Small Swiss hound

Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund, Little Jura Hound, Little Bernese Hound, Little Hound of Lucerne, Little Schwyz Hound

The Small Swiss Hound is an exact replica of the medium-size Swiss Hound, with the same coat, qualities, aptitudes and characteristics, but all in a small, well-proportioned and pleasant size, as much to look at as to be around.

Height 33 to 41 cm
Weight 9 to 15 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 13 years
Home country Switzerland

Quick Overview of the Small Swiss hound

Temperament

  • Gentle and calm
  • Enduring and agile
  • Neither fearful nor aggressive
  • Endearing

Appearance

  • Powerful build
  • Quick, lively and agile
  • Noble appearance

Health

  • No particular pathology
  • Generally in excellent health
  • Rarely ill
  • Long life expectancy

Temperament of the Small Swiss hound

Gentle, calm, hardy, agile and flexible, the Small Swiss Hound is neither timid nor aggressive. He is an excellent hunting dog, but also very endearing.

Sometimes stubborn by nature, he needs a good, firm and adequate education.

Created for hunting, he is still appreciated for this task today. He is passionate, endowed with a very fine nose and loud and harmonious voice.

This small dog is flexible, enduring and agile, fulfilling his task of helping hunters in the practice of their favorite sport.

This versatile dog is friendly and has a lively yet calm temperament. He is confident and generally easy to train.

However, he sometimes tends to be disobedient, and must be educated with a firm and adequate hand.

Strict and uncompromising, training must be consistent with his character, to prevent him from doing as he pleases once he reaches adulthood.

Breed Appearance

small Swiss hound

The Small Swiss Hound is the reduced format of the medium-size Swiss Hound.

With a powerful build, perfect for work, this dog has a prompt, lively and very agile gait.

Very enduring, this little dog is both fragile and resistant, creating a real four-legged paradox. His general appearance shows a certain elegance.

Height

Between 33 and 41 cm (12.99 to 16.14 inches) for the male
Between 33 and 41 cm (12.99 to 16.14 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 9 and 15 kg (19.84 to 33.07 pounds) for the male
Between 9 and 15 kg (19.84 to 33.07 pounds) for the female

Color

The color of his coat varies according to the category, as does the coat:

The Little Bernese Hound:

The coat exists in the varieties of smooth and rough hair. He is always tricoloured, i.e. with a white background with large black patches, and with a few black flecks accompanied by tan markings on the cheeks, above the eyes, on the ears and around the anus. Some specimens may have a black mantle instead of large black spots.

The Little Jura Hound:

Smooth-coated only, the coat is on a very dark black background, with tan, reddish-brown markings on the cheeks, above the eyes, limbs and chest. It can also be fawn-coloured with a black saddle or mantle. A white patch is allowed on the chest.

The Little Hound of Lucerne:

Smooth-coated only, the coat is on a grey and white background or completely black, with more or less very dark patches. There are tan spots on the cheeks, above the eyes, on the legs, on the chest and at the base of the tail. Sometimes, the coat is also furnished with a black mantle.

The Little Schwyz Hound:

Smooth-haired, it is on a white background, with more or less extensive yellow-red to orange-red patches accompanied by orange-red flecks. There are also specimens with a red-orange mantle.

Hair

Morphology

His head is medium size and has a slightly domed skull without any folds on the forehead. His dark eyes are oval-shaped.

His ears are rather set back and low. His nose is black.
His tail is of medium length, extending to the hock and set low.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 6, section 1 and is #60

Tips About this breed

This dog can adapt to all family situations, as long as he gets regular and abundant exercise.

He possesses an overflowing energy and a great passion for hunting, and must do a minimum of daily physical activity.

His size allows him to live just about anywhere, as long as he has space to exercise regularly.

Naturally sociable, he is compatible with all types of owners. He gets along well with everyone, even children, and adapts to all situations.

Health of the Small Swiss hound

No particular pathology or congenital defects affect the breed.

Specimens are generally in excellent health, and are rarely ill. The Small Swiss Hound usually enjoys a very good life expectancy.

GROOMING

His coat requires regular brushing to keep it clean and healthy. However, no other special care is necessary.

History of this breed

The system of guarded hunts was introduced in the Swiss cantons at the beginning of the 20th century, and the already popular medium-sized Swiss Hounds became too fast for these new hunts.

It was then decided to replace them with smaller hounds, while trying to preserve the qualities of the existing medium-sized dogs.

A very methodical selection process based on appropriate cross-breeding led to the creation of this new breed. From then on, the Small Swiss Hound combined the same beautiful qualities as the medium-sized Swiss Hound.

He is passionate about searching, hunting with flair, tossing and questing, and he tracks by barking in a loud and harmonious way.

The Small Swiss Hound breed also reproduces the four coats already existing in medium-sized hounds.

In 1905, the Swiss Hound Club was founded, but initially under the name Club Suisse du Basset.

Like the medium-sized hound, the Small Swiss Hound comes in four categories: the smooth or rough-haired Bernese Hound, the Lucerne Hound, the Jura Hound and the Schwyz Hound.

The Small Swiss Hound is a hound that can follow wounded or unwounded game by smell.

Excellent hunting dog, he also has many qualities as life companion, bringing affection and loyalty to his family and a beautiful joy of life.

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