Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound puppies

About the Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound

The Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound was created in Germany by crossing the heavier Hanoverian scent hound with lighter local hounds, producing a dog agile enough to track wounded game across steep alpine ground. This is a lean, deep chested hound of 43 to 52cm and 16.8 to 29.9kg, with a short harsh coat, a serious expression and a notably quiet manner. They bond tightly to one handler, stay reserved with strangers, and settle indoors in a way that surprises people expecting a noisy hound.

Most of these hounds are owned by foresters and game wardens, because they are working dogs first. They rate well for trainability and low for barking, but they need hours of physical and mental work daily, and they do badly in a flat or a small garden, since a bored one climbs fences and digs. Grooming is light: a regular brush, plus ears, nails and teeth. The calm indoor dog is real, but that calm comes from tracking, scent work and long hill walks, so plan for all three.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation and x-ray of breeding stock
• Epilepsy, diagnosed by ruling out other causes of seizures
• Ear infections, because the drop ears hold wax and moisture, so ears need regular checking and cleaning

Your Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 16.8 to 29.9 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 36 inch (36 x 24 x 26 in, 91 x 61 x 66 cm) for an adult of up to 29.9 kg; chew toys made for medium breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other medium breeds

Previous: Basset Hound · Next: Beagle

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/bavarian-mountain-scent-hound/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Ralf Lotys (Sicherlich), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.