Brandlbracke - Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Facts and Information

Appearance
The Brandlbracke is a medium sized dog breed with compact athletic body, deep chest, slightly arched loin, long tail and strong legs.
The average height of the Austrian Black and Tan Hound is between 48-56 cm which is 19-22 inch and weight is between 15-22 kg which is 33-49 lbs. Females are naturally slightly smaller than males.
The color of the dog is very important according to the breed standard. As the name suggest, the Austrian Black and Tan Hound comes in black and tan color. The black is predominant color with small and clearly defined tan markings. The dog should have tan markings above the eyes, giving him eyebrows. The coat is short and smooth, but pretty dense.
The Brandlbracke has dark brown eyes, broad skull, very strong and straight muzzle and ears that are set high on the head and hanging down on the sides of the head.
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Temperament
The Austrian Black and Tan Hound is an universal versatile hunting dog breed, especially good at hunting by giving tongue and tracking the game. It is a very endurant hunter used for the work in flat country, but also in harsh terrain of high Austrian mountains. The Brandlbracke typically hunt prey such as hare, fox or wild boar.
And the personality of the Brandlbracke is excellent for hunting! They are passionate for the hunt, they have great senses, especially sense of smell, they are independent and intelligent problem solvers, they have high prey drive and they are very devoted to the owner. The dog is also pretty vocal, which is something you should be prepared for.
Of course, the Austrian Black and Tan Hound is not only a hunter, but also playful and loving companion pet. The breed has easy going and fun loving temperament and it is absolutely affectionate and loyal to its family. They are also known as gentle and playful partners for kids, but of course, you should never leave any dog breed with a very young child unsupervised.
These dogs can live happily with other dogs in the family, but other household pets might be problematic due to their high prey drive and chasing instinct.
The Brandlbracke is highly energetic breed, which is why they are best suited for active families who love outdoors. These dogs will be always ready for any outdoor adventure with you and you should take them on daily long walks and hikes every day, so they stay healthy and happy. Without enough exercise they might develop some unwanted behaviour such as destruction.
Even though very affectionate and playful around its own owners and family, the Brandlbracke is known to be pretty alert and suspicious towards strangers, towards people they do not know. Of course, they should never be agressive without a reason, but it might také a while before they accept a complete stranger as a friend.

Interesting fact
The name Austrian Black and Tan Hound is very self explaining and descriptive. But what about the original Austrian name – Brandlbracke. Bracke is referring to type of a hunting dog. And the word brandl means big fire, and it is reffering to the tan markings resembling the color of the fire.

History
Most likely the Brandlbracke is a dog breed with very long ancient history, but as with most other the dogs with long history, there is not much information about it.
Many researchers believe, that the Austrian Black and Tan Hound is a descendant of the ancient Celtic Hound, that accompanied Celtic warriors on their ways around Europe.
The breed evolved in Austria, but there are no authentic records about the breed until the 19th century. Since the 19th century, the breed was specifically bred to be able to track wounded prey for long distances and in 1884 the Brandlbracke was recognized as a distinct dog breed.

Health and grooming
The Austrian Black and Tan Hound is easy dog to care for. The short coat does not mat and even without any grooming it will stay in okay condition. But they do shed all year long, which is why regular brushing is definitely very beneficial as it will remove any dirt and loose hair from the coat and it will help to minimize the shedding. No other grooming is required. Just like with other dogs, you should regularly check the dogs ears, eyes, nails and teeth and clip them or clean them if needed.
There are no scientific studies published about this breeds health, but currently there is no information about any genetic diseases known to affect this breed and they should have good lifespan around 13 years. Of course, they might still suffer from some typical doggy health issues, such as ear infections, bloating and some joint and bone problems, but none of these problems are extremely common in this breed.