Overview
The Schweizer Laufhund is the collective name for four Swiss scenthound varieties: Bernese, Jura, Lucerne and Schwyz, distinguished mainly by colour. All are medium-sized, long-eared hounds with deep chests and a famously musical voice, used to hunt hare, roe deer and fox alone across alpine terrain.
They are very rare in Britain. Expect an affectionate, gentle dog at home and a focused, independent hunter the moment a scent appears.
Exercise and walking needs
An hour and a half a day of proper movement is the baseline for a healthy adult. The hound wants to trot steadily over distance with its nose working, so a long line through fields and woods is the right shape for a walk. Road walking alone will not do.
Hardy in cold and rain, these hounds tire in heat and need shade and water in summer.
On the walk
- Scent: A fresh line takes the dog away without a backward glance. Keep a long line on a harness and treat recall as a bonus, not a plan.
- Voice: The bay is tuneful and loud and will be used freely. Pick rural routes and expect comment from the dog on every rabbit.
- Other dogs: Mild and tolerant, used to working alone but not quarrelsome. Suits small groups of steady dogs.
- Ears: Long and heavy. Wipe them out after wet walks and check for debris and redness.
Tips for professional walkers
- Plan the walk around the long line and give the dog time to follow scent properly.
- Reward returns with smelly treats so that coming back is worth the hound's while.
- Check the pads and lower legs after a run through rough or stony ground.
- Keep hot-weather walks short and shaded.
What to ask the owner
- Has the dog been hunted, and how far has it ranged when following a scent?
- Is there an enclosed field it can run in, and how does it come back?
- Any ear trouble, and how does the owner like the ears dried and checked?