The Hanover Hound temperament is best described as hard-working, steady, loyal to its owner, and aloof with strangers. And If you are active and outdoorsy, the answer to whether there's a good match might be Yes!
The Hanover Hound, also known as the Hanoverian Scent Hound, is a large hunting hound that originated in Germany. The Hanover Hound is descended from medieval European Bloodhound breeds.
Like most working breeds, the Hanover Hound does best in an active household where he will receive daily exercise, training, and mental enrichment.
This breed is not well suited for apartment living and does not adapt well to city life. This breed does best in a rural setting where he has plenty of space to exercise and explore.
If you are thinking about acquiring a Hanover Hound, do your research to make sure the Hanover Hound temperament will be a good fit for your lifestyle.
Talk with Hanover Hound owners and breeders to prepare yourself for common Hanover Hound behaviors.
Understanding the Hanover Hound Temperament: 5 Common Hanover Hound Traits
This article will help you get a better sense of the Hanover Hound temperament.
However, please keep in mind that there are always subtle differences between individual dogs.
Therefore, your Hanover Hound may not display all of these behavioral traits.
1. Powerful Sense of Smell
The Hanover Hound has an extremely powerful nose.
These dogs love to follow their noses and explore.
It is important to keep Hanover Hounds on a leash or in an enclosed area so that they do not wander off following a scent.
Even a well-trained dog may not heed your commands if they are on the trail of a, particularly interesting smell.
This can be an extremely dangerous situation if your dog becomes lost or wanders across a busy street.
2. Loyal to Family
The devoted Hanover Hound temperament makes this breed extremely loyal to his master.
The Hanover Hound is a breed that loves to be with its family. This type of dog is not happy being banished to the backyard or a kennel.
If you add a Hanover Hound to your household, make sure you are prepared to spend lots of time with your pet.
Separation anxiety can occur in this breed. If your Hanover Hound displays any symptoms of separation anxiety, be sure to seek assistance from your veterinarian and/or a professional trainer.
3. Wary of Strangers
The Hanover Hound temperament is sometimes described as aloof or discerning towards strangers.
These dogs take some time to warm up to new people, and they will not accept someone into their “pack” right away.
When you have visitors come over, make sure you let them know not to push your dog to accept them to fast.
Ask your guests to offer treats to your dog and let him warm up to them at his own speed.
The watchful Hanover Hound temperament makes this breed an excellent watchdog.
Your Hanover Hound will keep a close eye on your property and alert you to any suspicious behavior.
4. Needs a Job
The Hanover Hound was bred to be a working dog.
These dogs are happiest when they have a job to do.
Do not expect your Hanover Hound to lie around the house all day.
These are very large, active, athletic hounds.
If you add one to your household, make sure you lead an active lifestyle.
Hanover Hounds that do not receive enough exercise will become bored and destructive. They may start exhibiting nuisance behaviors such as barking, chewing and digging.
If you would like to provide your Hanover Hound with a job, you and your dog can get involved with search and rescue work, therapy work, nosework, or game tracking.
5. Independent Thinkers
The Hanover Hound is smart but independent.
This can make training a challenge.
Some owners describe their Hanover Hounds as “stubborn” or “willful.”
You will need to come up with creative ways to motivate your Hanover Hound to follow your instructions.
You can keep your Hanover Hound engaged by providing him with mental enrichment to exercise his mind.
A Brief Account of Hanover Hound History
The Hanover Hound originated in Germany.
The breed descended from the Liam Hound, which was an ancient hunting hound from the Middle Ages.
Today, the Hanover Hound is primarily used as a tracking hound for finding wounded game—particularly game such as deer and elk.
Hanover Hound tracking abilities have become finely honed for this particular task.
A national breed club was established in Germany in 1894.
Although the breed is not yet recognized by the American Kennel Club, it is recognized by other kennel clubs in Europe.
The breed is extremely rare in America, but it is highly prized by those who know about it and love it.
Hanover Hound Size and Appearance
The breed standard of the Hanover Hound describes it as, “medium size, well proportioned and powerful.”
One distinctive feature is a wrinkled forehead that gives it a serious expression.
The typical Hanover Hound height is between 19 and 21 inches at the withers.
The average Hanover Hound weight is between 79 pounds and 99 pounds. Males are both heavier and taller than females.
Hanover Hound colors can be light deer-red, dark deer-red or brindled. Some have a darker mask around their eyes. Small patches of white on the chest are acceptable.
Hanover Hounds have long ears and tails.
A Guide to Hanover Hound Training
As was mentioned earlier, the independent Hanover Hound temperament can make this breed challenging to train.
Try to start training your Hanover Hound as early as possible.
If you acquire your Hanover Hound as a puppy, try to sign up for a puppy socialization class or puppy kindergarten class.
Puppy Pre-K is a great way to start bonding with your new dog and it is also a great way for your puppy to learn valuable canine social skills.
If you adopt your Hanover Hound as an adult, sign up for a basic obedience class with a positive reinforcement trainer.
Helpful Dog Training Resource:
For help with training your Hanover Hound dog take a look at The Online Dog Trainer by Doggy Dan. Doggy Dan is an expert Dog Trainer based in New Zealand. His online resource contains Hundreds of Excellent Dog Training Videos that will take you step-by-step through the process of developing a healthy, happy well-behaved dog.
Make sure you find a trainer that uses positive, force-free methods. This type of training is science-based and it is both effective and humane.
Avoid trainers that use outdated dominance-based methods. These methods are less effective and they can damage your relationship with your new pet. Do not work with any trainer that uses painful tools such as prong collars, choke chains or shock collars.
The Hanover Hound learns best with short, upbeat training sessions throughout the day.
Dogs learn throughout their whole lives, so you will need to continue training your dog for life.
Hanover Hound Grooming Needs
When it comes to grooming, Hanover Hounds are fairly low maintenance dogs.
They have short coats that benefit from occasional brushing and bathing to stay shiny and healthy.
Their toenails should be clipped regularly and their teeth should be brushed on a regular basis.
Their long, droopy ears can be prone to ear infections, so it is important to keep them clean and try. Check the ears frequently for signs of debris or infection.
Is the Hanover Hound hypoallergenic?
This breed is not hypoallergenic.
Please consult this article if you are looking for a breed that is hypoallergenic.
Staying Healthy: Hanover Hound Health Issues
The majority of Hanover Hounds are healthy dogs.
However, all dogs can be prone to genetic health conditions.
If you purchase a puppy from a breeder, talk with the breeder about what health screenings they provide.
Before you bring home your new dog, talk with your veterinarian about the following health concerns so that you can be on the watch for early warning signs:
- Ear Infections
- Eye Issues
- Hip Dysplasia
Like all breeds of dog, your Hanoverian Scent Hound should visit a licensed veterinarian at least once per year for a physical exam and annual vaccinations.
It is extremely important for your Hanover Hound to stay up to date on flea prevention, tick prevention, and heartworm prevention at all times. Talk with your vet about the best medications for your dog.
Spaying and neutering is highly encouraged to prevent accidental litters. Speak with your vet about scheduling this procedure at the optimum time for your pet. Many breeders will require that you have this procedure done and they will ask you to sign a contract binding you to that agreement.
With excellent care and nutrition the average Hanover Hound lifespan is between 10 and 14 years.
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Hanover Hound Rescue and Adoption
If you believe that the Hanover Hound temperament would be a good fit for your lifestyle, the next step is to find a dog or puppy to add to your family.
Hanover Hounds are fairly rare in the United States, so finding one may be difficult.
One option is to look for a Hanover Hound for adoption.
Many people prefer to adopt dogs because there are already so many homeless dogs in shelters and rescue groups looking for homes. It is nice to provide a home for a dog in need rather than purchase a puppy and encourage breeders to continue bringing more puppies into the world.
There are also some perks to adopting a dog. Dogs that are up for adoption are usually older and past the destructive puppy stage. They often come with some prior training including potty training. They are not as active, so they are ideal for people who have busier work schedules and cannot devote as much time to training and exercising a puppy. Plus, the adoption fee for rescue dogs is considerably less than the price tag of a puppy from a breeder.
You can look for available Hanover Hounds on internet websites such as Google, Facebook, Petfinder, Adoptapet and Getyourpet.
You can also visit your local animal shelter or humane society.
Although Hanover Hounds are rare in American Animal shelters, you might find a mixed breed or a similar breed that is the perfect match for your home.
You can also leave your name and contact information on file with the staff in case a Hanover Hound becomes available in the future.
Finding a Hanover Hound for Sale from a Reputable Breeder
Another option is to purchase a Hanover Hound puppy from a breeder.
Just be careful because not all dog breeders are responsible breeders. There are some unethical breeders out there that will try to take advantage of unknowing puppy buyers.
Never purchase Hanover Hound puppies through an internet site or from a pet store. Be very wary of breeders that want to take your money over the phone or over the internet without meeting face to face.
Try to get referrals of Hanover Hound breeders from current Hanover Hound owners or from the American Kennel Club.
Once you identify a possible breeder, make arrangements to visit that breeder in person. Since there are so few Hanover Hound breeders in this country, you will probably have to travel to acquire one of these dogs.
Ask the breeder about the health and temperament of their breeding dogs. Tour the facility to make sure that it is clean, humane and not overcrowded.
The breeder will probably have a list of questions for you as well. A good breeder will want to make sure that you are prepared to provide a lifelong home for one of their puppies.
Since this breed is so uncommon, a puppy probably will not be available right away. You may have to be placed on a waiting list for a year or more.
Since they are so rare, Hanoverian Scenthound puppies are also quite expensive. The average Hanover Hound price is $1500 for a companion dog. It will be even more for a show quality or working quality hound.
Conclusion: Why the Hanover Hound?
The Hanover Hound temperament makes this breed an outstanding choice for hunting, search and rescue work, or tracking work.
However, if you are looking for a couch potato companion pet, the Hanover Hound may not be the best breed for you.
If you bring one of these dogs into your life, make sure you are prepared to invest the time and energy they need to stay happy and healthy.
Allie has worked in the field of animal welfare for over ten years and as a freelance writer the space for many years. She has had many different kinds of dogs (and cats) throughout her life—all adopted. She currently shares her home with a lovable pit bull mix named Huckleberry.