Alpine Dachsbracke Dog

In the nineteenth century, the territory of the Bavarian and Austrian Alps, partly in the Swiss Grisons, had many dogs of the alpine bracken type.  The dogs, however, varied greatly in appearance.  In the 1880’s the Ore Mountains (or Erzgebirge) tried breeding the bracken, but until 1871 they were systematically cultivated.

Since the breeding focused initially in the Erzgebirge, the dogs called were called Alpine Ore Mountain bracken.  In 1895, there were several calls for the pure cultivation of this breed, so soon after the first International Mountain Bracken Club was founded.  The purpose of this club was to establish a constant shape and appropriate breed characteristics.  In 1908, the club was disbanded; two years later the Austrian Mountain Bracken Club began breeding the Alpine dachsbracke.

The First World War led to a strong decrease in membership of the club; after a reorganization in 1923, there were soon more than 700 members.  The Austrian Kennel Club officially recognized the breed 1931.  The Second World War led to further declines in breeding; from 1945 the breeding lines have been rebuilt.  In 1975, the Alpine dachsbracke was recognized by the FCI.  In 1978 were about 6500 Alpine bracken entered into studbook.

Description
The Alpine dachsbracke is a small dog (up to 38 cm) with a robust, big-boned physique, and a very thick double coat with a dense undercoat covering the entire body.  The perfect color is dark deer with or without markings of light black, red and black with clearly-brown fire on the head, chest, legs, feet and underside of the tail; a white breast star is allowed.

The torso is elongated, strong and well muscled, with a sturdy, big-boned physique; the ratio of height at withers to body length 2:3.  The ears are set high, wide and smooth, falling down without wrinkles, to medium length (well until the sufficient fang), rounded below.

Use
The Alpine dachsbracke is a rugged, weather-resistant working dog that is a recognized breed, and is used not only for hunting but for tracking those injured in the wilds. The dachsbracke is the only hunting bloodhound that is used as a tracking dog and as a scent hound.  The dogs will only be issued to hunters for work in one of the areas so that their facilities develop the appropriate attitude.