This dog is rarely seen on the streets of even large Russian cities. The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a rare and, without exaggeration, exclusive animal. Cynologists do not recommend getting these rather obstinate animals as pets.
The Bavarian mountain hound is very attached to the owner, but requires special education. Her training requires experience and skill. The hunting qualities of the Bavarian mountain have earned well-deserved recognition in Germany, however, the breed has not found wide distribution outside the country of origin.
Breed history
The Bavarian mountain hound appeared in Germany in the 19th century. Although similar dogs have been mentioned in documents dating back to the 15th century. Such hunting dogs were common at the court of the King of Bavaria. They were taken for deer and roe deer fishing in difficult mountainous terrain.
The ancestor of our today's heroine was the Hanoverian hound, specializing in the search for prey by blood trail. However, it soon became clear that she was not suitable for work in mountainous areas - the hound worked on a leash, and the owner, who was moving after the dog, risked to break off the cliff.
In the seventies of the XIX century, Hanover hounds were crossed with Tyrolean and Austrian hounds. As a result, a Bavarian mountain hound appeared, which showed excellent results in mountain conditions. Officially, this breed was recognized in 1912. Interestingly, the breed standard was developed much earlier - in 1870, when the breed was only bred. Until today, it is valid.
This breed owes its appearance to Baron Karl Reichenhall. An avid hunter, he dreamed of bringing a dog that could actively work towards the highlands of Bavaria in a blood trail.
Bavarian Mountain Hound: breed description
A compact medium-sized dog with short limbs and a fairly strong physique. The head is somewhat elongated, with a pointed muzzle, rounded hanging ears. The limbs are muscular, the legs are oval. Straight croup ends with a medium length saber tail.
The sex of the dog does not greatly affect the growth of the animal. For a male, the height at the withers is 52 cm, and for females - 48 cm. The average weight of a Bavarian hound by standard should not exceed twenty-five kilograms. The coat is dense and short, moderately stiff, adjacent to the body. On the ears and head - thinner and softer, on the tail, limbs and abdomen - stiff and long.
The standard allowed red color of different shades and brindle. On the back, the color of the coat is more intense compared to the rest of the body. Darker than the main color, the mask covers the face and ears. The tail is black. Small white marks on the chest are allowed.
Character and temperament
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a balanced, obedient, friendly, very affectionate and devoted dog. Behavior with strangers is quite restrained, but at the same time never shows aggression. But it must be borne in mind that first of all it is an indispensable assistant to the hunter.
The unique flair of these animals allows them to be successfully used in the police, rescue services, and, of course, they are indispensable for hunting. Another interesting fact: the Bavarian mountain hound, unlike most similar breeds, never runs away from the owner. Despite the enormous hunting excitement, she even in the forest does not lose sight of him and regularly resorts to “check out”.
According to the owners of these animals, the “Bavarian” at home and on the hunt are two completely different dogs. In the house, the dog behaves calmly and friendly, although he does not tolerate familiarity, and on the hunt he radically changes his behavior, becomes passionate, able to make independent decisions.
If we compare the “Bavarian” with other hounds, then the dogs of this breed win in many ways: they are quite light, very fast and energetic, which allows them to brilliantly perform work on rough terrain. Bavarian hounds are smart and smart, but categorically do not accept force and pressure. When raising a puppy, it is more advisable to use cunning and ingenuity, and then your pet will thank you with obedience and fidelity.
Maintenance and care
Caring for the Bavarian hound is easy. Difficulties can be brought only by a strong molt. This dog is bathed no more than once every two months. It is required to carefully monitor the condition of the hanging ears of the animal. They must be regularly (once every ten days) examined and cleaned with a cotton swab moistened with boiled water.
Mountain hounds need long walks and physical activity, which will keep the animal in excellent shape between hunts.
Feeding
The Bavarian hound does not suffer from a lack of appetite. However, owners should be aware that the dog’s nutrition during service and at rest should not only differ in calorie content, but also in the quality of the feed. With vigorous activity, your pet will need 30% more protein. In the autumn-winter period, it is desirable to increase the amount of animal fat.
Less fat can be offset by an increase in carbohydrates. As a rule, these are cereals and vegetable additives, as well as dried wheat or rye bread. It must first be soaked in milk or broth.
Training
The hunting instinct in these animals has been developed from birth, so the hunting process itself gives them great pleasure. An inexperienced owner when training his pet may encounter stubbornness and obstinacy of representatives of this breed.
The Bavarian mountain hound is extremely sensitive to the correction of training methods, so it is advisable to avoid this, basing classes on a reward system. Training should be systematic. They should be carried out by a person who has the appropriate experience in raising such breeds.
Where to buy a puppy?
Often hunters are interested in: "Where to get a puppy of this breed of a good level?" First you need to decide what you are investing in this concept. If you mean an exhibition animal, then with this in our country is still difficult. Representatives of this breed are not yet “spoiled” by various shows. As a rule, the selection of animals is carried out according to working qualities.
Purebred "Bavarians" are actually very few. Interestingly, in the birthplace of the breed (in Germany), as in ancient times, Bavarian mountain hounds puppies are sold only to officially registered hunters. The best livestock is also available in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Latvia.
In recent years, in Russia, you can find a Bavarian mountain hounds nursery. In Kostroma, for example, the tenth year of the nursery "Goddeshant" has been operating, which has an excellent reputation among dog handlers and animal owners. Since 2007, professional dog handlers have been breeding and selling Bavarian hound puppies here.
We can recommend you the nurseries: Bird's Nest, located in the Moscow Region (Vidnoe), as well as Amber Hope in Yaroslavl.
Bavarian mountain hound: price
Due to the fact that this dog is quite rare in our country, it costs a lot of money. The cost of a puppy may vary by region. The average price in Moscow is now 40 thousand rubles. It can be lower if the puppy does not have all the necessary supporting documents. But in this case, you run the risk of acquiring a half-breed.