Bavarian Mountain Hound

Basset HoundBeagle

Bavarian Mountain Hound – General Description

The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a breed of dog from Germany. It is a scent hound and has been used in Germany since the Middle Ages to trail wounded game. It is a cross between the Bavarian Hound and the Hanover Hound.

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Classification and Standards

• FCI Group 6, Section 2, #217
• KC (UK) Hounds
• UKC Scenthound Breeds

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Character & Temperament

Bavarian Mountain Hounds are calm, quiet, poised and very attached to their masters and family. When hunting, they are hard, single-minded and persistent. Courageous, spirited, fast and agile, they are at ease on a rugged terrain, with a superb nose and powerful hunting instinct. They need a patient, experienced trainer.

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History

The Bavarian Mountain hound was developed in the 19th century crossbreeding specimens of the Hannoversche Schweißhund breed and hunting dogs from the Montes Alpes. The result was a hunting dog ideal for the work in the mountains.

From 1870 onwards Baron Karg-Bebenburg, Reichenhall, finding the Hanovarian Hound too heavy and cumbersome to deal with the mountain regions, crossed the Hanovarian with the racy and lighter framed red mountain scenthounds. To produce as we know as the ‘Bavarian Mountain Hound’.

In 1912 the “Klub für Bayrische Gebirgsschweißhunde” was founded in Munich. Afterwards this breed started gaining popularity in Austria and Hungary.[1]

The Bavarian Mountain Hound gained popularity as the classic companion of the hunter ousting other breeds from the mountain regions. It is still very popular in Germany, Austria & Poland as a leashed tracking hound, where it is very jealously guarded as they feel it is their right to maintain the qualities for which it has been bred.

The Germans were really meticulous in order not to lose any prey and developed a technique for which they bred resistant dogs with a great sense of smell, a strong bone structure, dropping ears and a steady temperament. This breed is medium sized and reliable.

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Size & Appearance

The Bavarian Mountain Hound’s head is strong and elongated. The skull is relatively broad and slightly domed. It has a pronounced stop and a slightly curved nosebridge. The muzzle should be broad with solid jaws, and its lips fully covering mouth. Its nose is black or dark red with wide nostrils. Its ears are high set and medium in length. They are broader at the base and rounded at the tips, hanging heavily against the head. Its body is slightly longer than it is tall and slightly raised at the rump. The neck medium in length, strong, with a slight dewlap. Topline sloping slightly upward from withers to hindquarters. Chest well-developed, long, moderately wide and well let-down with a slight tuck-up. It has a long, fairly straight croup and solid back. While its tail is set on high, medium in length and hanging to the hock, carried level to the ground or hanging down.

Bavarian Mountain Hounds weigh between 44 to 55 lbs (20 to 25 kg), males are 18.5 – 20.5 in (47 to 52 cm) high, while females are 17 to 19 in (44 to 48 cm).

The coat is short, thick and shiny, lying very flat against the body and moderately harsh. It is finer on the head and ears, harsher and longer on the abdomen, legs and tail. Its coat can come in all shades of black-masked fawn or brindle.

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Health & Maintenance

The Bavarian Mountain is not suited for city life. It is in regular need of space and exercise and also requires regular brushing. They are not dogs for the casual hunter. Most are owned and used by foresters and game wardens.

References

1. http://www.hundeinfos.de/?status=beschreibung&rassen_nr=27/

Photo Credits

1. Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich) (Own work) [CC-BY-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
2. Pleple2000 (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.5-2.0-1.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
3. Watts at pl.wikipedia [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons
4. LaurusLonewolf (Own work) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
5. Mijobe [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
6. Moniique (“vlastní dílo”) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
7. W. E. Mason – Dogs of all Nations [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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It uses material from the Wikipedia article Bavarian Mountain Hound

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Breed Standard

Bavarian Mountain Hound (Bayerischer Gebirgsschweisshund)

FCI-Standard N° 217 / 16. 09. 1996 / GB

TRANSLATION : C. Seidler.

ORIGIN: Germany.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 01.04.1996.

UTILIZATION:

Scenthound.

F.C.I. CLASSIFICATION:

• Group 6 Scenthounds and related breeds.
• Section 2 Leash (Scent) hounds.

With working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY :

All Liam Hounds (Leithunde) and Leashhounds (Schweisshunde) are descended from the original hunting dogs, the “Bracken”. All pure “Bracken” have the finest nose for following ground scent and trail; they are firm on scent, have a strongly developed will to follow a trail and are readily giving tongue on scent.
Only the most reliable and perseverant Bracken were chosen from the pack to be used on the leash to search for the lost trail of the hunted game. From those most calm and biddable Bracken, the Liam Hounds (Leithunde, working only on natural, cold scent) and the “Scent Hounds” (Schweisshunde, the so called “spoilt Liam Hounds”, working the trial of wounded game) were later bred.
Through crossing of genetically fairly close breeds at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, the present day Hanoverian Scenthound evolved.

After the Revolution in 1848, in fact, after the break up of the large hunting estates and the replacement of the previous hunting methods by stalking and hiding (waiting for the game) and at the same time with the improvement of the firearms, the dog was needed “after the shot”. Specialized in firmly working on the leash, one could not dispense with the loud chase, perseverance and keenness, especially in mountain regions. There the Hanovarian Scenthound proved too heavy.
To achieve the desired accomplishments, even in difficult mountain territory, Baron Karg-Bebenburg, Reichenhall, bred the racy and ennobled lighter Mountain Scenthound after 1870, by crossing Hanovarian Scenthounds and red Mountain Scenthounds. More and more these dogs ousted other breeds from the mountain regions so that the Bavarian Mountain Scenthound is, today, the classical companion for the professional hunter and game keeper.

In 1912 the Club for Bavarian Mountain Scenthounds was founded with its seat in Munich. It is the only recognized Club for Bavarian Mountain Scenthounds in Germany.

GENERAL APPEARANCE :

An altogether balanced, lightish, very mobile and muscular, medium size dog. The body is slightly longer than high, slightly higher at rear, standing on not too long legs. Head carried level or slightly upwards, tail level or slanting downwards.

BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT :

Calm and balanced, devoted to his owner, reserved with strangers. Required is a sound, self assured, unafraid, biddable dog, neither shy nor aggressive.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Relatively broad, flatly arched. Clear rise to forehead. Superciliary arches well developed; occiput not pronounced.
Stop : Well defined.

FACIAL REGION:

Nose : Of good size, not too broad. Nostrils well opened. Black or dark red.
Muzzle : Somewhat off-set from eyes, slightly shorter than skull, sufficiently broad, never pointed. Nasal bridge slightly convex or straight.
Lips/Flews : Pendulous, medium thickness. Corner of lips clearly visible.
Jaws/Teeth : Strong jaws with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite in which the upper incisors overlap the lower incisors without any gap and with the teeth set vertical to the jaw. 42 healthy teeth, according to tooth formula. Pincer bite permitted.
Cheeks : Only moderately pronounced.
Eyes : Clear, alert expression. Not too large or too round. Dark brown or slightly lighter. Well fitting, pigmented lids.
Leathers : Somewhat over medium length but at most reaching to nose. Heavy, set on high and broad, rounded at tips. Hanging close to head without any twist.

NECK: Of medium length and strong. Skin somewhat looser on throat.

BODY:

Upper profile : Slight rise from withers to hindquarters.
Withers : Barely defined, flowing transition from neck to back.
Back : Strong and supple.
Croup : Long and fairly level.
Loins : Relatively short, broad, very well muscled.
Chest : Moderately broad, well developed forechest, oval ribcage, deep and long, with ribs reaching far back.
Lower profile and Belly : Gradually rising towards rear. Belly slightly tucked up.

TAIL:

Medium length, reaching, at most, to hocks. Set on high, carried horizontal or slightly slanting downwards.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS:

General : Legs seen from the front, straight and parallel; seen from the side, standing well under the body. Good angulations.
Shoulder : Well slanting, laid back shoulder blade. Strongly muscled.
Upper arm : Long, with good and lean muscles.
Elbows : Close fitting to body, turning neither in nor out.
Forearm : Lean, vertical and straight. Strong bone, very well muscled.
Pastern joint : Strong.
Pastern : Slanting lightly.
Front feet : Spoon shaped with well arched, tight toes as well as sufficiently cushioned, coarse, resistant and well pigmented pads. Feet move parallel; in stance and movement turning neither in nor out.
Nails black or horn color.

HINDQUARTERS:

General : Strong bone. Seen from rear, straight and parallel. Good angulations.
Upper thigh : Broad and very muscular.
Stifle : Strong.
Lower thigh : Relatively long, muscular and sinewy.
Hock joint : Strong.
Rear pastern : Short, standing vertical.
Hind feet : Spoon shaped, with well arched, tight toes as well as sufficiently cushioned, coarse resistant and well pigmented pads. Feet move parallel; in stance and movement turning neither in nor out. Nails black or horn color.

GAIT / MOVEMENT :

Ground covering, with good reach in front and strong drive from the rear. Fore- and hindlegs straight and parallel; lightly springy gait.

SKIN:

Strong, tight fitting.

Coat

HAIR:

Dense, close fitting, moderately harsh with little gloss. Finer on head and leathers, harsher and longer on belly, legs and tail.

COLOR:

Deep red, deer red, reddish brown, tan, also clear fawn to biscuit color, reddish gray as the winter coat of a deer, also brindled or interspersed with black hairs. The basic color on the back is generally more intense, muzzle and leathers dark. Tail, mostly, interspersed with dark hair. Small light-colored patch on chest (“Bracken Star”) permitted.

SIZE:

Height at withers : Dogs : 47 to 52 cm.
Bitches : 44 to 48 cm.
No departure from above permitted in either dogs or bitches.

FAULTS:

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

SERIOUS FAULTS :

• Flesh colored nose.
• Mouth slightly over- or undershot. Partial pincer bite.
• Very loose eyelids.
• Marked hollow or roach back.
• Very flat or barrel shaped chest.
• Very in or out at elbow.
• Distinctly overbuilt hindquarters.
• Hind legs very close, cow-hocked or bow-shaped, in stance or movement.
• Too fine or thin coat.
• Strong deviation in color, black color with red markings (Black and Tan).
• Deviation in size.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :

• Aggressive or overly shy.
• Markedly over- or undershot, wry mouth.
• Missing teeth (except P1).
• Ectropion, entropion.
• Tail kinked from birth.
• Weakness in temperament.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

© Fédération Cynologique Internationale