervals.
• Leaving the back door open for the puppy to come and go as it pleases (a puppy will think that the garden is an adventure playground, rather than a toilet area. Also, what is a puppy meant to do when the weather gets cold, and it is faced with a closed back door?).
• Leaving the puppy on its own too long, so that it is forced to go indoors (which sets a bad precedent, or even a habit of going indoors).
• Mistakenly associating the words ‘good girl’ or ‘good boy’ when they toilet, as opposed to the specific cue words. Guess what could happen the next time you praise your dog?
• Access to rugs or carpet (which are nice and absorbent – just like grass).
• Laziness on your part, resulting in more wees indoors than outdoors.
• Leaving the puppy alone in the garden, so you are not there to reward it for going outdoors… how is it meant to learn that it is more popular and advantageous going outdoors, if you are not there to show your approval?
• Submissive or excited urination on greeting (if this occurs, take your puppy outside before you greet it and tone down your greeting so it is less exciting or overwhelming).
• It is unfair to expect your puppy to go right through the night when it is very young.
• Sleeping the puppy in a crate or puppy pen can help with house training but you should let it out in the garden to relieve itself during the night.

 

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Bavarian Mountain Hound Feeding

Puppies can leave their mothers when around nine weeks old. Puppies grow 20 times faster than adult dogs and so require a special diet to aid their physical development. Feed the diet they are used to at first - "Royal Canin/ The Health Nutrition/ Junior32/ Medium", and introduce any new food gradually, but always use a food suitable for the puppy and has all the balanced nutrition, considering his/her:

1) Age - We suggest to feed your puppy: 

• from weaning to 3 months - 4 meals a day,
• from 3 months to 5-6 months - 3 meals a day,
• from 5-6 months to 12 months - 2 meals a day,
• from 12 months onward - 1-2 meals a day.

Meal- Follow "The Recommended daily intake" on the packing.

2) Dog Size - Medium Range (25kg), if you want to keep your dog in peak condition feed him/her with food specially made for the "Medium-Sized Dogs". We recommend Royal Canin Medium.

Royal Canin Medium Dogs: Medium-sized dogs are renowned for their energy, and were traditionally working dogs. Medium breeds often spend a lot of time exercising outdoors in all weathers, meaning they come into contact with micro-organisms and parasites and can be susceptible to injuries. As a result, the immune system of medium dogs is often under strain. Our Medium range is formulated with ingredients that help facilitate strong natural defences and can assist in supporting their skin, coat and general vitality. 

Remember:

There are many different feeding regimes to choose from, within this, there are many different qualities. But the most suitable diet should be easily digested and produce dark brown, firm, formed stools. If your puppy produces soft or light stools or has wind or diarrhoea, then the diet may not suit your puppy or it might have some kind of digestive problem, so consult your vet for advice.

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Bavarian Mountain Hound Vaccinations and worming

Owning a puppy brings a great deal of pleasure and whilst you will want yours to have a long, happy and healthy life it is almost inevitable that your puppy will need regular vaccination boosters throughout life, and regular worming and flea treatments.

Puppies need to be taken to a vet for a health check and to be registered with the practice. Your vet will advise you on vaccinations, worming and health issues. Puppies can receive their first vaccination from approximately eight weeks. This will vary depending on the normal practice of your vet.

Your vet will start your puppy on a course of vaccinations against the four main infectious diseases: Canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Leptospirosis. All of these diseases can be fatal, so after its first course of vaccinations, it will need re-vaccinating annually.

Keep the vaccination certificates safe as you may need to show them at boarding kennels, dog- training classes or if you take your dog abroad.

Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, you should not take it anywhere where it might come into contact with dogs or ground that may be infected, but you can take it out in your arms or the car to get it used to different places and situations.

Your puppy will also need regular worming and treatment for fleas and ticks, so follow the advice of your vet.

It is highly recommended that your dog is microchipped and registered with Petlog, the largest pet reunification scheme in the UK, as this can prove extremely effective in locating a lost pet. The Petlog Premium Lost and Found service can alert local vets and dog wardens when an owner reports where their pet was lost. This can be done by telephone, SMS text message or via the Petlog website. However, it is vital to the effectiveness of this service that owners keep their records up to date, informing Petlog of any change in circumstances.

You may also want to have your puppy vaccinated against Kennel Cough. Your vet can advise you on this.

Health checking

You need to check your puppy’s body regularly for lumps, swellings, rashes, cuts, grass seeds etc. You will also need to keep a check on its teeth, gums, limbs, nails, dew claws, eyes, ears and for testicular or mammary lumps, so get your puppy used to being gently touched all over and examined on a daily basis.

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The Bavarian Mountain Hound Dog Breed

ORIGIN


As the name would suggest the Bavarian Mountain Hound (also known as the Bayrischer Gebirgsschweisshund) originated in the state of Bavaria in southern Germany. It is a relatively new breed created in the 1870s by Baron Karg-Bebenburg of Barvaria by crossing the larger Hanovarian Bloodhound and the smaller Tyrolean Scenthound. The purpose was to develop a medium-sized dog, sure-footed enough to work mountainous terrain and with the ability to unerringly follow either a hot or a cold blood trail. Conscientious hunters are bound by a code of ethics (and in some countries have a legal obligation) to find all shot game be it dead or wounded. In the case of wounded game which may leave only a few drops of blood to mark its flight the specialized skills of the Bavarian Mountain Hound are invaluable in ensuring that the quarry is found and not left to a lingering and painful death. The hound is small enough to track through heavy cover and more able than its heavier progenitor to handle the altitude of the Bavarian mountains but still sufficiently large and courageous enough to hold at bay wounded game such as stag and boar. The breed is very popular with professional game wardens, trackers and licenced hunters in Europe but is still a rarity as a show dog and household pet.


CHARACTER


Although little known as pets (even in Germany they tend to be sold only to those who will use them as working dogs) Bavarians can make good family companions for those who can adapt their routines to provide the necessary exercise and mental stimulation required by a hunting hound. The BMH is a calm, level-headed fellow who can be a good, quiet housedog. His traditional role of working with, and under the direction of, a single handler may mean that he will tend to reserve his greatest loyalty to just one person in the family but he will show great affection to all of his people. Although he is a blood tracking specialist he is still likely to follow any interesting scent so it is important that gardens should be securely fenced to prevent him getting out and perhaps lost, injured or killed whilst on a trail. He is agile and resourceful so fences need to be inspected regularly for weak spots. His deep attachment to his master and family means that he should be regarded and treated as a valued member of the household and not relegated to the lonely life of a kennel in the backyard. He is generally reliable with well-behaved children if he has been brought up with them. It is his nature to be somewhat reserved with strangers but he should be neither shy nor aggressive. His independent and free-spirited nature needs the understanding of a knowledgeable and patient owner who will accommodate and commit to his requirements and inherent traits. This breed is not recommended for the novice owner.


EXERCISE


The Bavarian needs a considerable amount of exercise. It is unadvisable to allow him to roam off-lead as he is an ardent tracker and his nose may lead him into trouble or danger, but if a securely fenced area can be found for him to run and explore this will keep him mentally alert and satisfied as well as meeting his physical needs. Otherwise he should be given long daily walks on lead to keep him fit and to provide interesting sights and scents for his mental well-being. Tracking is the obvious canine sport for this breed. It will provide him with exercise and allow him to do what he has been bred for decades to do - follow his nose.


TRAINING


An intelligent and happy to learn dog the Bavarian is responsive to commands from a respected and loved handler. Basic obedience training should be commenced from an early age and should be based on positive reinforcement using rewards of treats and praise. Such methods will inspire him to do his best to please at all times. Harsh methods will result in a dog that is motivated by fear of his owner’s displeasure and the mutual joy of working with a willing partner will be lost. Patience, kindness and consistency are the keys to bringing out the best in him - and the best can be very good indeed. The process of socializing him to all the various situations, people, sights, sounds, and animals he may come in contact with during the course of his life should be started in early puppy-hood and should be on-going. The adequately socialized Bavarian Mountain Hound will be enabled to take his place in the home and in society as a well-mannered, biddable, self-assured dog who is a credit to his breed.

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