Hannoveraner and Bayerischer (Annoverian and Bavarian), Origins, characteristics and practical use
The work on the ungulate trail would have been known as early as the 7th century; at that time the "limiere" was used, that is a "solo" dog who had to indicate the way followed by the wild animals to return from the nocturnal pastures. After having located the area of the shed, this dog disappeared and the packs entered the field that had to find and chase the wild in front of the crews on horseback. In Belgium, selecting these dogs led to the Hound of S. Uberto, but in Germany it was preferred to continue the selection until a lighter and more suitable dog for all types of terrain was created: they arrived at the "hannoveraner" (circa 1860). In a short time, however, Europe saw the ruin of the old social system, and with the sumptuous noble courts and the colossal hunting trips with dogs and horses, the "limieri" also waned.
The Hanoverian dog, however, proved to be very suitable for following even a single wounded game, selecting its smell from that of the other members of the pack. Therefore it survived the changed hunting systems, and indeed gave birth to another breed, the "Bayerischer Gebirgschweisshund", which was obtained by crossing the Hanoveraner with the Bavarian and Tyrolean following dogs, in order to obtain lighter and more agile subjects. , for use in the high mountains (1883). Therefore 2 distinct track dog breeds now survive and thrive:
the Annoveriano and the Bavarese, both used not as following dogs, but as recovery dogs. In a nutshell, the Schweisshunde leave to the other breeds the specialty of the job before the shot, but they dominate undisputed on the much more difficult job that often occurs after the shot.
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS
Hanoverian schweisshund
Trace dog par excellence, he is a specialist on deer and wild boar, but he does very well on any other fur animal. The Hanoverian dog stands in the rectangle; he is muscular and very resistant. Serious and focused on work, he is calm and good-natured. The skull is broad, convex, with a rounded muzzle, large, clear, brown eyes. The ears are set high, not very long, wide, rigid, never curling up. The neck is strong, the skin is more abundant on the underside and may form a slight dewlap. The chest is broad, with a deep and long chest. The coat is gray-brown like the winter deer, or red like the summer deer, or red-yellow. It can have tan markings and the typical stripes of this breed are much appreciated. The coat is short, thick, smooth and shiny. Males are 50 to 60 cm tall. females from 40 to 50.
Bayerischer Gebirgschweisshund
Excellent track dog, his specialty is chamois; in fact it is lighter than the Annoveriano, very agile and fast, while remaining endowed with remarkable resistance. It is typical that the rear train is slightly higher than the front one. The muzzle is light but not too pointed and elongated like that of the Italian bloodhound. The lip does not hang down, the skin on the neck is tight. The ears must not curl up, they must be wide and set high. The eyes are dark or light brown. The back is strong but not too short; the rib cage must be deep. The tail should never be rolled up or overrun the horizontal. The legs have excellent muscles, very elastic, but they must not be excessively heavy; the perpendicular should be perfect. The foot must be a "spoon"; that of "cat" or "hare" is considered a defect. their short but dense coat gives sufficient protection in the severe climate of the high mountains; the color is red-deer, red-dark, red-brown, red-yellow, light yellow. It must not be black and tan and must not have white markings.
PRACTICAL USE
The track dog, regardless of whether Bavarian or Annoverian, is the ideal companion of the rifle hunter, who always accompanies discreetly without disturbing him and without warning the wild. Before the shot, the track dog must follow the handler behind or to the side, without ever meddling; during the shot he must remain motionless and "absent" on the ground, near the backpack; after the shot, if things did not go as desired, he begins his work. The caries is placed on the track where the game was at the moment of the shot, and must follow it without getting distracted or doing what in hound jargon is called the "change: even if it is a deer that retreats behind the females, or of a chamois fleeing in the midst of the herd. It is a difficult job that requires extreme concentration, steadiness of nerves, and also an excellent sense of smell also because the work is often done 24 hours after the shot.
Usually the track dog proceeds tied to a 6-10 m leather strap. but if the ground does not allow it or if the handler believes that the wild is still alive and is straying too far, he is released. In this case the dog will hunt the game like a hound, signaling the way to escape with its bark. When the prey is reached, if it is already dead, the dog sits next to it "barking dead" to warn the master that he can come safely; if, on the other hand, the prey is still alive, the dog stops it "barking live" to indicate to the handler that it is appropriate to run for the coup de grace. Sometimes, however, the dog jumps to the throat of the wild and ends up suffocating him. The track dog respects the shot game, and only sniffs and licks it; sometimes it must be left to guard it, together with the backpack or other personal effects: in the absence of the owner, no stranger will be able to approach it, given the extreme decision that the auxiliary will show in defending the assets assigned to him. In fact, despite being a dog with a very docile character, it shows a lot of attachment to its master.