The Small Swiss Hound is a small-sized hunting dog developed in Switzerland at the end of the 20th century. It stands out for its fine sense of smell and its ability to keep the scent safe, hunting with a harmonious and persistent bark.
General details
The breed has a medium size with a strong body structure. The weight ranges between 8 and 15 kilograms. The height in males is between 36 and 43 cm and in females between 33 and 41 cm. Their life expectancy is 10 to 12 years. The Small Swiss Hound belongs to Group 6 of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), which includes hounds, tracking dogs and similar breeds.
Breed history in brief
The Small Swiss Hound is a breed of dog that was developed in Switzerland at the end of the last century to adapt to the area hunting system. It emerged as an alternative to the medium-sized Swiss Hounds, considered too fast for this type of hunting. Through careful selection and crossbreeding, the "Niederlaufhund" was created. The Small Swiss Hound Club, founded in 1905, was crucial in establishing breed standards and promoting selective breeding. Today, the breed is valued for its hunting ability and has become a symbol of the Swiss hunting tradition.
Breed characteristics
The Small Swiss Hound is an elegant looking dog with a strong build. Its body is rectangular and its limbs are slender but strong. It has a slender head and a kind expression in its dark eyes. His long, soft ears are folded back and set low on his head. Its medium length tail is carried hanging at rest and slightly raised during activity.
The coat has different varieties. The smooth coat is short, smooth and adherent to the body. On the other hand, the hard coat is resistant, elastic and well attached to the body, with an undercoat of undercoat that is not very developed. There is also the short-haired variant, which consists of a compact outer coat, smooth and close to the body, with a dense undercoat. As for the color, various combinations are accepted, such as black and white with tan markings, black with tan markings, grayish white with black markings and white with orange-reddish markings, as well as all possible combinations between them.
The Small Swiss Hound is a small hunting dog with a fine sense of smell and great agility. It is passionate in its hunting work, keeping the scent safe and hunting with a persistent bark. In addition, it is a gentle, calm but lively dog, showing exceptional dedication in its work and a balanced nature in its coexistence with people.
Common health problems
Information on the most common diseases in the Small Swiss Hound breed is limited. Even so, it is likely to be predisposed to some of the more common disorders in dogs such as hip dysplasia, cataract, corneal dystrophy, volvulus-gastric dilatation and von Willebrand's disease.
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