Bavarian Mountain Hound Dog Breed (Bayerischer Gebirgsschweisshund)

Germany

The Bavarian blood hound exists since less than one hundred years ago, and it was introduced to the Germans when they needed and agile dog, of lightweight complexion, in order to track the deer within the mountainous region of Bavaria. Its main function consists in using its sharp sense of smell to track its prey at the right moment; other dogs would enter at the last definite stage of the hunt.

The Bavarian blood hound owes its origin to the Hanover bloodhound, but it also has some blood ties to hunting dogs of short legs, which were also common ancestors to the Swedish Drever and the dachshund, or the sheep dog. The two German varieties are alike physically but the Bavarian blood hound, more recent and less common, is lighter and more agile than its Hanover relative.

Its height at withers must not exceed 50 cm long for male dogs and it is 5 cm less for female dogs.