Bavarian Mountain Hound

The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a specialist tracking dog bred for one job — following the blood trail of a wounded deer through mountain forest.

History

It was developed in Bavaria in the nineteenth century by crossing the Hanoverian Scenthound with lighter mountain hounds, to get a dog agile enough for steep ground that could still hold a cold trail. That work, Nachsuche, is still what the breed is kept for, largely by foresters and hunters.

Temperament

The breed is known for being calm, determined and closely bonded to one handler, quiet in the house and utterly single-minded on a trail. It is reserved with strangers and not a natural family pet.

Care and training

It needs serious exercise and, more importantly, tracking work; without it the breed becomes restless and unhappy. Training is a partnership with one person rather than obedience in general. The short coat needs little.

Health

Generally robust with no widely documented breed-specific defect. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.