Breeds / Large
Hanoverian Scenthound puppies
The Hanoverian Scenthound is a heavy German tracking hound bred to follow the blood trail of wounded game. It is calm, serious and strongly bonded to its handler, and it needs real scent work rather than ordinary walks.
The facts
- Size class Large
- Country of origin Germany
- Adult weight 35.8 to 44.9 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 79 to 99 lb
- Adult height 48 to 53 cm
- Energy level High
- Grooming Low
- Coat type Short smooth
- Typical lifespan 10 to 14 years
- Good with children Fine with supervision
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
Where these come from:
About the Hanoverian Scenthound
The Hanoverian Scenthound was developed in Germany for one demanding job: following the cold blood trail of a wounded deer or boar, sometimes many hours after the animal passed. It is a heavy, powerful hound of 35.8 to 44.9 kg on relatively short legs at 48 to 53 cm, with a dense short coat, a furrowed brow and low set ears. The character matches the work. It is serious, calm and methodical, deeply attached to its own handler and reserved with people it does not know.
This is not a casual pet. It needs hours of activity every day and, more importantly, real scent work to occupy the head, or it becomes restless, noisy and destructive. Grooming is minimal, a brush now and then, with regular ear checks. It gets on notably well with other dogs, rated 5 out of 5, and needs space rather than a flat. The mistake is buying one on looks and never giving it a trail to follow, which is the fastest route to an unhappy dog.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Hanoverian Scenthound 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 large breed puppy at eight weeks looks deceptively normal sized and will roughly double every few weeks for a while. Keep exercise short and low impact, the growth plates are wide open. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and it will need a job to do long before it needs long walks. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its 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 and elbow dysplasia, screened by hip and elbow evaluation of breeding stock
- Gastric dilatation volvulus, a surgical emergency, risk rises with deep chests
- Ear infections in the low set drop ears, found by checking and cleaning the ears weekly
From Hanoverian Scenthound breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/hanoverian-scenthound/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Your Hanoverian Scenthound puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Large for a Hanoverian Scenthound.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 35.8 to 44.9 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Other large breeds
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.