Schweisshund literally means bloodhound, which is a generic term for a dog, such as the Hanoverian or Bavarian that follows a blood trail. When large game is wounded during a hunt, it may travel many miles in heavy cover only to hide and die a long, slow death. The development of dogs for trailing the wounded animal is common on the Continent. The honor code of the German hunter demands an obligation to find all shot game—dead or wounded. A deer injured with an arrow or bullet may leave only occasional drops of blood many yards apart. The dogs, although brought in even hours later, can follow the cold trail for many miles and lead the hunter to the wounded animal. Sometimes the search goes on for days, but it is never abandoned until the wounded animal is found, dead or alive. This sort of hunting, actually trailing, is not often employed in the USA. It requires a dog with an excellent cold nose and great cold trailing ability.
Bavaria is a mountainous state in southern Germany near the Austrian and Swiss borders and includes the Bavarian Alps. The Bavarian Mountain Hound from this region is a shorter and finer version of the Hanover, probably obtained from crossing the latter with Tyrolean Hounds. The Bavarian Mountain Hound is smaller, even shorter on leg, smoother of skin and sharper of temperament, but otherwise very similar to the Hanoverian. He is a tracker par excellence and a fine hunter of the chamois deer, but because he has less size and substance, he can move with more agility in the altitudes of the Bavarian Mountains.
These dogs are calm, quiet, poised and very attached to their master and family. But when hunting, they are "hard, single-minded and persistent." They are highly specialized and must be worked steadily to bring out the best of their talents. Thus, they are not dogs for the casual hunter. Most are owned and utilized by foresters and game wardens.
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