The Swiss Hound comes in four colors (Bernese, Jura, Schwyzer, and Lucerne). It is a typical hound, a smaller version of the Swiss Hound, with a shoulder height of 33 to 42 cm. Slightly rectangular in shape, moderately long, and powerfully built. Its head is medium-sized, dry, and noble, with a friendly, attentive expression. The ears are long and set low, and carried neatly folded. The chest and ribcage are moderately broad and deep, providing ample room for the heart and lungs. The limbs are lean and robust. The tail is carried hanging at a steady pace, slightly curved upwards in action. It is a fine-nosed, agile, persistent, and passionate little hound that keeps its scent reliably and hunts persistently with a melodious call. Its temperament is friendly, not fearful, and never aggressive. Their temperament ranges from calm to lively.

Originally, the Swiss Hounds were used almost exclusively for tracking, that is, for searching, stabbing, and hunting game.

Working ethic: Quickly breaking away from their handler, eagerly and widely tracking game, regardless of thickets and thorns, chasing it with a strong, deep, persistent, and vocal call, and then returning to their handler—these were the requirements placed on them. Will, passion, and perseverance are the absolutely necessary attributes for this, which then earned them the prejudice of being stubborn. For this reason, they were long considered "difficult to train." It was only later that people realized that they are even capable of outstanding performance on the blood trail and that, with the appropriate expertise, empathy, perseverance, and consistency, they can be trained to be obedient, reliable, and versatile hunting assistants.
It is no coincidence that they are now used beyond Switzerland's borders as reliable companions and helpers for noisy hunting and tracking.