Bavarian Mountain Hound Dog Breed Information
Also known as: Bayerischer Gebirgsschweisshund, BGS
A medium German blood-tracking hound used to follow wounded deer and large game. Used in NZ by professional hunters and DOC contractors for tracking work.
A highly affectionate, highly trainable, high energy dog. On the practical side: low grooming demands and minimal drool.
About the Bavarian Mountain Hound.
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a German blood-tracking specialist used in NZ by professional deer and pig hunters and DOC contractors who need a dog that can follow a 12-hour-old scent through dense bush. The breed is rare as a pet and almost always sits with serious working handlers.
Personality and behaviour
Reserved, focused, and bonded tightly to the handler. Calm in the house when worked enough, restless when not. Reserved with strangers in a quiet rather than aggressive way. The breed lives for the tracking job and pet households without that work struggle.
Care and exercise
90 minutes a day of varied exercise, plus regular tracking work or scent games to satisfy the working drive. Coat care is minimal: a weekly brush. Ear cleaning matters after every bush trip. Suits NZ rural properties with bush access.
The Bavarian Mountain Hound, by the numbers.
Each trait scored 1 to 5 on the AKC scale. The verdict synthesises the data; the panels below show the strengths, group averages, and the full trait table.
Top strengths
Family Life
avg 3.3Affectionate with Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Dogs
Physical
avg 2.0Shedding
Grooming Frequency
Drooling
Social
avg 2.5Openness to Strangers
Playfulness
Watchdog / Protective
Adaptability
Personality
avg 4.0Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Mental Stimulation Needs
Living with a Bavarian Mountain Hound.
A 24-hour breakdown of how this breed's day typically goes, scaled to its energy, mental-stimulation, and grooming needs.
What a Bavarian Mountain Hound costs to own.
An indicative NZ lifetime cost: purchase, setup, then food, vet, insurance, grooming and other annual outgoings. Adjust the inputs to see how your choices change the total.
A Bavarian Mountain Hound costs about
$254per month
$59
$8
$40,276
Adjust the inputs:
Where the monthly cost goes
Food
$100 / mo
$1,205/yr · breed-appropriate dry & wet food
Insurance
$77 / mo
$923/yr · lifetime cover protects against breed-specific claims
Vet (avg)
$39 / mo
$470/yr · routine checks plus breed-specific risk
Grooming
$0 / mo
$0/yr · brushes, shampoo, professional clips
Other
$38 / mo
$450/yr · toys, treats, dental, boarding
Indicative NZ averages calculated from breed weight, grooming need and screened-condition count. One-off costs (purchase $3,250 + setup $450) are factored into the lifetime total but not the monthly figure.
How does the Bavarian Mountain Hound compare?
This breed
Bavarian Mountain Hound
$40,276
12-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$3,700
- Food (lifetime)$14,460
- Vet (lifetime)$5,640
- Insurance (lifetime)$11,076
- Grooming (lifetime)$0
- Other (lifetime)$5,400
Reference
Average NZ medium dog
$38,920
12-year lifetime cost
- Purchase + setup$2,200
- Food (lifetime)$13,200
- Vet (lifetime)$6,000
- Insurance (lifetime)$11,400
- Grooming (lifetime)$2,400
- Other (lifetime)$3,720
A Bavarian Mountain Hound costs about $1,356 more over a lifetime than the average nz medium dog, mostly lowergrooming and higherother.
What to ask the breeder.
Reputable NZKC breeders test for these conditions and share results without being prompted. If a breeder won't share screening results, that is itself an answer.
Common
1 conditionEar infections
A common condition in the Bavarian Mountain Hound. Ask the breeder about screening.
Occasional
1 conditionHip dysplasia
An occasional condition in the Bavarian Mountain Hound. Worth asking about and DNA testing where available.
The Bavarian Mountain Hound in NZ.
- Popularity: Small working population, rare as pets.
- Typical price: NZ$2500–4000 from registered breeders
- Rescue availability: rare
- NZ climate fit: Suits all NZ regions; designed for cold mountain work.
- Living space: Rural property with regular tracking work.
Who the Bavarian Mountain Hound is for.
Suits
- Professional NZ hunters and DOC contractors
- Active rural households with bush access
Less suited to
- Pet households without serious working work
- Apartment dwellers
Common questions.
Does the Bavarian Mountain Hound make a good pet?
Where is it used in NZ?
If the Bavarian Mountain Hound appeals, also consider.
Breeds with a similar profile that might suit your household.
Hanoverian Scenthound
An older heavier German blood-tracking hound, used for following wounded deer and boar. The senior partner to the lighter Bavarian Mountain Hound. Very rare in NZ.
Bloodhound
The original tracking scenthound and the gold-standard nose in the dog world. Affectionate, slow-gaited, heavy-bodied, and a meaningful drool and noise commitment in any NZ household.
Slovakian Hound
A medium black-and-tan Slovakian boar hunter, hardy and tireless, used by serious NZ pig hunters who want a dedicated big-game scenthound.
Last reviewed:
Sources for this pageInformation only. Breed traits and health notes on this page are aggregated from public registry and breed-authority sources. Individual animals vary; this page is general information, not veterinary, behavioural, or insurance advice. Always consult a registered NZ vet or breeder for guidance specific to your situation.