COUNTRY: Switzerland
WEIGHT: 34—44 pounds
HEIGHT: 18-23 inches
COAT: Short, thick and hard
COLOR: White with orange, yellow or
sometimes red markings
OTHER NAMES: Swiss Hound
GROUP: Hound
Lucerne is in the northcentral lake region of Switzerland, the home of the Lucernese Hound. He probably stemmed from the French Petit Bleu de Gascognes and is very similar to them in appearance.
The Bernese variety was probably named, not for the city of Bern, but for the Bernese Alps which are further south. He is closely akin to French hounds like the Ariege and Artois, with their moderate size and clear white without ticking.
The short-legged hound varieties that the French call basset and the Germans name dachs-hundy the Swiss term Neiderlaufhunds. Each of the Swiss hound varieties comes in "petit" as well as "tall," which are otherwise judged by the same standard as the large sizes. The Neider-laufhunds are especially noted for their full-bodied voices which resound pleasantly during the hunt. The Neider variety of the Jura is more like the Bruno than the St. Hubert type. The Berner Neiderlaufliund is the only one of the Swiss hounds that can be seen in a rough wiry coat. These dogs are all gentle and patient with children. Given sufficient exercise and an outlet for hunting instincts, they are good, sturdy companions. One, which fell into a hole in rocks, was finally rescued after ten days of working to retrieve him. He was still alive although he had no food or water available!