Alpine Dachsbracke

Hound Group Small (10-25 lbs)
Height 13-15"
Weight 33-40 lbs
Lifespan 12-14 years
Price $600-$1,200

About the Alpine Dachsbracke

Short-legged, heavily built and considerably tougher than its size suggests, the Alpine Dachsbracke was made to follow blood trails through steep Austrian terrain, and that job shapes the dog you live with. Nose comes first: given a scent this hound commits, and an unfenced garden or a casual off-lead walk in scent-rich country tends to end with a dog several fields away and entirely deaf to shouting. Temperament is friendly, level and notably even, without the sharpness some working hounds carry, which makes them agreeable family dogs where their needs are met. Those needs are steady rather than extreme: long daily walks with plenty of sniffing, ideally some tracking games, and most individuals settle calmly indoors afterwards. Training works best framed around the nose rather than against it, since food and scent motivate far better than formal obedience drills, and stubbornness appears whenever a trail beats a handler for interest. Voice is part of the design, with many giving tongue enthusiastically on scent and announcing visitors at home. Grooming is minimal, a dense close weatherproof coat needing weekly brushing. The long back over short legs means stairs and jumping down from heights deserve caution. Rural and semi-rural homes with secure boundaries suit them. Distinctively, this is a purpose-built mountain tracking specialist rather than a scaled-down version of any larger hound.

Temperament

Affectionate Great with Kids Dog-Friendly Playful Easy to Train
Affection Level
Good with Children
Good with Other Dogs
Playfulness
Protectiveness
Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Intelligence
Adaptability

Physical Characteristics

Size Category Small (10-25 lbs)
Height 13-15"
Weight 33-40 lbs
Coat Type Double
Coat Length Short
Colors
Hypoallergenic No

Care Requirements

Exercise Needs

Moderate (30-60 min/day)

45 minutes per day recommended

Grooming

Moderate - Weekly

Shedding:

Mental Stimulation

Needs plenty of mental challenges

Drooling

Living Conditions

Apartment Friendly
Good for First-Time Owners
Tolerates Being Alone
Cold Weather Tolerance
Hot Weather Tolerance

Cost of Ownership

Purchase Price $600-$1,200
Annual Cost $1,100/year

Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.

Health Considerations

Like all breeds, Alpine Dachsbrackes may be prone to certain health conditions:

Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.

Best For

  • Families with Children
  • Active Owners

May Not Be Ideal For

  • Long Work Hours Away
  • Sedentary Lifestyles

Guides for your Alpine Dachsbracke

The story behind the Alpine Dachsbracke

Austrian hunters developed the Alpine Dachsbracke in mountainous country, and short-legged bracke-type hounds of this kind were in use through the 1800s, reportedly favoured by Austrian nobility on hunting expeditions. The job was specialised: following the blood trail of wounded deer, chamois and boar over difficult alpine ground where a taller faster hound mattered less than a low, methodical, hardy tracker. Breeders drew on regional bracke stock and short-legged hounds to fix the heavy-boned low-set build. A formal standard was established during the 1900s, and the FCI later classified the breed among scent hounds and related types. It remains predominantly a working dog in Austria, Germany and neighbouring countries, is rare elsewhere, and is seldom kept purely as a pet.

Originally bred for: Tracking, Hunting. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.

Feeding a Alpine Dachsbracke

Dense low-slung build over short legs means surplus weight loads the spine and joints directly, so measured meals and honest body condition checks matter more here than for leggier hounds. A moderate-calorie adult food suits companions, with greater energy density during active hunting seasons.

Watch for: No breed-specific food sensitivity pattern is widely documented for this hardy hound. Scent hounds are enthusiastic scavengers, and much apparent intolerance turns out to be something found outdoors rather than anything in the bowl. Persistent digestive upset warrants a veterinary opinion first.

Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for small breeds.

Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.

Living with a Alpine Dachsbracke

Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.

For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.

Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a comfortable no-pull harness.

Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.

Compare Alpine Dachsbracke with Other Breeds

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