Bavarian Mountain Hound - Facts and Information

Appearance
This is medium sized dog with relatively long body, higher in the rear. The body should be muscular, agile and athletic. The average height is between 17-20 inch, which is 44-52 cm and weight is typically between 20-25 kg, which is 44-55 pounds. Females are slightly smalelr than males.

The Bavarian Mountain dog has a close fitting and dense coat which is moderately harsh, which protects the dog from rough terrain. The hair on the head are shorter and finer. You can find this breed in all shades of fawn, tan, reddish brown or brindle.

This breed has pretty broad head and muzzle with solid jaws, black nose and medium long ears that are set high. They have well developed chest, solid back and tail in medium length and set high.


Temperament
According to the official FCI breed standard, the Bavarian Mountain Dog should be a calm and balanced dog that is totally devoted to its owner, but on the other hand, reserved with strangers.

This dog creates a very strong bond with the one person he choose, but its affectionate towards the whole family. This is a very smart dog and next to physical exercise, they need plenty of mental exercise. They love exploring and sniffing, so you can try some nose work with this dog. They will enjoy most of the interactive dog toys.

This dog was originally bred to hunt and even today, they are still used for hunting and when they do hunt, they are very brave, persistent, agile, fast and spirited. They have high prey drive, extremely good sense of smell and they are adaptable to all kinds of terrain. Overall, this is a great hunting dog breed.

If you are not using this breed for hunting, but it is your family companion, than you will need to properly exercise them every day. They are very athletic and have higher energy, so long daily walks are must. They will mostly love a free off leash runs in areas, where they can sniff and explore. But because of their high prey drive, you should let them off leash only in areas you know very well or in fenced areas.

I said that these dogs are reserved with strangers, which is true, but they should never be agressive without a reason. They will most likely start barking when they will see a stranger or something suspicious around their territory. But they are not used for guarding and protecting the property.


Interesting fact
The Bavarian Mountain Dog has a so called cold nose, which means it can track an old scent. Their nose is so sensitive, that they can distinguish between the injured game he is hunting and other animals of the same species. This dog truly has one of the best noses in the dog world.


History
The origin of the Bavarian Mountain Dog can be traced back to German Bracken dogs, which were excellent hunters with the best nose for following ground scent and trail. Only the most reliable and perseverant Bracken were chosen from the pack to be used and those were the ancestors of today Bavarian Mountain Dog.

But it was not until the second half of the 19th century, when todays Bavarian Mountain dog was developed. In those days, Hanoverian Scenthounds were very popular hunting dogs, but hunters needed ligher and more agile breed, which is why the Baron Karg-Bebenburg crossed them with a red Mountain Scenthound and developed a new breed, which is today known as the bavarian mountain dog.


Health and grooming
This is usually a very healthy dog breed with average lifespan around 13 years. Of course, just like all dog breeds they can suffer from some health issues, especially at older age. Ocassionally they can suffer from muscoloskeletal issues like hip and elbow dysplasia or eye problems such as progressive retina atrophy or entropion.

The maintenance and grooming is not very hard. They do not shed very much and almost no brushing or other grooming is needed. They dont need baths very often, only if they are very dirty and it is absolutely necessary. You should also také proper care about their ears and clean it if needed, because they can be prone to ear infections.