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Dog Breeds /Bavarian Mountain Hound
Bavarian Mountain Hound

Bavarian Mountain Hound

The Bavarian Mountain Hound is truly man’s best friend—a loyal, loving, smart, and calm companion. The calm, balanced breed tends to be wary around strangers, but they aren’t overly shy or aggressive.

Weight

37–66 lb

Height

17–20 in

Lifespan

10–14 yr

Breed Group

Hound

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Bavarian Mountain Hound Traits

General Appearance

The Bavarian Mountain Hound is an agile, medium-sized dog with a balanced, muscular build. Its tail is often level or slanting downwards.

Coat and Coloring

A Bavarian Mountain Hound has a short, dense, glossy coat with distinct colorings spanning the whole of reds. You’ll find Bavarian Mountain Hounds with deep to “deer red” coloring, or even a lighter tan in some cases, with a much darker color on the back and muzzle.

Distinctive Physical Traits

Although they are a medium, muscular dog, the most stunning aspect of Bavarian Mountain Hounds is their coloring, which is a variety of reds and appears much darker on the back and muzzle.

Bavarian Mountain Hound Temperament

When it comes to a canine companion, it would be hard to find one more loyal than a Bavarian Mountain Hound; they are entirely devoted to their owners.

Bred from the best hunting stock, these dogs don’t do well in small, confined spaces. Instead, they need ample space to roam and explore, as well as plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.

This breed is intelligent, so be sure to keep them on a leash or in areas with high fencing. They tend to become escape artists—digging holes or climbing fences—when they need entertainment.

They can be reserved or wary around strangers—and they much prefer hanging with their humans to spending time in a kennel—but they aren’t overly shy or aggressive. Although Bavarian Mountain Hounds get along well with other dogs, early socialization and training can help them tolerate strangers and other animals.

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Bavarian Mountain Hound History

The Bavarian Mountain Hound was bred from the best of the best lines of hunting dogs. In the 19th century, German breeders created the Hanovarian Hound by crossing dogs known as “Bracken” or those skilled at following ground scents in hunting.

When new hunting methods—such as firearms—came about in the mid-19th century, it became apparent that hunting dogs would be needed more for retrieval. Needing a more streamlined breed for long-distance tracking, Baron Karg-Bebenburg Reichenhall decided to breed the Mountain Scenthound with the Hanovarian Hound to produce the Bavarian Mountain Hound.

Today, the breed is still an excellent companion for hunters and gamekeepers.

Bavarian Mountain Hound Care

Nutrition

Bavarian Mountain Hounds require high-quality, age-appropriate dog food. As with any dog, it’s important to monitor the amount of food and treats that you give your Bavarian Mountain Hound to ensure they stay a healthy weight. Your veterinarian is always a good source to help provide appropriate nutrition and feeding guidelines.

Grooming

The Bavarian Mountain Hound has a dense, close fitting coat that still requires regular weekly brushing. Their nails are also fast-growing, so they require regular trims with a grinder or nail clipper.

All dogs require regular dental care, including at-home teeth brushing and professional dental cleanings, and the Bavarian Mountain Hound is no exception. Maintaining good dental hygiene is important for overall long-term health.

Exercise

The Bavarian Mountain Hound enjoys using its intelligence and fitness for hunting, and is best suited for life in a more rural setting. They can be cunning when bored, jumping fences or digging holes under them.

Although most Bavarian Mountain Hounds are owned and used by professional hunters, if you can keep this dog properly exercised and mentally stimulated, they make excellent companions.

Training

Proper and early training is important for the Bavarian Mountain Hound, since it is an intelligent and active breed that requires daily physical and mental stimulation.

When left untrained and without the proper exercise, these dogs become bored, which often leads to destructive habits.

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Bavarian Mountain Hound Genetic Health Conditions

Knowing if your Bavarian Mountain Hound is a carrier or at-risk for these conditions can help you and your veterinarian plan for your pup’s lifelong care. With Wisdom Panel™ Premium, you can get results for over 200 genetic health tests.

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