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HANOVERIAN HOUND |
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Additonal Breeds Starting With Letter:
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Schweisshund literally means bloodhound, which is a generic term for a dog, such as the Hanoverian or Bavarian, that follows a bloodtrail. When large game is wounded during a hunt, it may travel many miles in heavy cover only to hide and die a long, slow death. The development of dogs for trailing the wounded animal are common on the Continent. The honor code of the German hunter demands an obligation to find all shot game—dead or wounded. A deer injured with an arrow or bullet may leave only occasional drops of blood many yards apart. The dogs, although brought in even hours later, can follow the cold trail for many miles and lead the hunter to the wounded animal. Sometimes the search goes on for days, but it is never aban-doned until the wounded animal is found, dead or alive. This sort of hunting, actually trailing, is not often employed in the USA. It requires a dog with an excellent cold nose and great cold-trailing ability. The Hanoverian
was developed in the 19th century by gamekeepers around the city of Hanover
in Upper Saxony, including the central plains of Germany. The breed fathers
started with heavy tracking hounds known since the fifth century, like
the Solling-Leitbracke, which was a close kin to the St. Hubert and other
hounds of the Segusian type. These were crossed with lighter type Celtic
Bracken, such as the Haidbracke and hounds from the Harz to create the
modern form.
The Hanoverian
is specifically a big-game tracking and trailing dog of superb nose, although
quite slow on the move. His body is low on leg and heavy for his height.
He carries some flew, but his hallmark is the huge stiff ear set rather
high on the head. The Hanoverian has the marvelous nose necessary for
bloodtrailing, and he is also an able assistant on live game. Although
hunted in packs long ago, he is now usually worked singly. His blood flows
in the veins of many of the European utility gun dogs, which is where
these latter dogs inherited their nose, tracking ability and perseverance.
The Hanoverian
is valued beyond rubies by gamekeepers and forest wardens. Even though
gun dogs like the German Shorthair are trained to bloodtrail, if these
non-specialists fail to find a wounded animal, the Hanoverian may be brought
in—sometimes days later—and put on the trail. No wounded animal is left
to waste in the forest.
One current
German forester proudly tells of starting his Hanoverian on a track more
than a week old. Over several days, they followed the trail 30 miles,
finally successfully finding the quarry.
These dogs are
calm, quiet, poised and very attached to their master and family. But
when hunting, they are "hard, single-minded and persistent."
They are highly specialized and must be worked steadily to bring out the
best of their talents. Thus, they are not dogs for the casual hunter.
Most are owned and utilized by foresters and game wardens.
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