Berner Niederlaufhund Breed Details
Below are the details and specs for the Berner Niederlaufhund dog breed.
Berner Niederlaufhund Dog Breed
Berner Niederlaufhund
Bernese Swiss Hound
Jura Niederlaufhund
Luzerner Niederlaufhund
Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund
Schwyzer Niederlaufhund
Small Bernese Hound
Small Jura Hound
Small Lucerne Hound
Small Schwyz Hound
Small Swiss Hound
Smaller Bernese
Smaller Swiss Hound
The Berner Niederlaufhund, also called the small Bernese Hound, is one of 4 varieties of Swiss scent hounds known collectively as the Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund. Niederlaufhund actually translates to 'short-legged scenthound', which is exactly what the breed came into prominence for, hunting small game in mountain valleys. They are small dogs, tri colored white black and tan. This is a great breed for any age due to its happy, calm, obedient nature. Active families and owners will find a great friend in the small Bernese Hound; it has a high amount of daily energy to be expended and enjoys runs and long walks as well as any other sort of playtime. This can be both an indoor or outdoor pet and is easily trained with consistency. With no typical recorded health issues, this is a healthy breed that can live up to 12-13 years.
Berner Niederlaufhund Breed Description
This small breed is about 13-16 inches tall for females and 14-17 inches for males. They typically weigh 13-33 pounds.
The small Bernese Hound is known for being calm, soft, and happy-go-lucky so he will make an excellent companion for an active person of any age. These dogs prefer companionship and will get along very well with other dogs. Although they are not aggressive, they were bred to hunt small game so they may have a prey drive towards pets of that size.
The short coat of the Berner Niederlaufhund makes it a low maintenance breed. Weekly brushing and a bath with hypoallergenic shampoo as needed will suffice. Daily vigorous exercise is required to let this dog release its abundant energy. Training this eager to please breed is not difficult but will require consistency.
Berner Niederlaufhund Breed History
These hunting dogs can track game and wounded animals by scent. They were specifically bred to have shorter legs to track small game in the Swiss mountain valleys. When hunting areas were reduced in the Berne region during the 1900s, hunters sought to reduce the size of current hunting breeds. They are still rarely found outside their region of origin today.
Berner Niederlaufhund Appearance
The coat of this breed comes in both a smooth and wire haired variety. The smooth coat is short and flat to the body while the wire haired is rough and includes a small beard. The coat is always tricolor white black and tan with tan being the markings over the eyes and on the cheeks, legs and under ears. The ears are long and hang down and the eyes are dark and happy. The body is long and straight with robust, strong legs. The tail is long and carried low unless on the hunting trail.
Berner Laufhund Colors
The images below represent the coat colors and patterns associated with Berner Laufhunds.
Black and Maroon
Tri-Color
White and Grey
White and Red
Whiteand Black
Berner Niederlaufhund Temperament
These dogs have a very friendly look which matches their calm personality. Courageous and obedient, they not only make a great companion for a hunter but also anyone else with the energy for them, even children. This breed is never aggressive but will bark if hunting or upon noticing a potential danger. Small Bernese Hounds are easily trained and are readily obedient to their owner as long as they show the dog some patience in return. Overall, this is a free-spirited, happy breed but they do not enjoy being alone. Although they enjoy being an outdoor dog, they can easily adapt to an indoor living environment.
Berner Niederlaufhund Maintenance
Grooming related maintenance is very low for this breed. The short coat needs a weekly brushing; other than that wash your Bernese Hound with gentle dog shampoo and that's it! Exercise is another story, although they are calm and gentle, they have plenty of energy that needs to be exercised each day. They should be provided with alternatives to the hunting work that they were bred for with other intense activity such as runs or long walks with the owner. Members of this breed are obedient and ready to please so training will not be difficult but will require patience in consistently refreshing the commands.
Grooming Requirements
The short coat of this breed makes for a low maintenance pet. They should be brushed weekly and bathed with warm water as needed. Berner Niederlaufhunds have sensitive skin so be sure to use hypoallergenic shampoo.
Exercise Requirements
Members of this breed were bred to hunt and follow trails which means they come with plenty of energy and stamina. They do best when kept outdoors and should have a daily walk at least, but don't be deceived by their short legs--they are fast and agile! These dogs would love to run or take long walks with you as well as hunting activities or games. Those kept indoors may need more exercise and outdoor playtime.
Living Requirements
This breed does best outdoors with a large yard or property to roam. Due to the small size of this hound it would likely be ok indoors as they enjoy company and cuddling, however, an apartment is the least ideal living environment. Berner Niederlaufhunds can adapt to cold temperatures easily.
Berner Niederlaufhund Health
The lifespan of this breed is typically 12-13 years. They are generally a healthy breed with few health issues. They are known to have pollen allergies and sensitive skin, so when bathing, a hypoallergenic shampoo is the best choice.
Berner Laufhund Health Concerns
Below are potential health concerns associated with Berner Laufhunds.
Allergies
Skin irritation
About this Article
Updated:June 24, 2016