{"id":59612,"date":"2014-11-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-11-13T22:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvaryny.com\/?p=59612"},"modified":"2025-09-20T18:16:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-20T15:16:34","slug":"small-swiss-hound-rough-coated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvaryny.com\/en\/breed-small-swiss-hound-rough-haired","title":{"rendered":"Small Swiss Hound (Rough-coated)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Rough-coated<\/strong> Small Swiss Hound (Schweizer Niederlaufhund: Rauhhaarig)<\/strong> isn’t just a hunting dog; it’s the very embodiment of Swiss precision and diligence, perfectly adapted for hunting in challenging terrain. With its elongated body, powerful voice, and short legs, this hound is an ideal tracker of game through dense thickets and even into burrows. Its unique harsh coat provides excellent protection from bad weather and prickly bushes. Despite its outstanding working qualities, inherited from its larger ancestor, the Swiss Hound, this breed remains quite rare outside its native country. You can find out more about the history, character, and unique features of this excellent hunter on Tvaryny<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small Swiss Hound (Rough-coated): A Quick Breed Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Characteristic<\/strong><\/td>Value<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Origin<\/td>Switzerland<\/td><\/tr>
FCI Classification<\/td>Group 6 (Scent Hounds and Related Breeds), Section 1.3 (Small Hounds)<\/td><\/tr>
Year of Breed Recognition<\/td>1954<\/td><\/tr>
Lifespan<\/td>13-15 years<\/td><\/tr>
Height at Withers<\/td>33-41 cm (13-16 inches)<\/td><\/tr>
Weight<\/td>8-15 kg (18-33 lbs)<\/td><\/tr>
Temperament<\/td>Passionate, resilient, well-balanced, devoted, sharp<\/td><\/tr>
Use<\/td>Hunting small game (hare, fox, roe deer), companion dog<\/td><\/tr>
Colour<\/td>Various, predominantly tan or tricolour with white markings<\/td><\/tr>
Coat Type<\/td>Harsh, dense, with an undercoat<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Detailed History of the Small Swiss Hound<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The history of the Small Swiss Hound, or Niederlaufhund, is closely tied to changes in Swiss hunting legislation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Before this time, the tall Swiss Hounds (Schweizer Laufhund) were popular in the alpine regions, as they were excellent for hunting in large, open spaces. However, with the growth of agriculture and the introduction of a system of limited hunting grounds (the so-called “Gatterjagd”), there was a need for a slower, but no less resilient, dog. This need led to the development of a breed more suited to hunting in restricted, often dense, areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key moment was the 1905 law<\/strong>, which banned the use of dogs taller than 36 cm for hunting in these limited areas. This was done to give game a better chance of escape and to make hunting more ethical and controlled. The long-legged hounds were simply too fast for these conditions. It was at this point that Swiss hunters and dog breeders turned their attention to shorter-legged dogs that could follow a trail for a long time without being excessively fast, preventing the quarry from being driven out of the designated area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breeding efforts were aimed at creating a scaled-down version of the existing Swiss Hounds. They did this by purposefully crossbreeding standard Swiss Hounds with dachshund-like Bracks and other short-legged hound breeds. The main goal was to preserve the outstanding sense of smell, hunting passion, and the famous sonorous voice of the large hounds, but to “shorten” their legs. As a result, four varieties of the Small Swiss Hound were developed (the Small Bernese Hound<\/a><\/strong>, the Small Jura Hound<\/a><\/strong>, the Small Lucerne Hound<\/a><\/strong>, and the Small Schwyz Hound<\/a><\/strong>), differing in coat type and colour, corresponding to the four varieties of the large Swiss Hound (the Bernese Hound<\/a>,\u00a0the Jura Hound<\/a>,\u00a0the Lucerne Hound<\/a>, and\u00a0the Schwyz Hound<\/a>). The breed was officially recognised by the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 1954, solidifying its status as an independent breed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breed Standard and Physical Appearance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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https:\/\/depositphotos.com\/illustrations\/small-swiss-hound.html<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Small Swiss Hound: Rough-coated is a dog with an elongated body, a sturdy build, yet still elegant. Its appearance is entirely functional: short legs allow it to move confidently through thickets, and its long body provides endurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n