"A Hunting Dog in the Most Specific meaning of the Word"; is a Berner Niederlaufhund, also known as a Small Bernese Hound.
My dog Ago is very rare; he is one of the only dogs of his breed in the United States.
My dog is named Ago Vom Farnsburghof; he is a Berner Niederlaufhund (BN); also know as a Small Bernese Hound. They are indigenous solely to Switzerland. These dogs belong to a club in Switzlerland called the SKC (Swiss Kennel Club). They are one of nine various Swiss dogs. But the Berner Niederlaufhund is considered the "Best Hunting Dog in the World."...period.
I brought Ago back to the United States from Switzerland in October 2001; right after 9/11.
Ago;a breed, was initiated, and has continuously resided--for over 107 plus years-- in a mountainous region in Switzerland; adjacent to Germany. There are only nine (9) registered breeders of the Berner Niederlaufhund; and they are all in Switzerland. The goal of these select breeders is the continued betterment and development of the Berner Niederlaufhund. Everything about them is done to improve the breed. The farm were my dog came from stood alone and was along the side a high mountain; with a 800 year old castle at its peak; owned by one continuous family. It was very idyllic; just like in the Sound of Music with Julie Andrews.
King of the Dogs
Ago has nobility; and a documented history of his blue blood. Ago can trace his lineage back over 64 consecutive generations; without a break in the line (If that were in human terms it would go back to more than 1000 years before Christ). The breed, the Berner Niederlaufhund began in 1903; and my dog Ago Vom Farnsberghof lineage goes right to the first dog of that line. A continuous, documented and unbroken lineage.
Moreover, my dog Ago, is what is called a "Rough Coat"; even more rare within his own breed--one in twenty Berner's have rough coats; Moreover, Ago's is perfect roughcoat; absolutely flawless!
You have to understand that; from the very first dog in 1903; the goal of the Swiss is to always "upgrade" the Berner Niederlaufhund breed. The BN is always made better. Breeding the Best dogs with the Best dogs; to a degree where the BN's are considered the Best Hunting Dogs in the World.
From a hunting perspective, Ago's breed only hunts "Big Game" such as Wild Boars, Bears, Mountain Lions, Coyotes and Badgers (This isn't a rabbit and small game dog); the Berners only seek LARGE PREY.(Incidentally, Ago's Grandmother got killed by a Wild Boar ; which is one of the most formidable prey in the world).
(cont)
They comprise four breeds of cattle dogs (Bernese Mountain Dog, Appenzell Mountain Dog, Entlebuch Cattle Dog, and Great Swiss Mountain Dog), one breed of large, mastiff-type mountain dog (St. Bernard Dog), and two breeds of scent hound Swiss Hounds and Smaller Swiss Hounds).
Smaller Swiss Hounds (Schweizer Laufhunde) FCI-Standard No 59. Origin: Switzerland
Utilization:
Hunting dog in the most specific meaning of the word; searching game; hunting while giving tongue; also tracking wounded game
A Brief historical summary
At the turn of the century, the system of hunting in preserves was introduced in several Swiss Cantons. As the opinion was that the generally popular, medium sized Schweizer Laufunde (Swiss Hounds) were too fast for enclosed preserves, it was decided to replace them with smaller short-legged scent hounds. The new smaller breed, bred through planned selection of stock and suitable crossing, was called "Niederlaufhund" ("Short-legged scent hound"). It was distinguished by the following qualities: relatively low on leg, in attractive coat colour, similar to those of the medium-sized Swiss Hounds (Schweizer Laufhunde), melodious cry to scent and track and very passionate desire to find game, to quarter and to do track work. The Schweizer Niederlaufhund Club, first known by the name "Schweizerischer Dachsbracken Club", was founded on June 1st 1905. My dog, Ago Vom Farnsberghof can trace his lineage right back to this beginning of the breed.
The Schweizerische Kynologische Gesellschaft (SKG) - i.e. the Swiss equivalent of the Kennel Club - acts in a general supervisory capacity as the custodian of these seven breeds. However, for all practical purposes, their safeguarding and control lie in the hands of the relevant breed clubs, which are themselves accountable to the SKG's Central Committee.
It is an acknowledged fact that not only the average Swiss, but also many dog-owners and even dedicated dog-fanciers do not realize that these are Swiss breeds. That is why the Central Commitee of the SKG has decided that it is high time to promote these Swiss breeds, especially in Switzerland, but also abroad, so as to bring this little known national canine treasure into the limelight. A practical occasion was provided by the need to undertake a thorough revision of the standards of our seven breeds according to the new model imposed by the FCI. The standard of a breed is a description of an ideal representative of that breed. This editorial task, which not only brought the standards up to date but also provided an opportunity to boost our national breeds, has been accomplished over the past two years by the SKG's Commission of Standards in close collaboration with representatives of the breed clubs concerned.
After their acceptance by the Central Committee of the FCI, these new standards were published by the FCI in German, French and English, and were distributed to all countries affiliated to the FCI throughout the world.
In order to enhance the repute of our national breeds and to make them better known through a publicity campaign in their favour, the Central Committee of the SKG has decided to publish, on the occasion of the World Dog Show held in Berne in June under the auspices of the FCI, the standards of our seven breeds, in the form of three lavishly illustrated booklets: one in German, one in French, and one in English.
