Bavarian Mountain Hound: Your Complete Guide

The Bavarian mountain hound is a loyal and tenacious scent hound with its origins in Germany. This breed has a long history of working as a hunting and scent dog, though it is becoming more popular as a faithful and loving family companion today. Many individuals with active lifestyles enjoy the companionship and dedication that this dog brings.

If you are considering adopting this rarer breed into your life, it’s important to learn all you can about it first in order to help it thrive in your home. Our complete guide gives you information about what to expect from this dog’s temperament, their care needs, and how to help them live their best life at your side.

Quick Look at the Bavarian Mountain Hound

Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of Bavarian Mountain Hounds?

The Bavarian mountain hound originated in Germany around the early 20th century. This dog was bred as a scent hound, initially used to track wounded game.

The Bavarian mountain hound is a cross between several breeds, including Labrador retrievers, Great Danes, and bloodhounds. They have a distinctive fawn or brown coat complete with a darker masked face that sets them apart from other hunting and scent hounds.

The Bavarian mountain hound is still commonly used for hunting and tracking to this day. These dogs are incredibly intelligent and have very keen noses, and they are well-suited for working alongside their humans as they enjoy the challenge and mental stimulation it provides.

That being said, the Bavarian mountain hound is becoming more well-known as a family companion, and they often make a great choice for families with lots of land or an active lifestyle.

Adopting a Bavarian mountain hound outside of Germany can be difficult, as these dogs are considered a rare breed. It’s important to note that the Bavarian mountain hound can be a more high-maintenance dog, and experienced dog owners who are able to provide these dogs with plenty of exercise make the best homes for this breed.

What Do Bavarian Mountain Hounds Look Like?

Bavarian mountain hounds are medium-sized dogs, and they often appear very strong and well-muscled. These dogs have a smooth, straight coat that is often quite harsh or dense to the touch, though their hair will be finer and softer around their face.

The coat color of a Bavarian mountain hound is generally brown or fawn, and they will have an all-black face or a face with very dark brown or black markings around the head and eyes.

The Bavarian mountain hound appears athletic and agile, and their expressions are typically open, keen, and alert. This dog has a large pair of ears that flop down and an incredibly sensitive nose that often appears in the color black.

What Size Is a Bavarian Mountain Hound?

The Bavarian mountain hound is a medium-sized dog, and they will typically stand between 12 and 21 inches tall. These dogs will weigh between approximately 36 and 66 pounds, and males tend to be overall larger and taller than females of this breed.

What Is a Bavarian Mountain Hound’s Coat Type and Length?

The Bavarian mountain hound has a short, smooth coat that will feel rather dense or harsh to the touch. Their hair grows softer and finer around their face, and it may be slightly longer or thicker around the rest of their bodies. The coat of a Bavarian mountain hound can be quite shiny and usually lays flat against their body.

What Is a Bavarian Mountain Hound’s Temperament?

The Bavarian mountain hound is determined and loyal, and these dogs tend to form strong bonds with their owners. This breed is active, and they need ample time outdoors running around or working to stay happy. Without proper exercise and training in their lives, these dogs can become depressed or destructive around the home.

In general, the Bavarian mountain hound is very curious, alert, brave, and eager to please. They are determined and tenacious, though they might be somewhat stubborn. These dogs typically require experienced owners and trainers to help them stay focused and on track when it comes to learning new things.

Are Bavarian Mountain Hounds Good With Kids?

The Bavarian mountain hound can be good with children, and they are fairly protective and loyal. These dogs will generally need to be around older children or those who know how to play gently with them, as rough and very loud play might annoy them and cause them to bark.

However, Bavarian mountain hounds do make good family companions as long as training and ample exercise are given to them.

Are Bavarian Mountain Hounds Good With Other Animals?

The Bavarian mountain hound can be good with some other animals, most notably dogs. Due to their increased prey drive and history as a hunting dog, smaller animals like cats or hamsters might not be the best companions to share their home with this pup.

However, the Bavarian mountain hound is very trainable and with proper socialization and introductions, they may be able to get along with many other animals.

Are Bavarian Mountain Hounds Aggressive?

Bavarian mountain hounds aren’t known for being particularly aggressive, though they can be protective, loyal, and brave. When it comes to acting as a guard dog or watchdog, these pups may growl or bark to alert their owner of an issue.

Additionally, when this breed doesn’t receive enough exercise or mental stimulation, they may become destructive and display behaviors like growling and excessive barking – proper care helps to curb these unwanted actions.

Do Bavarian Mountain Hounds Bark?

The Bavarian mountain hound can be a fairly vocal dog, and while they aren’t known to be ‘yappy’ or bark without reason, they do enjoy sharing their voice with their owners.

You can expect this dog to bark during play or to alert you to various things throughout the day, and while they can be trained to avoid excessive barking, they might not be the best choice of dog for a small space or somewhere with noise restrictions.

Are Bavarian Mountain Hounds Affectionate?

The Bavarian mountain hound is surprisingly affectionate, and this dog prefers to spend as much time as possible alongside their owners.

This breed forms very strong bonds with their owners, and they enjoy their family’s company. They may not be a lap dog, but they will make an effort to be in the same room as you, and they will enjoy playing alongside you outdoors for as long as possible.

Are Bavarian Mountain Hounds Intelligent?

The Bavarian mountain hound is a very intelligent dog, and they easily learn complex tasks. A hint of stubbornness in this dog’s personality may make them slightly more difficult to work with, but these dogs tend to be very curious and enjoy pleasing their owners as they learn new things.

Are Bavarian Mountain Hounds Energetic?

Bavarian mountain hounds are very high-energy dogs, and they should receive ample amounts of exercise each day to stop them from being depressed or destructive out of boredom. These dogs tend to do well in a farm or working environment, and they are well-suited to hunting due to their scent-hound genetics.

In a family environment, these dogs will need to receive at least two to three long walks per day plus plenty of access to outdoor spaces where they can run around off-leash. These dogs will likely enjoy hiking and other activities where they can exercise alongside their owners.

Are Bavarian Mountain Hounds Easy to Train?

The Bavarian mountain hound is somewhat easy to train, as these dogs are intelligent and easily learn new things. However, this breed can be stubborn, and they may need an experienced trainer to help keep them on track when it comes to learning.

Your Bavarian mountain hound will likely be able to learn complex tasks, and they may be a good candidate for agility training thanks to their athletic nature.

Are Bavarian Mountain Hounds Good Watchdogs?

The alert and protective Bavarian mountain hound is a good watchdog, and these pups are often very courageous when it comes to protecting their homes. These dogs aren’t afraid to alert their owner with a loud bark if they determine a threat nearby, and they will take their job of watching over a property seriously.

Are Bavarian Mountain Hounds Good Service Dogs?

While the Bavarian mountain hound has the size, strength, and intelligence that may allow them to complete many different service dog tasks, this pup might not have the right temperament for being a service dog.

The Bavarian mountain hound needs a large amount of exercise to stay happy, and they do have a somewhat stubborn streak that can lead to them doing their own thing from time to time. While Bavarian mountain hounds can be trained, they simply may need too much exercise and outdoor playtime to fully dedicate themselves to service dog, emotional support animal, or therapy dog work.

How to Care for a Bavarian Mountain Hound?

The Bavarian mountain hound is a unique breed, and you should always keep in mind the most important care steps for this breed when adopting them.

With this dog, training and exercise are the two most important things to prioritize, and the Bavarian mountain hound tends to thrive in working environments or in environments where they can hunt alongside their owners and put their keen noses to the test.

If you adopt this breed as a family companion, make sure to provide them with plenty of access to the outdoors, long walks, and toys. You will likely need to train this dog to keep them mentally stimulated, and your dog will benefit from socialization and play with other dogs in places like dog parks from time to time.

Make sure your dog has their own space in your home, as they enjoy being near you when possible, a healthy diet, and receives regular veterinary care so they stay happy and healthy throughout their life.

Do You Need to Groom a Bavarian Mountain Hound?

Bavarian mountain hounds don’t have the most high-maintenance grooming needs, and they will only need to be brushed once or twice a week. You should take these dogs to receive professional baths as needed, and trim their nails or touch up their grooming every so often. Regular brushing helps to contain any shedding this dog might have.

Do Bavarian Mountain Hounds Shed?

The Bavarian mountain hound sheds an average amount, though you can expect most shedding to occur during their coat change twice a year. This dog is not considered to be hypoallergenic, and regular baths and brushing help stop fur from being shed throughout your home.

What Health Problems Do Bavarian Mountain Hounds Have?

The Bavarian mountain hound is prone to certain health issues due to genetic reasons, like many other dogs. You should be keeping an eye out for signs of certain health issues for your pup such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and eye disorders.

Keep a note of your dog’s behavior and ensure they receive routine veterinary care to help treat any problems as they arise or catch health issues before they become too serious.

How Long Do Bavarian Mountain Hounds Live?

The average lifespan of a Bavarian mountain hound is between twelve and fourteen years. You can help your dog live a long, happy life with proper care and veterinary visits as needed.

What Should a Bavarian Mountain Hound Eat?

Your Bavarian mountain hound will need to eat between two and three cups of food per day, typically split into two or three meals a day.

You can feed your dog wet or dry food, and exactly how much food your dog eats depends on their exact size, their activity level, and how many calories each cup of your chosen food has. A veterinarian can help you customize your dog’s feeding plan to your specific needs.

Is a Bavarian Mountain Hound the Right Dog for Me?

The Bavarian mountain hound is a more unique dog that is somewhat rare to encounter in the United States. These dogs come from a history of working as a hunting and scent hound, and they have one of the best noses for tracking around. The Bavarian mountain hound requires a very active lifestyle and routine training to stay happy.

This dog may be the right dog for you if you need a companion for hunting, tracking, or working around the farm, if you are looking for a loyal and loving companion, and if you live a very active lifestyle and have no problem meeting this dog’s ample exercise and mental stimulation needs.