The Swiss Hound, over time, has proved to be an excellent follow-up dog for hunting hare and fox. Equipped with an exceptional sense of smell, he shows great confidence during the hunt.
Il Swiss Hound belongs to Group 6 of bloodhounds and track dogs for blood and similar breeds. It is a medium-sized dog, suitable for hunting large game, but especially for hare and fox.
We are facing a very ancient breed, dating back to the times of Roman Helvetia. Almost certainly the bloodline can be traced back to the "Egyptian Hounds", who were exported to Europe by the Phoenicians.
Between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries many Italian and French dog lovers went in search of this breed for its extraordinary predisposition to hunting hare. The first standard for each of the five types of Swiss Hound was defined in 1882, although the eclipse of the Thurgau hound occurred in 1909 and on January 22, 1933 a single standard was set for the four remaining varieties.
Swiss Hounds are medium-sized dogs, with a height that is around 42/50 cm and a weight of 27/30 kg. They have a rather elongated shape, with a lean head encompassed by long ears which give them a noble air. The limbs denote a strong and robust bone structure, they are dry and perfectly perpendicular.
The hair is dense, hard and short, with a white and orange color. The jaws are solid and has a strong, complete and regular set of teeth with the scissor joint.
They are dogs devoted to hunting game and for this reason they are used in particular for hunting hare. They demonstrate a great confidence during the hunting trip, thanks to a very fine nose and a powerful voice. They adapt easily even on very difficult terrain.
Their character is not very expansive, even if they are very fond of their master and family. Being dogs that love to live in the open air it is not recommended to keep them in the apartment and in the city, as they are rustic and do not like comforts.
For this they have to live in the countryside and do a lot of daily exercise. Much like the Jura Hound, the Swiss Hound is one of the most reliable following dogs that a hunter can hope to have at his side during the hunt..
Tireless pursuers, once they have found the game, they chase it until they have fulfilled their duty.