Styrian Coarse-haired Hound

The Styrian Coarse-haired Hound is a medium-sized scenthound from the Austrian province of Styria, bred to hunt wild boar in mountain country. It is one of the large Austrian Bracke hounds.

History

The breed was created in the 1870s by Karl Peintinger, a Styrian industrialist, and is sometimes called the Peintinger Bracke after him. He crossed a bitch named Hela 1, of an old type of Hanoverian scenthound, with an Istrian Hound, and kept selecting from the offspring until he had a hardy, rough-coated hunting dog.

Hunters in Austria and Slovenia use the breed on wild boar. It also tracks wounded animals over rough ground and at high altitude.

The breed was first recognized in 1889. It is recognized by the Austrian Kennel Club, by the FCI as a medium-sized scenthound, and in North America by the United Kennel Club in its Scenthound Group. In Austria a hunting club, the Österreichischer Verein Brack, oversees breeding and hunt testing.

Two short-haired Austrian hounds, the Brandlbracke and the Tyrolean Hound, descend from the same old hound types.

Appearance

The Styrian stands 45–53 cm (17.5–21 in) at the withers and weighs 15–18 kg (33–40 lb). It is well muscled, with a serious expression.

The coat that gives the breed its name is harsh and rough, though not shaggy. It is red or fawn, and there may be a white mark on the chest.

Temperament

Like many breeds developed purely for work, the Styrian is not usually kept as a companion and does not make a good pet. It needs a great deal of space and exercise, and can be dominant and destructive.

Care and health

The breed copes well with extremes of temperature. It has stayed healthy through occasional outcrossing, known in German as Auffrischungszucht, or refresher breeding.

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