Most important facts
- Group
- Hound
- Size
- Medium
- Weight
- 20–25 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Short, dense
- Energy
- High
- Height
- 44–52 cm
- Colours
- Deer red to brindle
- Shedding
- Light
- Est. feeding cost
- ~£40/mo
- Gear to consider
- Sturdy tracking harness, long training lead, slow-feeder bowl
Typical dry food, adult
About the Bavarian Mountain Hound
The Bavarian Mountain Hound was bred in nineteenth-century Bavaria for one exacting job, following the blood trail of wounded deer through steep alpine forest. Hunters crossed the heavier Hanoverian Scenthound with lighter local hounds to get a dog nimble enough for the mountains without losing the nose. It remains a specialist's dog in Germany and Austria, issued more often to professional stalkers than to families, and it still takes its work personally.
Calm at home but intensely focused once a scent opens up, this hound was bred purely for function, and it shows. It is devoted and biddable with its own handler, reserved with strangers and never showy. The Kennel Club flags it as a breed for experienced owners with rural space, and not a first dog for town life.
The nose leads the body, so recall becomes genuinely difficult once a trail is found. Secure boundaries and a long line are essential. They bond closely, talk more than most breeds, and settle best with early socialisation, though the reserve with strangers never fully disappears.
Common health conditions
Things Bavarian Mountain Hound owners commonly watch for. Guidance, not veterinary advice.
Hip Dysplasia
A screened condition in the breed. Keep this athletic hound lean, with steady rather than rapid growth as a puppy, to protect the hips.
Elbow Dysplasia
Also screened alongside hips. A joint-support diet and a lean weight both reduce the everyday load.
Epilepsy
Recognised in the breed. Affected dogs are managed long-term with medication and a stable routine, including consistent mealtimes.
Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus)
A deep-chested hound with genuine bloat risk. Feed smaller, more frequent meals from a slow feeder and rest around mealtimes.
Feeding a Bavarian Mountain Hound
A lean, athletic hound bred for hours of mountain work needs a diet built around stamina rather than short bursts. Working or active-adult recipes with good-quality animal protein suit the breed, with portions flexing to the actual workload, because a resting hound needs noticeably less than one tracking hard. Judge by feel, with ribs easily felt and a waist visible from above.
Like other deep-chested hounds, the breed carries a real bloat risk, so the routine matters as much as the recipe. Give the day's food as two or three smaller meals, keep vigorous exercise an hour clear of eating and use a slow feeder to stop gulping. Spare weight has nowhere to hide on this frame, and the hips are glad of every kilo it never gains.
Every dog is different — weight, age and activity all shift what a Bavarian Mountain Hound needs. The turns these breed tendencies into a shortlist matched to your dog’s age, size, budget and needs.
Typical adult weight
20–25 kg
Est. daily calories
790–1,410 kcal
A broad guide for an average-activity adult in good body condition — not veterinary advice. Real needs vary with age, neutering, activity, health and body condition, so no two Bavarian Mountain Hounds eat exactly the same. Get a personalised estimate or estimate feeding costs.
- Per day
- ~£1.32
- Per month
- ~£40
- Per year
- ~£482
A broad typical monthly budget guide, not a live price quote. Food format, calorie density, pack size and retailer pricing all change the real cost.
Find the right food for your Bavarian Mountain Hound
Foods ranked to your dog
Answer a few quick questions and the Food Finder ranks foods to your Bavarian Mountain Hound by score, price, life stage and fit.
Breed at a glance
- Exercise needs9/10
- Appetite6/10
- Trainability5/10
- Good with children5/10
- Shedding3/10
- Tolerates being alone3/10
The good & the worth-knowing
The good
- Exceptional stamina and scenting ability
- Deeply loyal once bonded
- A low-maintenance short coat
Worth knowing
- Needs an experienced, active owner with rural space
- Scent-driven recall is a real challenge
- Vocal enough to test close neighbours
Best matched accessories
All accessories →The collections that suit the breed, judged by the same independent standard.
Common owner questions
How much exercise does a Bavarian Mountain Hound need?
At least two hours of varied, scent-led exercise a day as an adult, ideally with tracking work in open or secure country. A lead-only stroll round the block leaves the nose unemployed, and frustration, digging or escape attempts tend to follow.
Is the Bavarian Mountain Hound prone to bloat?
Yes. As a deep-chested hound it carries a genuine risk, so feed two or three smaller meals across the day, use a slow feeder and keep strenuous exercise away from mealtimes. The Food Finder can suggest complete foods suited to active, deep-chested breeds.
How much should I feed a Bavarian Mountain Hound?
It depends on age, weight and how much tracking work the dog is actually doing, so the right amount moves about. Feed to their shape, with ribs easily felt and a waist visible from above. Adjust with the seasons, and the Food Finder gives a solid starting point for an active hound.
Is the Bavarian Mountain Hound good with children?
They can be devoted family dogs, but the Kennel Club does not recommend the breed for homes with very young children, given its intensity and single-minded working drive. Households with older, dog-savvy children suit it far better.