Schweizer Laufhund

Also called Swiss Hound, Chien Courant Suisse, Swiss Running Dog, Bernese Hound, Jura Hound

Recognised breedFCI group 6Short profile

From Switzerland.1 2

At a glance the quick version

Height, male49 to 59 cm1 3

Height, female47 to 57 cm1 3

Sizemedium

passionate, tireless hunter

sensitive and biddable

deeply attached to its owner

1 3

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, smooth, dense

A medium-sized, lean hound with a long, refined head, long muzzle and long ears, giving an impression of stamina and a noble bearing. The coat is short, smooth and dense, extra fine on the head and ears.1 3

ColoursBernese: white with black patches or saddle, tan markingsJura: tan with black blanket, or black with tan markingsLucerne: 'blue' speckled with black patches or saddle, tan markingsSchwyz: white with orange patches or saddle1 3

Personality what they are like

Lively and full of drive when on a scent, yet sensitive, willing and strongly bonded to its owner at home.1 3

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A hunting hound that follows hare, roe deer, fox and sometimes boar with independence and determination; needs long daily outings and scent work.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

The short, smooth coat needs only simple, regular brushing.1

Company who they like around

Very attached to its owner and happiest with an active family or hunter who keeps it busy.1

The story where it all began

Hounds of this kind appear in a Roman-era mosaic at Avenches, and French scenthounds brought home by Swiss mercenaries shaped them further. Five varieties were standardised in 1882; after the Thurgau hound died out, a single standard for the four remaining varieties was adopted in 1933.1 2

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
A mosaic from Roman Avenches shows hounds very like today's Swiss Hounds.1
2
The four varieties are named after the Swiss regions of Bern, Jura, Lucerne and Schwyz, and differ mainly in colour.3
3
A fifth variety, the Thurgau hound, no longer exists.2
4
It is sometimes nicknamed the Swiss Beagle.2

Recognised by the official bits

FCI: Standard no. 59, Group 6, Section 1.2 Medium-sized hounds, with working trial; one standard covering four varieties (Bernese, Jura, Lucerne, Schwyz).1
UKC: Scenthound Group, recognised 2006; all four varieties shown together.3

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Schweizer Laufhund. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Brushingevery week
Bathevery 8 weeks
Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year

Start a free diary

Schweizerischer Niederlaufhund

Bruno Jura Hound

Beagle

Hamiltonstövare

our little thank-you jar

Like what we are building? Buy us a coffee.

The breed atlas is free for everyone, with a source on every fact, and it will never show ads. If it helped you, a small tip keeps the research going. Any amount is lovely, and no is a perfectly fine answer too.

Leave a tip

Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

FCI Standard No. 59 Schweizer Laufhund fci.beused for origin, classification, height, coat, colours, temperament, history
Wikipedia: Swiss Hound en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, history, fun facts
UKC Swiss Hound breed standard ukcdogs.comused for recognition, varieties, temperament, height

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.