Bavarian Mountain Hound

Descended from medieval scent hounds, the Bavarian Mountain Hound was bred to track the scent of wounded game in the mountains of Bavaria, Germany. This job required the dog to follow scent that is ‘cold’, i.e., that is old, weathered, or has been left some time ago, rather than the fresh scent of an animal that has recently passed through the area. 

Bavarian Mountain Hounds need excellent scenting ability combined with the athletic build to track through mountainous country for hours on end. Many of the scent hounds of the time were rather lumbering, Bloodhound type animals not suited to heavily forested mountains, so to create a lighter, less leggy dog, the Hanoverian Scent hound was crossed to red Mountain Scent hounds, and in the 1870s, the Bavarian Mountain Hound was formed. The breed club was established in Munich in 1912. The breed is relatively rare in the UK and those that are here are typically owned by those who manage deer populations or stalk and shoot frequently.  

The Bavarian is all about the scent – if you don’t work as a game keeper or in deer management, or any other job that involves a dog following scent, you’ll need a strong involvement in some alternative scent-based hobby. The ideal owner is fit, active, lives rurally and can be with their dog all day.  

The Bavarian Mountain Hound has incredible stamina as they have been bred to track the scent of wounded game through steep and heavily forested mountains, often for many hours or even days. They also have the confidence to continue tracking when their owner is out of sight, and to not be put off should they encounter potentially dangerous wild boar or an injured stag.  

Two hours exercise per day is the bare minimum these dogs require as adults, and you should either be stalking yourself regularly, or willing to take up a suitable dog sport such as tracking or man trailing if not. This is not a hound who takes kindly to lap-dog duties without sufficient exercise.  

Despite their relatively short stature this is a large dog that requires comfortable space to spread out and relax, and with their longer back and shorter legs, care should be taken not to let them gallop up and down stairs when very young. Otherwise, they are clean and easy to keep house-dogs if sufficiently exercised. Their tracking needs are such that they do not suit city life and a country or rural suburban home with plenty of access to a variety of walking routes, and a large secure garden will meet their needs. 

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food.  

The Bavarian Mountain Hound is prone to bloating and stomach problems; smaller, more frequent meals can help minimise this risk. 

The short coat is low-maintenance, just requiring a brush through once a week. Check ears and paws at this time, too. 

Early socialisation and habituation to people and livestock is a must. Train a strong recall and even if you have no intention of stalking and shooting deer, you must teach your dog to ignore livestock, and to follow only the scents indicated. If you are not willing to teach a Bavarian Mountain Dog to follow a scent and to enjoy this type of exercise, simply don’t get one. 

Bavarian Mountain Hounds are bred to think and work independently to some degree and to follow a scent until they find a dead or wounded deer at the end of it. Do not underestimate their need to do this or some activity that is very similar. 

They are not particularly difficult to train if you understand what motivates them (following scent, food, affection), and take your time. They take a long time to mature and are a sensitive breed who will not tolerate harsh handling. 

With older children, the Bavarian Mountain Hound can make a good companion, however the time they require for exercise and training may mean they do not suit homes with very young children or children who are not interested in long walks and outdoor pursuits. Not suitable for very busy, rowdy homes either – when the Bavarian is not working, they like to relax peacefully! 

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other, and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.