Alpine Dachsbracke: Dog Breed Information

The Alpine Dachsbracke is a short-legged hunting dog and is one of the recognized bloodhound breeds. The versatile, compact, and robust hunting dog is enjoying increasing popularity in hunting circles. However, a Dachsbracke belongs exclusively in the hands of a hunter.

Origin and history

Short-legged hounds were already used as hunting dogs in ancient times. The low, robust dog has always been used mainly in the Ore Mountains and in the Alps to hunt hares and foxes and was bred strictly for performance. In 1932, the Alpenländische-Erzgebirge Dachsbracke was recognized as the third scent dog breed by the cynological umbrella organizations in Austria. In 1975 the name was changed to Alpine Dachsbracke and the FCI awarded the breed Austria as the country of origin.

Appearance

The Alpine Dachsbracke is a short-legged, powerful hunting dog with a robust build, thick coat, and strong muscles. With its short legs, the badger hound is significantly longer than it is high. Badgers have a shrewd facial expression, high-set, medium-length lop ears, and a strong, slightly lowered tail.

The coat of the Alpine Dachsbracke consists of very dense stock hair with a lot of undercoats. The ideal color of the coat is dark deer red with or without light black markings, as well as black with a clearly defined reddish-brown tan on the head (four eyes), chest, legs, paws, and the underside of the tail.

Nature

The Alpine Dachsbracke is a robust, weatherproof hunting dog that is also used for tracking as a recognized Bloodhound breed. Bloodhounds are hunting dogs that specialize in finding and recovering injured, bleeding game. They are characterized by an unusually good sense of smell, calmness, strength of nature, and the will to find things. The Alpine Dachsbracke is also used for break hunting and scavenger hunts. The Dachsbracke is the only bloodhound breed that hunts loudly. It loves water, likes to fetch, and is good at retrieving, is also alert and ready to defend.

Alpine Dachsbracke is only given to hunters by the breeding associations to ensure that they are kept by their disposition. Due to the friendly and pleasant nature and compact size, the badger fallow – when guided by a hunt – is also a very calm, uncomplicated member of the family. However, it needs a sensitive upbringing, consistent training, and a lot of hunting work and occupation. Only those who can offer this dog a territory walk almost every day should also get a Dachsbracke.