Judy Taylor
It bears a striking resemblance to the large Swiss hound but is quite a bit smaller. His appearance is noble and friendly.
Breed Characteristics of the Swiss Low-Running Dog
He has no fur folds on his head, the stop is moderately developed. The nose is dark, and the muzzle powerful with a strong scissor bite. His dark, oval eyes give him a friendly facial expression. The long ears are set low and reach at least to the tip of the nose. They are beautifully folded and have silky hair.
The back of the Swiss low-running dog is of medium length, straight, and firm. Its tail is also of medium length, is well-haired, and usually reaches to the hock. At rest he carries his tail hanging down, when the Swiss are in action he lifts his tail, but not over his back.
The fore and hind limbs are strong, well-muscled, and have rounded firm paws. The flowing, sweeping and expansive movement sequence is striking in the Swiss low-running dog. He prefers to be at a brisk trot or a long gallop.
The coat of hair is short, smooth, and dense in all four subgroups of the Swiss. It has a little undercoat. Depending on the type, the drawing is different. However, the main colors are black, white, and tan. There are different colored plates and badges.
Nature and Behavior
Swiss low-running dogs are agile and persistent hunters who follow a track once they have picked it up and report it loudly. Despite his great passion for hunting, the little Swiss also feels at home in a family. Here he is distinguished by gentleness and kindness. He is affectionate and cheerful towards his people, he is uncomplicated, gentle, patient with children, and likes to play with them. The little Swiss is always in a good mood and can even stay at home alone for a while. In principle, the Swiss low-running dog is just right for families who want to lead a hunting dog and are also looking for a loyal companion in everyday life.
However, this breed of dog requires a lot of exercise and activity. Only long walks in the park do not keep him busy and because of his long body, he is not necessarily suitable for a brisk dog sport such as agility. As a companion for jogging and cycling, however, it keeps up well.
Tracking games and mantrailing are also ideal for him when he is not being taken out hunting. Here he can use and train his extraordinary sense of smell. Mantrailing is dog training in which the dog has to follow the trail of a human. For this, the hunter needs an extremely sensitive nose.
The training of the Swiss low-running dog, here all four variants are meant, is relatively uncomplicated. Since he likes to learn, it is not too difficult to train the little Swiss to be an obedient hunting and family dog. However, the Swiss need clear leadership and consistency, because every now and then he wants to assert his stubbornness and remains stubborn or makes his own decisions.
Grooming of the Swiss Downy Hound
The Swiss Downy Hound has a fairly short coat with a little undercoat. It requires little maintenance but should be brushed through once a week to remove loose hair. After a hunting trip, the fur is checked for burrs and parasites and, if necessary, cleaned with a damp cloth. Otherwise, only the usual maintenance measures are required.
The eyes should always be kept clean, encrustations should be removed with a damp, soft cloth. The long ears also require regular grooming. Due to their length, there is a lack of sufficient ventilation, ear infections can occur under certain circumstances. Therefore, the ears must always be checked and kept clean. Dogs that walk a lot on the soft ground need to have their claws checked. They don’t wear off their claws automatically, so trimming is required.
The Diseases
There are no known hereditary diseases in the Swiss low-running dogs. It is a hardy breed. Nevertheless, of course, any diseases can always occur. It is best to visit the vet for a check-up once a year. In this way, all vaccinations can be taken care of and any early signs of disease can be recognized early on, so that help can be taken at an early stage.
