Bavarian Mountain Scenthound

FCI-Standard N° 217  /  16. 09. 1996 / GB

BAVARIAN MOUNTAIN SCENTHOUND

(Bayerischer Gebirgsschweisshund)

TRANSLATION :  C. Seidler.

ORIGIN : Germany.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 01.04.1996.

UTILIZATION : Scenthound.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 6 Scenthounds and related breeds. Section 2 Leash (Scent) hounds. With working trial.           

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : All Liam Hounds (Leithunde) and Leashhounds (Schweisshunde) are descended from the original hunting dogs, the “Bracken”.  All pure “Bracken” have the finest nose for following ground scent and trail; they are firm on scent, have a strongly developed will to follow a trail and are readily giving tongue on scent.

Only the most reliable and perseverant Bracken were chosen from the pack to be used on the leash to search for the lost trail of the hunted game.  From those most calm and biddable Bracken, the Liam Hounds (Leithunde, working only on natural, cold scent) and the “Scent Hounds” (Schweisshunde, the so called “spoilt Liam Hounds”, working the trial of wounded game) were later bred.

Through crossing of genetically fairly close breeds at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, the present day Hanoverian Scenthound evolved. 

After the Revolution in 1848, in fact, after the break up of the large hunting estates and the replacement of the previous hunting methods by stalking and hiding (waiting for the game) and at the same time with the improvement of the firearms, the dog was needed “after the shot”.  Specialized in firmly working on the leash, one could not dispense with the loud chase, perseverance and keenness, especially in mountain regions.  There the Hanovarian Scenthound proved too heavy.

To achieve the desired accomplishments, even in difficult mountain territory, Baron Karg-Bebenburg, Reichenhall, bred the racy and ennobled lighter Mountain Scenthound after 1870, by crossing Hanovarian Scenthounds and red Mountain Scenthounds.  More and more these dogs ousted other breeds from the mountain regions so that the Bavarian Mountain Scenthound is, today, the classical companion for the professional hunter and game keeper.

In 1912 the Club for Bavarian Mountain Scenthounds was founded with its seat in Munich.  It is the only recognized Club for Bavarian Mountain Scenthounds in Germany.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : An altogether balanced, lightish, very mobile and muscular, medium size dog.  The body is slightly longer than high, slightly higher at rear, standing on not too long legs.  Head carried level or slightly upwards, tail level or slanting downwards.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Calm and balanced, devoted to his owner, reserved with strangers.  Required is a sound, self assured, unafraid, biddable dog, neither shy nor aggressive.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Relatively broad, flatly arched.  Clear rise to forehead.  Superciliary arches well developed; occiput not pronounced.

Stop : Well defined.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Of good size, not too broad.  Nostrils well opened.  Black or dark red.

Muzzle : Somewhat off-set from eyes, slightly shorter than skull, sufficiently broad, never pointed.  Nasal bridge slightly convex or straight.

Lips/Flews : Pendulous, medium thickness.  Corner of lips clearly visible.

Jaws/Teeth : Strong jaws with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite in which the upper incisors overlap the lower incisors without any gap and with the teeth set vertical to the jaw.  42 healthy teeth, according to tooth formula.  Pincer bite permitted.

Cheeks : Only moderately pronounced.

Eyes : Clear, alert expression.  Not too large or too round.  Dark brown or slightly lighter.  Well fitting, pigmented lids.

Leathers :  Somewhat over medium length but at most reaching to nose.  Heavy, set on high and broad, rounded at tips.  Hanging close to head without any twist.

NECK : Of medium length and strong.  Skin somewhat looser on throat.

BODY :

Upper profile : Slight rise from withers to hindquarters.

Withers : Barely defined, flowing transition from neck to back.

Back : Strong and supple.

Croup : Long and fairly level.

Loins : Relatively short, broad, very well muscled.

Chest : Moderately broad, well developed forechest, oval ribcage, deep and long, with ribs reaching far back.

Lower profile and Belly : Gradually rising towards rear.  Belly slightly tucked up.

TAIL : Medium length, reaching, at most, to hocks.  Set on high, carried horizontal or slightly slanting downwards.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :

General : Legs seen from the front, straight and parallel; seen from the side, standing well under the body.  Good angulations.

Shoulder : Well slanting, laid back shoulder blade.  Strongly muscled.

Upper arm : Long, with good and lean muscles.

Elbows : Close fitting to body, turning neither in nor out.

Forearm : Lean, vertical and straight.  Strong bone, very well muscled.

Pastern joint : Strong.

Pastern : Slanting lightly.

Front feet : Spoon shaped with well arched, tight toes as well as sufficiently cushioned, coarse, resistant and well pigmented pads.  Feet move parallel; in stance and movement turning neither in nor out.

Nails black or horn colour.

HINDQUARTERS :

General : Strong bone.  Seen from rear, straight and parallel.  Good angulations.

Upper thigh : Broad and very muscular.

Stifle : Strong.

Lower thigh : Relatively long, muscular and sinewy.

Hock joint : Strong.

Rear pastern : Short, standing vertical.

Hind feet : Spoon shaped, with well arched, tight toes as well as sufficiently cushioned, coarse resistant and well pigmented pads.  Feet move parallel; in stance and movement turning neither in nor out.  Nails black or horn colour.

GAIT / MOVEMENT  : Ground covering, with good reach in front and strong drive from the rear.  Fore- and hindlegs straight and parallel; lightly springy gait.

SKIN : Strong, tight fitting.

COAT

HAIR : Dense, close fitting, moderately harsh with little gloss.  Finer on head and leathers, harsher and longer on belly, legs and tail.

COLOUR : Deep red, deer red, reddish brown, tan, also clear fawn to biscuit colour, reddish gray as the winter coat of a deer, also brindled or interspersed with black hairs.  The basic colour on the back is generally more intense, muzzle and leathers dark.  Tail, mostly, interspersed with dark hair.  Small light-coloured patch on chest (“Bracken Star”) permitted.

SIZE :

Height at withers : Dogs : 47 to 52 cm. Bitches : 44 to 48 cm.

No departure from  above permitted in either dogs or bitches.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

SERIOUS FAULTS :

Flesh coloured nose.

Mouth slightly over- or undershot.  Partial pincer bite.

Very loose eyelids.

Marked hollow or roach back.

Very flat or barrel shaped chest.

Very in or out at elbow.

Distinctly overbuilt hindquarters.

Hindlegs very close, cow-hocked or bow-shaped, in stance or movement.

Too fine or thin coat.

Strong deviation in colour, black colour with red markings (Black and Tan).

Deviation in size.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :

Aggresive or overly shy.

Markedly over- or undershot, wry mouth.

Missing teeth (except P1).

Ectropion, entropion.

Tail kinked from birth.

Weakness in temperament.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.