History
Origin of Alpine Dachsbracke traces to Austria and is believed to have descended from the ancient hunting dog breeds used for hunting or trekking purposes at high altitudes. For this purpose, short legs were highly required. But this breed is usually used for hunting rabbits, fox and deer. These were used mostly in Egypt and Turkey for hunting expeditions during the late 1800s. The Alpine Dachsbracke is a robust breed of the scent hound dog, originating from the mountains of Austria during the middle of the 19th century.
The larger Austrian hounds when mixed with the short-legged dogs of the Dachshund breed of Germany, these alpine hunting dogs were created for tracking animals. The Alpine Dachsbracke is officially considered as the third scent hound dog breed in Austria in 1932 and today’s world most commonly used by hunters as a pet.
Temperament and Personality
They are an hunting breed, so they have a fairly string preying nature. They are very likely to chase cats and many other small household animals. But they are quite gentle and friendly nature, but they can be destructive if they do not receive enough physical and mental activities. These dogs adapt to apartment loving but need to have an adequate amount of daily exercise. They can be an excellent family companion and may get along well with other dogs as they are quite sociable.
These dogs are intelligent and comprise of a fearless personality. They are robust working dogs and weather resistant dogs. They are mainly known for their high stamina, power and maximum endurance. They are not very fast but are muscular and very sensitive to follow a particular scent trail for the kill.
Care
Exercise
The Alpine Dachsbracke is very lively and hardworking. So they are born to hunt small preys. Hence, they have high energy levels and need much exercise regularly. They have shorter legs so you should not expect them to cover at high speeds but they are fast runners. This is quite a surprising fact about the breed. They have an excellent stamina in them. These dogs are born for hunting and thus have great vitality and power. So they require plenty of exercises daily and they must have long walks on a regular basis. But if they are taken out for hunting, then they will be on extra glory.
Grooming
The Alpine Dachsbracke has a shorter coat, so grooming and brushing of the coat are much easier. They have a smooth, but thick coat hence requires minimal brushing to control their shedding and helps in the removal of dead hair. Bathing can be done once or two times in a month or may be given if dirty with a dog shampoo or else it may lead to various skin problems. Maintenance does not require any extra effort and grooming does not need so much attention like other dogs. The coat may be brushed with a firm and soft bristled brush one or two times in a week.
Brushing will help remove the loose hair and the dirt covered in the skin and also facilitate movement of the natural body oils to give it a natural shiny look. Shedding may increase at seasonal times so extra care for brushing must be given then. Nail trimming if the nails get too long, cleaning of the ears and teeth is also a must. Dog toothpaste and toothbrush must be used for the teeth cleaning. You must also wipe the ears with a damp cloth, use cotton balls or a dog ear cleanser to avoid infections, pain or irritation.
Health problems
The Alpine Dachsbracke usually does not suffer from any inherited diseases, but they are very much prone to back injuries as they have elongated back portions. Also, they have a huge risk of hip dysplasia and any other muscular and skeletal issues particularly if the dog suffers from obesity. Due to their proneness to obesity, many common health problems can make them worse such as the intervertebral disk issues. So care should be taken of them while you are picking them up or down, be careful at those times. Also, jumping or intense exercising can result in these back problems and spine issues. Some more problems of these dogs can be ear and eye infections.
Training
The Alpine Dachsbracke comes from a hunting breed hence it is a brilliant dog. This makes training much more manageable. But you need to keep an eye on them for their independent and obstinate tendencies in their behaviour. They respond very well to positive training methods and they would love if the training includes something such as hunting. But you must train him to control the intense preying nature. They benefit a lot from early socialization if you plan to keep him as a household pet. They can be stubborn sometimes so make your training skills consistent and make sure you maintain your position as the trainer and leader. Offering rewards and praises to hem will encourage and motivate them further. Avoid scolding and punishments and try to maintain excellent communication with them and keep the training sessions enjoyable.
Feeding
The Alpine Dachsbracke is a medium sized animal so make sure to select a high-quality dog food which is recommended for other larger dogs. You must keep in mind that this breed dog was mainly developed for hunting purposes so you should give the food accordingly for active working. You need to follow the recommended food diet that suits them and can meet their activity levels. The dogs need about one and a half cup to two and a half cups of good and quality dry dog foods in a day. The food should be split into at least two meals in a day. But you must note that the Alpine Dachsbracke is very much prone to obesity so you must take care of their quantity of foods. However, the amount of food depends on the size, age, health and metabolism rate of the dog. Also, the levels of activity should be kept in mind before giving the food.
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