Swiss Hound Dog Breed

The Swiss Hound is a hunting dog. Because they are rare and specialized, they are not the best dogs for first-time dog owners. They require moderate effort to train, and they need a lot of outdoor space to roam when not hunting or doing other activities. These dogs are not good for apartments or small homes with little or no yard space; rural settings are ideal. They are fine with kids and other dogs. They are not good with non-canine pets as they have a very strong prey drive.

There are many things to understand about the Schweizer Laufhund, and here are a few:

PROS

CONS

These dogs are remarkably focused, calm, and great for the home — but once on the scent of a game animal, they are almost unstoppable. Despite being known as one of the world's best scent hounds, they are not aggressive. They do need a definite alpha or they will simply rule the roost.

This breed's moderate intelligence makes the dog easy to train. They excel at obedience, and an experienced dog person should have no problem with them. They can be distracted easily, however, and they may be a bit stubborn too.

Above all else about this dog is their keen sense of smell. They are sensitive in mood, prefer to roam far and wide, and can become easily bored if not properly exercised. They also love to dig, and this behavior can become destructive if they are bored or upset.

The Swiss Hound is laid-back only so long as he's not outside or invited to exercise. These dogs have seemingly eternal stamina, and they will be very happy to go with you on long runs, bike rides, and hikes. When not active in a sporting fashion, these dogs need long daily walks and frequent visits to the dog park.

The Swiss Hound managed to miss the devastation of the 20th century's world wars that greatly affected similar regional breeds, and yet there are so few of them that a satisfying health profile is difficult to know. They are said to be very healthy dogs despite the very small gene pool. (In 1937, the Swiss stud book noted only five Swiss Hounds, and in 1944 — while World War II raged around Switzerland — there were 150 Hounds entered in that year's competition.) Still, there is a fair amount of conditions that may occur in dogs of this size and type.

Here is a list of possible health problems for the Swiss Hound:

This breed is believed to have an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years.