Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound
A light, agile German blood-tracking hound, very devoted to its handler and built for steep mountain trails.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 47–52 cm · Females 44–48 cm
- Weight
- Males 20–30 kg · Females 17–25 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 60–120 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Colours
- Red, Fawn, Brindle
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent
- Country of origin
- Germany
- FCI
- Group 6, no. 217 · Scent hounds
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 5/5 – Very high |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Needs mental stimulation | 4/5 – High |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 4/5 – High |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 1/5 – Very low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 1/5 – Very low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- hunt or do blood tracking
- enjoy hiking in hills or mountains
- want a dog that bonds closely
Think twice if you …
- want a family pet only
- cannot offer tracking work
- are away from home for long hours
Care
Temperament
Calm, balanced and very devoted to its handler, often reserved with strangers. Focused and persistent when working.
Exercise
Needs daily long walks and regular tracking work; mountain hiking suits it well.
Grooming
Short, dense coat; a weekly brush is enough.
Training
Learns tracking readily with a dedicated handler; gentle, consistent training builds its trust.
Health
Hip and elbow dysplasia occur, and breeding dogs are usually X-ray screened. Ask the breeder for results.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound was created in southern Germany in the late 1800s, when hunters crossed Hanoverian Scent Hounds with lighter mountain hounds. The aim was a dog agile enough to follow wounded game over steep, rocky ground.
Its specialty is the cold blood trail: calmly following the track of injured deer or chamois, sometimes for kilometres, until the animal is found. Most breed clubs place puppies only with active hunters. It bonds closely with one handler and is quiet and affectionate at home, but it needs real tracking work to be satisfied.
Did you know?
The breed club, the Klub für Bayerische Gebirgsschweißhunde, was founded in Munich in 1912.