Origin
The Alpine Dachsbracke is a solid and sturdy breed of Scent Hound, originally developed by alpine hunters in the mountains of Austria back in the middle of the 19th century.
This remarkable breed was down in size by the cross-breeding between hunting/shooting dogs – the larger indigenous Austrian Hound and Germany’s short-legged Dachshund.
It was bred to track wounded animals such as deer, boar, hare ad fox. It is highly efficient at following a trail even after it has gone cold.
These dogs were once the favorite of the royal families in Germany.
The Crown Prince Rudolf of Habsburg used to bring Alpine Dachsbrackes in his hunting expeditions bound to Egypt and Turkey.
Alpine Dachsbracke was officially recognized as the world’s third Scent Hound breed in Austria in 1932. In 1991, the Alpenlaendische Dachsbracke was included in the group of Scenthounds based on the FCI’s nomenclature (Fédération Cynologique Internationale).
The breed is also recognized by some minor registries, hunting clubs, and internet-based dog registry businesses. The only major kennel club in the English-speaking world to recognize the Alpine Dachsbracke is the United Kennel Club (USA) in their Scenthound group.
Nowadays, it is still commonly being kept by hunters and gamekeepers more than just a mere household pet.
Traits and Behavior
The Alpine Dachsbracke is known for its fearless personality, endurance, and power, making them the perfect working dog for huntsmen in the mountain. Aside from those, they are friendly with children as well as with other animals.
Although it is not particularly fast, its short and elongated body is very muscular and allows the Alpine Dachsbracke to follow a scent trail for long periods.
Consequently, they are used as a tracking hound for wounded deer and other wild animals.
Alpine Dachsbracke possess a high level of intelligence hence they should have plenty of mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom.
If they are not kept busy enough, they will be prone to obsessive barking, destructiveness, and other undesirable behaviors. It is so easy to train because it learns quickly and will respond well to firm, stable, and calm situation.
Pet Care and Diseases
Typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, they have no specific health problems that are hereditary besides the common case among all dogs, hip dysplasia. However, the following health concerns have been also reported in few dogs of the same breed:
- Patellar luxation
- Degenerative disk disease
- Chronic ear infection
- Dental problems
- Other spinal conditions
The Alpine Dachsbracke can now easily adapt to an apartment life although rural or semi-rural environments are recommended.
They are fairly active inside the house and will do okay without putting up a front yard fence. They need a regular dose of exercise.
Daily walks are enough but exposing these dogs to a lot of outdoor activities or adventure trips will be much better.
Vigorous physical activity will make the dog more active.
These require proper grooming. Good this is, the Alpine’s coat is easy to maintain. Brush with a firm bristle brush and bathe when necessary. Check ears often for signs of infection and trim nails often.
Balanced nutrition is also advised, as well as regular visits to the veterinarian. If well taken care of, the Alpine Dachsbracke can have a happy, healthy life, with the whole family.
Appearance
This small dog has a slight resemblance to a Dachshund although larger than many of its closest relatives. They are short-legged and have a long well-muscled body which makes this breed fairly slow-moving.
They were created this way so that they would be able to track prey more closely.
The double coat is dense, short but smooth except for the tail and neck. This feature keeps it warm in the cold mountains. They are usually red, brown or black in colour and tend to lack any distinguishable markings.
The belly is moderately tucked up. The ideal height for dogs is around 36–38 cm while the weight falls somewhere between 33-40 pounds. The round eyes have an energetic expression.
General Information
The life expectancy of an Alpine Dachsbracke is about 12 years. A litter may consist of up to 8 puppies. Other names include Basset Pointer, Alpenlandische Dachsbracke, and Basset des Alpes.