The Swiss Hound

The Swiss Hound FCI Standard No. 60 The Swiss Hound exists in four color varieties (Bernese, Jura, Schwyzer, and Lucerne Hound). It is a typical hound, a smaller version of the Swiss Hound, with a shoulder height of 33 to 42 cm. Slightly rectangular in shape, moderately long, and powerfully built. Its head is medium-sized, dry, noble, with a friendly, attentive expression. The ears are long and set low, and carried neatly. The chest and ribcage are moderately broad and deep, allowing plenty of room for the heart and lungs. The limbs are lean and robust. The tail is carried hanging at a steady pace, slightly curved upwards in action. A fine-nosed, agile, persistent, and passionate little hound, it keeps its scent reliably and hunts persistently with a melodious call. Its nature is friendly, not fearful, and never aggressive. Its temperament ranges from calm to lively. Originally, Swiss Hounds were used almost exclusively for tracking, that is, for searching, tracking, and hunting game. Working ethic: They were required to quickly separate from their handler, eagerly and widely track game, regardless of thickets and thorns, to persistently chase it with a strong, deep call, and then to return to their handler. Will, passion, and perseverance are the absolutely necessary attributes for this, which subsequently earned them the prejudice of being stubborn. For this reason, they were long considered "difficult to train." Only later did it become clear that they are even capable of outstanding performance on the blood trail and that, with the appropriate expertise, empathy, perseverance, and consistency, they can be trained to be obedient, reliable, and versatile hunting assistants. It is therefore no coincidence that today they are used beyond Switzerland's borders as reliable companions and helpers for noisy hunting and tracking.