Bavarian mountain hound

Bavarian mountain hound is a juicy red-haired, medium-sized dog with a rectangular silhouette, covered with a shiny short coat. Hunter’s helper, who has an excellent sense of smell, due to his pleasant nature, he is increasingly becoming a companion dog. The Mountain Hound is intelligent and willing to work with people, but he can also be stubborn. The type of work he required a certain amount of independence, which is why he sometimes tries to get his way. Basic obedience should be practiced with him from the beginning.

Nature

Although the Bavarian Mountain Hound is a typical hunting dog that should go to people engaged in hunting, its irresistible charm is also given to people not associated with this field. Balanced, energetic, cheerful, with great temperament he is eagerly chosen as a family companion.

However, future owners are not always aware that the representative of this breed has a strong hunting instinct, which can cause trouble if the loose animal finds an interesting clue. The hiker needs a lot of movement, activities and space – it is not enough for him to walk on a leash or to let him into his home garden.

It’s a volcano of energy – he eagerly retrieves, runs by the bicycle (but does not force him to make such effort before the age of one) or accompanies the owner in jogging.

Firmly attached to the guardian, he endures loneliness and lack of attention badly. Leaving it alone can cause it to become disobedient and burdensome to the environment.
The mountain hound is brave, confident, sometimes even passionate, which is a desirable feature in a hunting dog. Inherently non-aggressive, he can be reserved and distrustful of strangers. He gets along well with children, but his upbringing and training should only be done by an adult.

He tolerates other dogs and can share a home with them, especially if they are of the same breed. His relations with alien quadrupeds are also correct, but when attacked, he will defend himself.

Skills

The Bavarian Mountain Hound was bred to track down the shots of the large game – mainly boars and deer. He is persistent, full of enthusiasm, he can take a lead in all conditions, regardless of weather or terrain.

The breed is subjected to work tests – to obtain the title of interchampion (international beauty champion) you need a working diploma. Every year, the Polish Hunting Association organizes events for rockers that are designed to test their innate hunting abilities. Only pedigree dogs registered in the cynological association may participate in them.

Quadrupeds over 9 months old participate in job competitions (there is no upper age limit). The paint (animal’s blood) is laid a day or even two days earlier on a section of about a kilometer. The time spent on developing a trail depends on its age and ranges from 45 minutes to an hour. The dog’s work on the trail is assessed, behavior in dead animals, obedience to the guide, so-called postponement – during this test the dog is left alone in the “sit” or “down” position and his reaction to shots is assessed. Additional points can be earned for declaring (the dog returns to the hunter and brings him to her after finding the prey) and barking (the dog stays by the animal and barking her).

The work samples, which have been much less popular in recent years, are intended for dogs between nine months and three years old. They are carried out in a similar way to competitions, but dogs are less demanding. The trail path is shorter (approx. 600 m) and fresher. Dogs have 45 minutes to reach the game after the paint. During the test, work on the track, behavior with dead animals and obedience are assessed.

Another test of the skill of mountaineers is working in a natural fishery. All competitions are conducted only on the so-called black foot, that is, snow-covered land. Judges may award 1st, 2nd or 3rd degree diplomas, depending on the grades obtained and the number of points awarded.

People who are not interested in hunting and want to ensure their pet’s occupation can do some sports with him, e.g. agility, flyball or frisbee.

Bavarian mountain hound. Training and education

Bavarian mountain hound is intelligent and willing to work with people, but he can also be stubborn. The type of work he required a certain amount of independence, which is why he sometimes tries to get his way. From the beginning, you should practice basic obedience with him, which is necessary for subsequent operational training – preparing a dog to work in the fishery can take up to several years.

Puppies from the first moments at home require proper upbringing and socialization – classes in dog kindergarten are very useful. The little hawker should also be taken to new places, allow him to contact people, other dogs, unknown situations and sounds. A good introduction to later tracking lessons is the game of finding hidden treats, during which the puppy learns to use the sense of smell.

Who is this race for?

In many countries, Bavarian mountain rocks are only in the hands of hunters, in Poland it is different. The representative of this breed needs a consistent, patient, active owner who will devote time to him, provide the right amount of movement and occupation. Extensive experience is not required, although basic knowledge of raising dogs is indicated.

Bavarian mountain hound. Advantages and disadvantages

Disadvantages

• has a strong hunting instinct that can be embarrassing for the owner
• independent and quite stubborn
• it can be noisy
• he doesn’t like loneliness
• at a young age, it can be destructive

Advantages

• strongly attached to the owner
• active and energetic
• excellent utility dog
• intelligent, willingly works with people
• tolerates other dogs
• easy to care for

Health

Bavarian Mountain Hound is a rather healthy breed. Sporadic dysplasia of the hip joints may occur sporadically (breeding dogs are tested for this disease in many countries, there is no such obligation in Poland).

His passion for sniffing in the grass and thickets causes recurrent conjunctivitis and papillary inflammation of the third eyelid. Some quadrupeds tend to collect waste, which can lead to stomach problems.

Tail damage caused by hitting, e.g. furniture, as well as other injuries (sprains, injuries) resulting from the specifics of work in difficult terrain are also possible. The hawker tends to build up tartar, which must be removed systematically – you can do this with special cleaning teethers or brush your teeth with toothpaste and a brush.

The representative of this breed – although the coat is short – is quite resistant to weather conditions. It tolerates both low and high temperatures well, although some wet rocks don’t like rain or moisture.

Feeding

The diet of the hawker should be adapted to his lifestyle and activity. Working dogs need high-energy food, a pet with medium protein content is enough for a pet.

You can give ready-made high-class food for medium breeds or prepare homemade meals, which should be supplemented with appropriate calcium and vitamin preparations. Some breeders also use the diet – a natural, raw food. The daily dose can be divided into two meals.

Accessories

The rocker’s toys should be made of strong materials – preferably cast rubber (balls, rings). Cotton cords are also good, but they should not be stretched with the puppy during the tooth exchange period, as it may lead to biting deformation.

We take our pet for the first walks in a well-fitted collar and on a leash – long links with a rotating carabiner are useful because they provide the dog with freedom of movement, while helping to learn how to recall.

Puppies of this breed often show a tendency to destroy objects, and left unattended for a long time can wreak havoc. Therefore, during the absence of household members, you can lock them in a properly prepared cage.

History

The ancestors of most hunting breeds – including the Bavarian Mountain Hound – are probably old Celtic dogs. The first mention of them can be found in the work “Kynegeticus” written by Flavius ​​Arrianus, Roman governor living in the 2nd century AD. At that time various types of narrowly specialized hunting dogs were already distinguished.

According to some sources, the best quadrupeds for hunting were bred in the area of ​​today’s France, and they played a decisive role in the creation of the medieval hunter, from which supposedly derive hooks (mentions of them appeared at the court of the Hanover princes).

There were two types of dogs that were probably not separate breeds, and their names referred to the type of work performed. Leithunds were used during par force hunting (on horseback, with a pack of dogs) on deer – to track down animals before chasing the scavenger or to find a lost trail while hunting. Over time, their role was limited to tracking animals on a long rim (thong). Several varieties of such dogs were bred, called der Spurhund, which were characterized by a fairly heavy physique, slow gait, a passion for work with low wind and a lack of tendency to chase animals.

When firearms were invented, hunting methods changed. The tracker working on the cold trail lost its importance, while the demand for a dog that could walk on the paint, i.e. the blood of an injured animal, increased. In the mid-nineteenth century, German breeders selected a dog breed called der Schweisshund. 

Initially, there were three varieties of these four-legged quadrupeds slightly different in build and color. Over time, thanks to the appropriate selection, it was possible to breed a type fairly even in type, which is known today as the Hanoverian Mountain Hound. It was used mainly in lowland fisheries to track shot deer – it turned out to be too heavy to work in mountainous terrain.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, probably thanks to the crosses of Hanoverian mountain hounds with mountain hounds and Tyrolean hound occurring in Bavaria, Baron Joseph v. Karg-Bebenburg de Reichenhal created a modern Bavarian hound – he was smaller than his cousin and had a lighter build.

According to some theories, dachshund blood may also flow in the veins of Bavarian mountain showers, as evidenced by slightly curved paws in the first bred individuals and a muzzle similar to a dachshund.

At an exhibition taking place in March 1883 in Germany, Bavarian sand rocks appeared, several of which represented a similar type. Hirschmann and bitch Diana, who were first entered into the German pedigree book, were used to develop the breed standard approved in the same year. In 1912, the Bavarian Mountain Hound Club was founded in Munich.

Template

Bavarian Mountain Hound – Group VI FCI, Section 2, Model No. 217

• Country of origin:  Germany
• Size:  height of the dogs at the withers 47-52-cm, bitches 44-48-cm
• Coat:  short, compact, close-fitting, moderately rough to the touch; the hair is softer on the head and ears, harder and longer on the body, limbs and tail
• Color:  fawn red, deep red, dark brown (red-brown), light brown to sandy, gray-gray (winter coat), brindle, with black coating; on the back more intense color, muzzle and ears dark; slight lightweight on the chest is acceptable
• Maturity:  3 years
• Lifespan:  12 years
• Weather resistance:  quite high

Interesting facts

The owner of the Bavarian Mountain Hound is actress Anna Dyrek. Her girl’s name is Mine.