FCI-Standard No 254

ALPINE DACHSBRACKE
(Alpenländische Dachsbracke)

TRANSLATION : C. Seidler.

ORIGIN : Austria.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD : 10.10.1995.

UTILIZATION : A robust, weather resistant working dog used by the mountain huntsman. The Alpine Dachsbracke is used as a tracking hound for wounded deer and as scenthound for hare and fox.

CLASSIFICATION FCI : Group 6 Scenthounds and related breeds
Section 2 Leash (scent) hounds
With working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Already in ancient times, a hunting/shooting dog was used which bore a remarkable resemblance in appearance to the Alpine Dachsbracke. Crown Prince Rudolf of Habsburg in 1881 and 1885 made his gamekeepers from Murzsteg and Ischl include Alpine Dachsbracken on his hunting trips to Turkey and to Egypt. In 1932 the Alpine- Erzgebirgs - Dachsbracke was recognized by the top canine organisations in Austria as the third Scenthound breed. In 1975 the name was altered to Alpenlaendische Dachsbracke and the F.C.I. declared Austria as the country of origin. In 1991 the Alpenlaendische Dachsbracke was included in Section 2 of Scenthounds in the FCI nomenclature.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : A short legged, sturdy hunting dog with a robust, strong boned body structure, dense coat, firm muscles.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :
Relation of height at shoulder to length of body = 2 : 3
Relation of facial region to cranial region = 9 : 10.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Expression intelligent and friendly. Fearless personality.

HEAD : Straight bridge of nose, definite stop. Lightly arched skull. Strong muzzle with pronounced transition to cranial region. Well defined furrow in forehead, lightly emphasized occiput. Nose black. Lips close fitting with black pigment, moderately rounded curve of lips. Strong complete teeth with scissor or pincer bite. Eye with dark brown iris. Eyelids close fitting to eyeballs with black pigment.
Leathers : Set on high without folds, hanging broad and smooth, medium length (should reach to the canines), well rounded at tips.

NECK : Muscular, not too long.

BODY : Trunk strong and well muscled, elongated. Withers moderately emphasized; straight back; loins short and broad.
Rump : Barely sloping.
Chest : Deep and broad with pronounced forechest. Depth of chest should be about half the height at shoulder.
Belly : Moderately tucked up.

TAIL : Set on high, thick at root. Longer hair on underside (brush tail); reaching barely to ground, carried slightly downward.

LIMBS : The close fitting shoulders are long, sloping and strongly muscled. Front legs are straight and strong; they appear short in relation to the body. Hindquarters are muscular, strong and well angulated. Seen from the rear, the axis of the legs is straight.
Front and hind feet are strong, round, toes tight against each other.
Strong pads and black nails.

MOVEMENT : Movement is ground covering, not tripping.
Preferred gait : Trot.

SKIN : Elastic and strong, without wrinkles

COAT : The double coat consists of very thick top coat and a dense undercoat, which covers the whole body and is close fitting.

COLOUR : The ideal colour is dark deer red with or whitout black hairs lightly interspersed. Also black with clearly defined red-brown markings on head (Vieraeugl), chest, legs, feet and underside of tail. White star on chest permitted.

HEIGHT : 34 - 42 cm.
(Ideal measurement : Dogs 37 - 38 cm / Bitches 36 - 37 cm)

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
- Too pointed, too short or too long in muzzle.
- Too light eye, lids not close fitting.
- Short or pointed leathers.
- Weak bone. Lack of muscle, loose shoulders. Wrong stance of front or hind legs.
- Coat too thin or too short. Slight departure from correct colour.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :
- Lack of more than two molars.
- Any deviation which will hinder ability to hunt.
- Weakness in temperament.
- Height at shoulder less than 34 cm and more than 42 cm.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.