The Schweizer Laufhund is a breed born in Switzerland and sought after by the French and the Italians for their skill at hunting small mammals, especially hare. Mercenaries brought scent hounds from France to Switzerland and cross bred them with the Schweizer Laufhund, thereby influencing and changing the native breed.
In 1882 it was established that within the breed of “Swiss Hound” (Schweizer Laufhund) there were five different varieties. At this time a standard was written for each of these five different types. By 1909 the standards were revisited and revised, eliminating the hound of Thurgovie. Then in 1933 it was decided that one standard would cover all the varieties of the Schweizer Laufhund.
The Schweizer Laufhund was a line used to develop many different scent hounds. They are used almost exclusively as hunting dogs and not as family companion dogs. St. Hubert Jura Hound, the rare ancient variety, is still in the hunting parties of Canada and France. The breed existed before any dog breeding written records were kept. In Switzerland from the middle ages on, the Schweizer Laufhund was the only hunting dog in the country until recent times.
Even though they didn’t have any popularity until the European nobility became enamored of them in the middle ages, it is thought by some that they date back to the Roman Empire. In actuality most of their pre- Swiss history has been lost. We do know that through the years the breed has been influenced by cross breeding with Austrian, German and French scent hounds.
He is not recognized by the larger kennel clubs such as AKC or UKC, but by some rare breed associations. The dogs that remain today in the United States, Canada and Europe are still mainly owned by either active or retired hunters. Despite their great personalities, they are still not numerous among family pets.
Height Male:
47 - 59 cm18 - 24 inches
Height Female:
47 - 58 cm18 - 23 inches
Weight Male:
15 - 20 kg33 - 45 pounds
Weight Female:
15 - 20 kg33 - 45 pounds
Other Names:
Bruno Laufhund, Bruno Jura Laufhund, the Jura Type Saint Hubert Hound French Type, Bruno Hound, Lucerne Hound, the Jura Type French Saint Hubert Hound, and the Schwyz Laufhund., Lucerner Laufhund, Chien Courant Suisse Berner Laufhund, the French Jura Type Saint Hubert Hound, The Saint Hubert Hound Jura Type, Jura Hound, Jura Laufhund, Bern Hound
Colors Available:
different for each line black with tan markings; tan with black mantle or saddle; white with black or tan or orange.
Coat:
coat type short, smooth, and somewhat harsh
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Loving, Loyal, Playful, Stubborn
A medium sized dog with good endurance and strength. Its head is lean, and its muzzle is long making this a very noble looking breed. Each of the 5 varieties has some of its own characteristics. They all have short, fine hairs on their ears and heads and longer hairs on their legs and back.
Each variety can be identified by its colors as they are unique.
• Bernese – White with a black saddle or black patches and tan on the ears and face.
- Schwyz – A white dog with marking of orange.
- Bruno Jura – Black with tan markings and Tan with black saddle marks.
• Lucernese – Because they have white and black hair mixed across their bodies, they appear to be “blue”.
- St. Hubert Jura – Tan with a black saddle.
The Schweizer Laufhund come in miniature and standard sizes fitting into the same standard. Weight has a lot to do with the gender and height of the individual dog, they are longer than they are tall. As a scent hound, the breed is muscular and sturdy. They carry their long tails in a slight curve with a taper at the end.
Despite the different colors in the different varieties all of the breed have black noses, long droopy ears, and oval, brown eyes. They have a soft, calm and gentle facial expression.
1Children friendliness - they can be very gentle and loving with children. Toddlers might remind them of prey, however.
2.Special talents – they have great stamina.
3.Adaptability – adapts well if he gets enough exercise.
4.Learning ability -their learning ability is high, but they can be very stubborn.
There are a few health issues that the Schweizer Laufhund is prone to. As an ancient breed there is not a lot of genetic evidence of breed health issues but there is more recent reporting.
- Hip Dysplasia – can result in lameness, arthritis and inability to hunt.
- Cataracts – can result in blindness.
- Elbow Dysplasia – can result in lameness, arthritis and inability to hunt.
• PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) – hereditary – can result in blindness.
- Ear Infections – due to long droopy ears. Keep them clean.
• Ectropion and Entropion – eyelid misalignments either inward or outward. Can be corrected with surgery.
. Feeding the puppy – as an active working breed they should be fed a high quality active or working breed kibble formula.
2.Feeding the adult - the adult should be fed the same active or working breed formula, only in an adult formulation.
3.Points for Good Health – stamina
4. Games and Exercises – this active breed does require a lot of daily exercise. Take them on at least one good, quick walk per day and give them a fenced yard to play in. They love hunting training and field trials along with activities like barn hunt. They love to run alongside as you bike or jog.
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