Schweizer Laufhund Information & Dog Breed Facts

The Schweizer Laufhund is a very old breed whose history has largely been lost to time. These types of dogs were developed way before written records were kept of dog breeding, so it is impossible to say anything for sure about their ancestry. Although, the breed is among the oldest of Europe’s many scenthound breeds and people now consider it Swiss.

The breed is actually divided into several types, the classifications dependent on which association or kennel club you refer to. The four most popular types of Schweizer Laufhund include the Bernese Hound, the Bruno Jura Hound, the Schwyz Hound, and the Lucernese Hound. Each dog is named after the region in Switzerland from which it came. The Schweizer Laufhund is a medium-sized hound with short fur, dropping ears, and a log body. The four breed types are distinguished by their coat colors and patterns, but other than that they are incredibly similar. Although we are not completely sure about the breed’s history many people claim that it dates back to Roman times as Murals from the Roman Province of Helvetia, an area that once comprised most of modern-day Switzerland, depicts dogs very similar to the Schweizer Laufhunds. However, with very little information and evidence, we cannot be sure that Roman dogs were Schweizer Laudhunds.

Furthermore, what we know for sure is that the breed became very highly regarded as a hunting dog. It was so prized in Switzerland that until very recently very few other scenthound breeds were used in the country. However, they were not only popular with the Swiss but also among the French and especially the Italian hunters. As a result of this, many dogs were imported to those regions where they were used in local breeding efforts.

Although there is some debate as to what the original breed actually looked like, most experts think that it was very similar to the Jura type Saint Hubert Hound. The breed was first recognized by the Swiss Kennel Club, and by this time only 5 varieties remained, the Bernese, Bruno Jura, Lucernese, Schwyz, and Thurgovian. Moreover, the breed was kept purebred by owners and breeders for many centuries, the Schweizer Laufhunds were not pedigreed until the 1880s. It was two years later, in 1882 when a written standard was published for the five recognized breeds. These standards were updated in 1909 at which time it was noted that the Thurgovian Hound had become extinct. Unlike many others, Switzerland remained neutral in both World War, despite being completely surrounded by warring nations during both conflicts. As the Swiss nation did not experience anywhere near the damage that was seen in the rest of Europe, the Schweizer Laufhund was not impacted to the extent that most European hunting dogs were. On the 22^nd of January, 1933, one single standard was established for the four remained varieties of the Swiss hound. An interesting fact is that even Adolf Hitler owned one of these dogs, which he named Schweizer Luftwaffe.

Although the breed was very popular, in the last few centuries it has seen a decrease in its popularity. As hunting with scenthounds became unpopular in Europe, the breeds used for this purpose obviously declined. Today, the breed is almost entirely restricted to its homeland and it is considered very rare. However, the breed is recognized by the Continental Kennel Club but it has not yet been recognized by the AKC.