Hanover Hound

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Dog breed

Hanover Hound

Other names| Hanoverian Hound
Hanoverian Scenthound
Hannover'scher Schweisshund
Origin| Germany
| Kennel club standards

Fédération Cynologique Internationale|  standard
Dog (domestic dog)

The Hanover Hound is a breed of dog sometimes referred to as a Hanoverian Hound, Hanoverian Scent hound, and Hannover Schweißhund. The origins of the Hanover hound trace back to the Celtic period  as a direct decedent of the lead hound. The Hanover hound is described as a blood hound, primary used for tracking blood from wounded animals.[1] It is a hunting and tracking dog descended from bloodhounds of medieval times. It was first introduced into France in the 1980s and is still a very rare breed. It was crossbred with the Bavarian Hound, which gave rise to the Bavarian Mountain Hound.

## Description

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### Appearance

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These short-haired dogs range in colour from light to dark reddish fawn with a brindled appearance. They may also have a mask. Overall, the Hanoverian Hound is sturdily built with a large head, strong jaws and a deep chest. Adult males stand between 19.5 and 21.5 inches (50–55 cm) and weigh 66–88 pounds. Adult females are usually slightly smaller, standing 19–21 inches (38–53 cm) in height and weighing 55 to 70 pounds (25–35 kg).[2][3] The forehead is slightly wrinkled. The skull is broadest between the ears and slightly rounded.[2][4] The ears of a Hanover hound are high, broad, and smooth,[4]  usually bluntly rounded at the tips.[2] The tail is high set, long, and barely curved [4][2]

### Temperament

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Like any working dog, the Hanover Hound fares best living in an area where he can exercise and would not be ideal for city living. Similar to other working dogs, the Hanoverian hound is described as having a calm and assured temperament and a persistent and single-minded nature when tracking.[2][4] Hanover hounds tend to keep to themselves around strangers; on the other hand, they are kind and friendly towards other dogs.[3]

### History

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The ancestry of the Hanover hound can be linked to the Celtic people in Central Europe, from around 500 BC. The Celts used the Segusiehund, which evolved from the Celtic hound.  Keeping its tracking ability and powerful build, it developed into the lead hound, with distinguishing characteristics such as a blunt muzzle and a broad nose.[5]

The Hanover Hound developed almost directly from the Lead Hound.  Since the era of Charlemagne, the lead hound has held a strong standing in hunting. These dogs were utilized to locate strong stags and wild boars.[5]

After the advent of firearms revolutionized hunting, it created a demand for dogs capable of tracking wounded prey. Which made the Lead Hound ideally suited for this task, leading its transition into the” Blood Hound”.[5]

In 1885, the Hanover hound was given its name “Hanoverian Bloodhound” / “German Bloodhound”. The founding meeting of The Hirschmann Association took the task of preserving the Hanoverian Scent hound breed.[5]

In 1912, the Hanoverian scent hound was crossed with the Bavarian mountain scent hound, a lighter, more agile tracking dog. Which was better suited for rough terrian.[5]

The United Kennel Club (UKC) recognized the Hanoverian hound on January 1, 1996.[2]

### Breed recognition

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The Hanover hound was officially recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in 1964, under Scent hounds and related breeds.[4]

The United Kennel Club (UKC) recognized the Hanoverian hound, classified in the scent hound group on January 1, 1996.[2]

## See also

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* Animals portal
* Dogs portal
* Germany portal

* Dogs portal
* List of dog breeds

## References

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1. ^ "BAYERISCHER GEBIRGSSCHWEISSHUND". www.fci.be. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
2. ^ a b c d e f g "Breed Standards : Hanoverian Hound | United Kennel Club (UKC)". www.ukcdogs.com. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
3. ^ a b https://www.zooplus.co.uk/magazine/dog/dog-breeds/hanover-hound. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
4. ^ a b c d e "HANNOVERSCHER SCHWEISSHUND". www.fci.be. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
5. ^ a b c d e "Hirschmann | Home". www.verein-hirschmann.de. Retrieved 2025-05-08.

## External links

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* German Hannover'scher Schweisshund Club
* Hanoverian Hound Foto Album

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Dogs originating in Germany

Hounds|

* Bavarian Mountain Hound
* Dachshund
* German Hound
* Hanover Hound
* Westphalian Dachsbracke

Gun dogs|

* German Longhaired Pointer
* German Roughhaired Pointer
* German Shorthaired Pointer
* German Spaniel
* German Wirehaired Pointer
* Large Münsterländer
* Poodle
* Pudelpointer
* Small Münsterländer
* Weimaraner

Herding dogs|

* German Shepherd
* Old German herding dogs

Earth dogs|

* Jagdterrier
* Miniature Schnauzer

Toy dogs|

* Affenpinscher
* Biewer Terrier
* Miniature Pinscher
* Pomeranian

Others|

* American Eskimo Dog
* Boxer
* Dobermann
* Eurasier
* German Pinscher
* German Spitz
* Giant Schnauzer
* Great Dane
* Hovawart
* Keeshond
* Kromfohrländer
* Leonberger
* Rottweiler
* Standard Schnauzer

Extinct|

* Bullenbeisser

* v
* t
* e

Hounds

Scenthounds|

* Alpine Dachsbracke
* American Foxhound
* Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie
* Ariégeois
* Artois Hound
* Austrian Black and Tan Hound
* Basset Artésien Normand
* Basset Bleu de Gascogne
* Basset Fauve de Bretagne
* Basset Hound
* Bavarian Mountain Hound
* Beagle
* Beagle-Harrier
* Billy
* Black and Tan Coonhound
* Bloodhound
* Bluetick Coonhound
* Bosnian Broken-haired Hound
* Briquet de Provence
* Briquet Griffon Vendéen
* Bruno Jura Hound
* Chien Français Blanc et Noir
* Chien Français Blanc et Orange
* Chien Français Tricolore
* Colombian Fino Hound
* Dachshund
* Drever
* Dunker
* English Coonhound
* English Foxhound
* Erbi Txakur
* Estonian Hound
* Finnish Hound
* Gascon Saintongeois
* German Hound
* Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir
* Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange
* Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore
* Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen
* Grand Bleu de Gascogne
* Grand Griffon Vendéen
* Greek Harehound
* Griffon Bleu de Gascogne
* Griffon Fauve de Bretagne
* Griffon Nivernais
* Halden Hound
* Hamiltonstövare
* Hanover Hound
* Harrier
* Hygen Hound
* Istrian Coarse-haired Hound
* Istrian Shorthaired Hound
* Kerry Beagle
* Liangshan Dog
* Lithuanian Hound
* Montenegrin Mountain Hound
* Otterhound
* Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
* Petit Bleu de Gascogne
* Plott Hound
* Poitevin
* Polish Hound
* Polish Hunting Dog
* Porcelaine
* Posavac Hound
* Rastreador Brasileiro
* Redbone Coonhound
* Sarail Hound
* Sabueso Español
* Schillerstövare
* Schweizer Laufhund
* Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund
* Segugio dell'Appennino
* Segugio Italiano
* Segugio Maremmano
* Serbian Hound
* Serbian Tricolour Hound
* Slovenský Kopov
* Smalandstõvare
* Styrian Coarse-Haired Hound
* Tarsus çatalburun
* Transylvanian Hound
* Treeing Walker Coonhound
* Trigg Hound
* Tyrolean Hound
* Valdueza
* Welsh Foxhound
* West Country Harrier
* Westphalian Dachsbracke

Sighthounds|

* Afghan Hound
* American Staghound
* Azawakh
* Bakhmull
* Banjara Hound
* Borzoi
* Chippiparai
* Chortai
* Galgo Español
* Greyhound
* Hortaya borzaya
* Irish Wolfhound
* Italian Greyhound
* Kaikadi
* Kangaroo dog
* Kanni
* Kombai
* Levriero Sardo
* Longdog
* Magyar agár
* Mahratta Hound
* Mudhol Hound
* Polish Greyhound
* Rajapalayam
* Rampur Greyhound
* Saluki
* Scottish Deerhound
* Silken Windhound
* Sloughi
* Taigan
* Whippet
* Xigou

Cur-type hunting breeds|

* Black Mouth Cur
* Blue Lacy
* Catahoula Leopard Dog
* Florida Brown Dog
* Feist
* Lurcher
* Mountain Cur
* Mountain Feist
* Stephens Stock
* Treeing Cur
* Treeing Tennessee Brindle

Miscellaneous|

* American Leopard Hound
* Basenji
* Cirneco dell'Etna
* Cretan Hound
* Haofa Tangkhul Hui
* Ibizan Hound
* Maneto
* Pampas Deerhound
* Pharaoh Hound
* Phu Quoc Ridgeback
* Podenco Andaluz
* Podenco Canario
* Portuguese Podengo
* Rhodesian Ridgeback
* Thai Ridgeback
* Xarnego Valenciano
* Xiasi Dog

Extinct|

* Buckhound
* Celtic Hound
* Chien-gris
* Dumfriesshire Black and Tan Foxhound
* Grand Fauve de Bretagne
* King's White Hound
* Laconian
* Limer
* Norman Hound
* North Country Beagle
* Old Croatian Sighthound
* Potsdam Greyhound
* Rache
* Sleuth hound
* Southern Hound
* Staghound
* Talbot Hound

Types: Anglo-French hounds, bassets, coonhounds, feists, lurchers
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