Schweizer Laufhund vs Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound - Breed Comparison

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.

Once known as the Illyrian Hound and also known also as the Barak, the Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound was developed in Bosnia, and as a scenthound, it would hunt large game. Barak belongs to the hound group so typically this dog wants to chase wild game which he used to do long ago for his master.

The breed was developed into what is's current looks are. In the 1890’s he was crossed with Italian gun dogs with local scent hound stock. It is a rare breed, and outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is all but unknown.The dog is also known as the Bosnian-Rough-Coated Hound or the Illyrian Hound. In 2006 the breed was recognized by the United Kennel Club as the Barak in the Scenthound group. Unfortunately, while the Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound is still found in Bosnia, there is plenty of conflict in the country, and the future of the dog is unknown.

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.

The medium to large sized dog is known for his coarse, shaggy coat of wheaten, black, red or grey shades. Some dogs are bi- or tri-colored. The shaggy coat has a thick undercoat and this is what provides insulation for the dog to cope in extremely cold weather conditions. He is a moderate shedder and he will need to be brushed thoroughly twice a week to remove his loose hairs.

Some dogs have white marks on the head. The height of this dog ranges between 46–55cm at the withers and he can weigh in at between 16–24kg. He is well known for his facial hair – a moustache and beard on the muzzle with large, brown eyes and an intelligent, alert and playful expression.The Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound is a robust dog with a deep chest that provides him with a well proportioned appearance. The brown eyes have bushy eyebrows, the ears fairly long and floppy and the tail long and somewhat feathery.

The Bosnian Coarse-haired Hound makes an exceptional pet because he is loyal and friendly with his family members and patient and tolerant of children’s antics. He also gets on well with other pets in the house.

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.

Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hounds are loyal, loving dogs. They are intelligent too and easy to train. With training and socialization, they are well behaved and a pleasure to have in the home. He makes an excellent pet for any family who bears in mind that he needs lots of exercise. When he uses up his energy with games, walks and other activities, he becomes a playful friend with children in the house.

His temperament fits his tousled looks and he is outgoing, amicable, social and friendly. He wants to be a member of the family and to be part of all the activities going on. When he is happy and well cared for, he makes a splendid pet.

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.

The Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound is a generally healthy breed, but just like with other dogs, he can also be prone to some hereditary health issues.

Hip Dysplasia

This is essentially a kind of degenerative arthritis and can be painful for your pet. You’ll notice that he battles to get up after lying down. There are some treatment options that can alleviate his pain and make him more comfortable, but there is no cure.

It is essentially where the dog’s hips partially dislocate and it is a genetic condition. It is more usual in larger dogs but any dogs can battle with hip dysplasia.

Patellar Luxation

This occurs when your dog’s kneecap is dislocated. It can be a genetic malformation or trauma. A dislocated kneecap is a common knee joint abnormality and a dog with a dislocated kneecap will have abnormal hind-limb movement, occasional skipping and even lameness.

. 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.

Exercise

This bearded dog is energetic so he will need to be exercised by you. You can take him on walks or take him to the park or play ball games with him. He will be prone to excessive barking and other kinds of destructive behavior through no fault of his own if you buy a pet like this and just plonk him in your back garden. He wants to be a part of your family and exercising him daily is part of owning a pet like the Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound.

Training

The Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound is a strong-willed dog and intelligent too. Train him and socialize him because then he becomes such an obedient, amicable pet who just wants to please.

Feeding

Your Barak is an energetic breed so he will need top quality food packed with vitamins and minerals that can provide him with the energy he needs. When it comes to feeding your Bosnian Coarse Haired Hound, store-bought dog food comes in a dry form or wet canned form.

If you’re unfamiliar with these foods, you can also speak to your veterinarian about the best food for your pet. Many dogs are lucky because their owners provide homemade diets – raw or cooked meat, vegetables and rice. A good multivitamin with omega 3 is also recommended for your pet as this can ensure his coat is shiny and his eyes bright and alert. Fresh, cool water must be within reach day and night.