Bavarian Hound dogs

The Bavarian bloodhound, Bavarian bloodhound or Bavarian mountain hound is a hunting dog recognized by the International Cynological Federation. As its name indicates, it comes from Germany. Outside of hunting, as long as it is offered the stimulation it needs on a physical and mental level and good education and socialization, it can be a good companion dog, thanks to its balanced and loyal character.

In this AnimalWised article we are going to learn more about the origin of the Bavarian Hound , its physical characteristics , the most notable features of its behavior, the basic and health care it requires, as well as the education it must receive to enjoy a happy and balanced specimen.

Origin of the Bavarian Hound

As we have said, the Bavarian Hound is a hunting dog. Specifically, it was intended for the pursuit of injured hoofed animals, as it was developed to follow the trail of blood. The FCI includes it in its group VI, the one dedicated to hounds, trail dogs and similar dogs. It is in section 2 and has proof of work.

Like all hounds, it stands out for its keen sense of smell, which is what allows it to follow the trails that warn by barking. Bloodhound dogs have a long history accompanying hunters, but the appearance of the Bavarian hound is more recent and took place when, already in the 19th century , a dog was needed capable of searching for tracks on a leash, barking to give the alert and be strong enough to work in mountainous terrain.

To obtain all these characteristics in a single breed, the Bavarian hound emerged in 1870, crossing Hanoverian trackers with red mountain hounds . The new breed was so successful that it managed to displace the rest of the hunting dogs in the area, and is currently the typical dog for hunters and gamekeepers in Bavaria.

Characteristics of the Bavarian Hound

Bavarian bloodhounds are medium-sized dogs , with proportionate shapes and good muscles, although lighter than traditional bloodhounds. Females are smaller and less heavy than males, since, in general, their size is 44-48 cm high at the withers and theirs is 47-52 cm. As for weight, it is around 20-25 kg.

The above are not the only characteristics of the Bavarian Hound, we highlight the following physical traits:

  • Head : they have a marked stop. The nose is black or dark red and has wide open holes, while the snout is straight or slightly arched . Their powerful jaws stand out, with a scissor bite. The eyes show an attentive expression and are usually brown. The ears are long, reaching the nose. They are set high and have a rounded edge. They hang close to the cheeks and without bending.
  • Body : slightly elongated , with a strong neck, with somewhat loose skin. The withers are slightly marked and they have a powerful back that ends in a long, flattened rump. The rib cage is deep.
  • Legs : they are long, muscular and straight, with the elbows close to the body. The feet have arched toes and thick pads. The nails are dark.
  • Tail : it is medium, set high and is arranged horizontally or slightly inclined downwards.
  • Coat : the hair is dense and close to the body. It has a rough feel.

Bavarian Hound Colors

The standard of this hound determines the colors and patterns that are accepted. As for colors, there are different shades of red (dark, brown, yellowish and deer), light yellow and reddish gray . They are usually seen more intensely in the loin area. There may be brindle or spotted specimens and with the so-called “hound star”, which is a clear mark on the chest.

Character of the Bavarian Hound

These hounds are self-confident, fearless, intelligent and strong-willed dogs . They are used to barking to warn them of the tracks they find. This is one of the reasons why it is important to provide them with a good education to prevent their typical traits from degenerating into behavioral problems that make coexistence difficult, which is why they are recommended for people who have some previous experience with dogs.

On the other hand, they are very active , which must be taken into account, since they will need walks and intense exercise daily. If we respect its requirements for mental and physical stimulation, we will obtain a calm, docile and balanced dog, resulting in an excellent companion, very attached and loyal to its caregiver and, in general, to his family.

On the other hand, with strangers he will be reserved, in no case aggressive. With other animals you could have problems living together, which is why, again, you will require education and presentation guidelines. Special care must be taken with small animals due to their strong hunting instinct. It is recommended for houses that have outdoor spaces and not for apartments.

Care of the Bavarian Hound

The basic care of the Bavarian Hound in terms of food and hygiene is not very complex nor does it differ from what dogs of other breeds need. On the other hand, the physical and mental activity that you must perform daily is different, a fundamental point for your well-being to which we must dedicate time and attention. More details:

  • Diet : like any other dog, the Bavarian Bloodhound needs a quality diet, based on protein from animal tissue. At this point, it is advisable that we calculate the quantities based on the physical activity carried out by each specimen and that we divide the daily ration into several doses to prevent potentially serious digestive problems, such as stomach torsion.
  • Exercise : requires several long walks a day and at least one of them should include physical activity, such as games, runs, etc. On the other hand, being a dog with a great sense of smell, it can really enjoy games in which it must be guided by it, for example, to find a prize, a person or any object that we have hidden. Interactive or intelligence toys can be interesting to stimulate him mentally. He can also participate in sports disciplines.
  • Hygiene : Grooming is very simple, thanks to a short, uncomplicated coat. Brushing it from time to time will be enough to keep it shiny. From time to time we can bathe him, always with specific products for dogs, and taking care to dry him completely. We will also periodically check the ears, eyes, mouth and nails to clean or trim when necessary. Here we explain how to cut a dog’s nails at home .

Education of the Bavarian Hound

As we have mentioned, the Bavarian Hound is more recommended for people who already have some experience because they are dogs that need a firm education, as well as physical and mental stimulation to stay balanced. For example, we must keep in mind that in order for us to release them anywhere, they must be perfectly educated. We can’t risk them not responding to the call, which could happen if they get distracted by sniffing out a trail. Education should always be based on positive reinforcement and be firm and patient, as they can be stubborn and independent.

We have also said that they are somewhat distrustful of strangers. To prevent problems, in addition to education, it is essential to provide them with correct early socialization , exposing them from the first moment to different scenarios, noises, people, etc., so that they accept the news in a positive way. In this post we explain how to train a puppy .

Bavarian Hound Health

With proper care, the life expectancy of this dog is around 10-14 years. The Bavarian Bloodhound is a resistant dog, also in terms of health, although this does not prevent it from having a certain propensity for some pathologies. Among them we highlight hip dysplasia , eye problems , allergies and some digestive disorders , such as stomach torsion .

The legs may also present injuries , especially if the dog’s physical activity takes place in the mountains or in similar natural spaces. We can review them after each walk. For the same reason, visiting areas of vegetation can increase your risk of contracting ticks. It is important that we have the deworming schedule up to date and that we follow the veterinarian’s recommendations regarding check-ups, vaccinations or castration. Preventive medicine can help extend a dog’s life and improve its well-being.

On the other hand, the pendulous arrangement of its ears makes it more prone to ear infections . You must also watch for the presence of foreign bodies, such as spikes, that can be introduced into the ear canals during walks through vegetation areas.

Where to adopt a Bavarian Hound?

Bavarian hounds are usually bred for sale, so it is not common to find them for adoption, especially in the case of puppies. On the contrary, hound-type dogs in general do abound in kennels and protective associations , many of them mixed breeds. In fact, there are even some dedicated exclusively to collecting, recovering and giving up hounds of all ages and conditions for adoption.

For this reason, if you want to adopt a Bavarian Hound, the first step is to search these associations, in case they have any specimen even if it is not purebred. In any case, it is very feasible to adopt a bloodhound dog from kennels and shelters. Although he is not from Bavaria, he also deserves a good home regardless of his race.

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