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bavarian_mountain_scent_hound

History

The Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound, also known as Bayerischer Gebirgsschweißhund, is a loyal and intelligent breed originally developed in Germany in the early 20th Century for tracking wounded game. Historically, they have been used in hunting due to their keen sense of smell and ability to work in challenging terrains, such as steep mountain slopes.

The breed's most notable trait is its outstanding "cold nose" tracking ability. His nose is so acute, he can distinguish between the injured game he is hunting and other animals of the same species.

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.

Appearance

• Size: Medium-sized dogs, with males standing between 47-52 cm and females between 44-48 cm).

• Weight: Males: 20-30kg. Females: 17-25kg

• Coat: They have a short, dense, or wiry coat that can come in various colours, including deep red, deer red, reddish brown, tan, also clear fawn to biscuit colour, reddish grey as the winter coat of a deer, also brindled or interspersed with black hairs. The basic colour on the back is generally more intense, muzzle and leathers dark. Tail, mostly, interspersed with dark hair. Small light-coloured patch on chest (“Bracken Star”) permitted.

Temperament & Behaviour

• Loyal and Devoted: Bavarian Mountain Hounds are known for their loyalty to their owners and can be reserved around strangers. They thrive on companionship and are not suited to being kennel dogs.

• Intelligent and Trainable: This breed is highly intelligent, making them relatively easy to train, especially when provided with consistent and positive reinforcement.

• Bavarians are social, intelligent dogs, and, much like other breeds, if not kept mentally stimulated they will become bored, unhappy and destructive.

 

Suitability

This somewhat lightweight, active, medium-sized breed is devoted to his owner, but can be reserved with strangers.

The Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound is a versatile and dedicated breed that excels in both hunting and as a family companion. Their loyalty, intelligence, and exercise needs make them a great choice for active households willing to invest time in training and care. If you're considering adding one to your family, be prepared for a loving and energetic companion.

Most are owned and used by foresters and game wardens. If not placed in a working home, the Bavarian will need an abundant amount of physical and mental stimulation to satisfy his high hunting instinct. He is not a kennel dog, but can be trained to sleep and eat there. Space to run and play in an area with a high fence is important.

The Bavarian requires regular brushing. His coat is dense, close fitting and harsh, with little gloss, and is finer on the head and ears, and harsher and longer on the belly, legs and tail. The breed's strong, fast-growing nails should be trimmed regularly and their ears should be checked regularly to avoid a wax buildup and debris, which can result in infection.

Health

Like many breeds, they may be prone to certain health issues, so regular veterinary check-ups are essential to ensure their well-being.

In Conclusion:

Now you know a little about the Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound, you may think that this is the dog for you. Before you make a decision, please make contact with either the breed club or your State controlling body for purebred dogs. They will be able to give you information about available puppies and also suggest dog shows where you can see the breed and speak to breeders. In this way you will gain a better perspective of the Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound and its needs, and whether this breed would suit your lifestyle.

Official breed standard as recognized by Dogs NSW (Last Updated: 01 Apr 2025)

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Breed Standard - Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

General Appearance

An altogether balanced, somewhat light, 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.IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:Height at withers should be in the proportion to length of back from 1: 1.15 to 1: 1,25; the chest should reach down to the elbow.

Temperament

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

Physical Standards

Head and Skull CRANIAL REGION:Skull: Relatively broad, slightly 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 the eyes, of equal length or slightly shorter than skull, sufficiently broad, never pointed. Nasal bridge slightly convex or straight.Lips/Flews: Pendulous, medium thickness. Corner of lips clearly visible.Cheeks: Only moderately pronounced.
Eyes Clear, alert expression. Not too large or too round. Dark brown or slightly lighter. Well fitting, pigmented lids.
Ears 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.
Mouth 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.
Neck Of medium length, strong. Skin somewhat looser on throat.
Forequarters General appearance: 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. Scapulo-humeral angulation 90 - 100º.Elbows: Close fitting to body, turning neither in nor out.Forearm: Lean, vertical and straight. Strong bone, very well muscled.Pastern joint: Strong.Pastern: Slightly oblique.
Body Top line: Slight rise from withers to hindquarters.Withers: Barely defined, flowing transition from neck to back.Back: Strong and supple.Loins: Relatively short, broad, very well muscled.Croup: Long and fairly level (drooping by 20 – 30 º is seen to be ideal).Chest: Moderately broad, well developed forechest, oval ribcage, deep and long, with ribs reaching far back. Chest reaching down to elbow joint.Under line and Belly: Gradually rising towards rear. Belly slightly tucked up.
Hindquarters General appearance: Strong bone. Seen from rear, straight and parallel. Good angulations.Upper thigh: Broad and very muscular.Stifle: Strong (stifle angulation 100 - 110º)Lower thigh: Relatively long, muscular and sinewy.Hock joint: Strong.Rear pastern: Short, standing vertical.
Feet 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 dark brown to brown.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 dark brown to brown.
Tail Medium length, reaching, at most, to hocks. Set on high, carried horizontal or slightly slanting downwards.
Gait/Movement Ground covering, with good reach in front and strong drive from the rear. Fore- and hind legs straight and parallel; lightly springy gait. Preferred movement when in action: walk and gallop.
Coat Skin: Strong, tight fitting.Hair: Dense, close fitting, moderately harsh with little gloss. Finer on head and leathers, harsher and longer on belly, legs and tail.
Colour Deep red, deer red, reddish brown, tan, also clear fawn to biscuit colour, reddish grey as the winter coat of a deer, also brindled or interspersed with black hairs. The basic colour on the back is generally more intense, muzzle and leathers dark. Tail, mostly, interspersed with dark hair. Small light-coloured patch on chest (“Bracken Star”) permitted.
Size Height at withers: Males: 47 to 52 cm, Females: 44 to 48 cm.No departure from above permitted in either males or females.Weight in relation to height to withers: Males ideally 20 – 30 kg, Females ideally 17 – 25 kg.

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:• Very loose eyelids.• Marked hollow or roach back.• Very in or out at elbows.• Distinctly overbuilt hindquarters.• Very flat or barrel shaped chest.• Hind legs very close, cow-hocked or bow-shaped, in stance or movement.• Too fine or too thin coat.• Strong deviation in colour, black colour with red markings.• Flesh coloured nose.DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:• Aggressive or overly shy.• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.• Not showing clear sexual dimorphism.• Under and oversized dogs.• Not recognized coat colour.• Incorrect bites. Over- or undershot, wry mouth, Palisade bite, wry mouth, partial pincer, slanted bites.• Missing teeth (except P1 ; M3 must be present).• Ectropion, entropion.• Tail kinked from birth.

• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

History

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 gamekeeper.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.

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