A brief description of training and work

The Bavarian Mountain Hound is not to be confused as a gundog, it is NOT a gundog, and it is a hound.
The Bavarian Mountain Hound is a specialist tracking hound used for tracking wounded large game, whether it is for following up after a badly placed shot or for R.T.A’s. Breeds of gundogs are also used for tracking injured/wounded game, for example, the German Shorthaired Pointer and the German Wirehaired Pointer to name just a couple. These breeds are very apt at tracking and very versatile in other disciplines of gundog work. The B.M.H is a ground scenting hound which can be used where other dogs have failed. Any dog can be taught to track fresh game, but the BMH will still be able to track 48hr old tracks and older. It has been bred for its scenting ability on cold scent, it’s determination to hunt & find wounded large game.
Even though it has been bred for this purpose, it needs training or “bringing on” to achieve a high standard, which every BMH owner should work to achieve, otherwise they are doing a dis-service to the breed.
The training is best started when the hound is young, 12 weeks old is not too young.  A ten metre straight line track, using the liver of a deer is just fine. With a little encouragement the pup will follow the scent, find a nice reward at the end and will be lavished with praise. A piece of skin or a slot is good for the pup to play with to lengthen the enjoyment of the job well done. Through praising and encouraging the pup you are nurturing its natural ability. From a pup through to old age the hound should enjoy what it has been bred to do.
Gradually  the distance of the track is increased, liver is swapped for blood along the track, deer slots are incorporated in laying the track,  less blood is used, just small droplets every two or three yards, turns are put in the track, lays are added, the track is aged longer, this  all comes together slowly. Your hound should always find its reward, and not be overmatched. Success breeds success.
Whilst tracking, the hound is usually worked on a tracking line, generally a 10metre length of leather or nylon webbing (just a light dog lead for small pups). The reasons are many, but the first advantage will be found that you have better control of your hound and you can certainly slow an over exuberant hound down, it will act as a line of communication from leader to hound & vice versa.  The hound should work at a steady pace making it possible for an accompanying gun to keep up and be ready for a follow up shot if required.
At times it will be necessary to let the hound free, if the beast is too mobile for instance & it would be better brought to bay or secured, this is obviously very much up to the discretion of the leader.
The hound is also taught to report when it has found the hunted beast. Three recognised methods of reporting are:
Bringselweiser : This method incorporates your hound retrieving a leather bringsel attached to its collar, when finding the beast it will retrieve the bringsel in its jaws, signaling the find and leading the leader to the fallen beast.
Totverbeller: Requires the hound to stay with the fallen beast and to keep barking, calling to the leader that the beast is found.
Verweiser:   On finding the fallen beast the hound returns to the leader and reports by its body language, it may jump up on the leader or bark, and then return to the beast.
All three methods have their merits.
Obviously the hound needs to be obedient, steady with livestock and steady to deer; otherwise you will end up with a hound that learns it is more fun hunting live fresh game than it is following an old scent.
The leader also needs to be able to read signs of wounds, lays and blood etc.  It is a fascinating side of hound work & much enjoyment is had training and watching the pup’s progression on older & more difficult tracks. It is essentially a sport in its own right.
When everything comes together and you and your hound  have successfully tracked a beast. The sense of accomplishment and the pleasure of that first find will have made all of you and your hounds hard work and perseverance worthwhile.