German Hound

February 23, 2024

The German Bracke is one of the oldest dog breeds and is a "small running dog" that specializes in hunting. However, this breed is not for beginners or lazy people, as it has an enormous need for exercise and pronounced tracking dog characteristics. It is the perfect companion for hunters and dog handlers in the police or rescue services.

Content: German Bracke

profile
Special features
Nutrition
Health and care
Origin & History
The right accessories
Conclusion

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German Bracke - Profile

Character: Persistent, Friendly, Sensitive
Size: Medium
Height: 40-53cm
Weight: 15-23 kg
Life expectancy: 9-15 years
Coat type: Short hair
Color: Red, Yellow, Black, White
FCI Group: Hounds – Scenthounds – Related Breeds

German Bracke - Special characteristics

The FCI has classified the German Bracke in Group 6, Hounds - Scenthounds - and related breeds. This robust medium-sized dog breed measures about 40 to 53 centimeters at the withers and weighs up to 23 kilos. The coat, which is usually tri-colored, is short but also very dense and covers the entire body. It is usually red and yellow in color. It has a black "saddle" on its back. However, its chest, neck, legs and the tip of its tail are often white.
The dogs appear elegant and proud. Their heads are long rather than short and broad. The forehead is not very pronounced and their nose is quite straight. Their light eyes appear intelligent and friendly.

The German Bracke is a hunting dog through and through. This breed of dog therefore needs more than just a few short walks. Anyone who doesn't rely on the dog for work, such as a hunter, should try to find other ways to give their German Bracke enough exercise and mental challenges. Dog sports such as tracking and tracking competitions are particularly suitable for this. They have incredible stamina and can work for several hours without any problems.

Therefore, the German Bracke is not a dog for a city apartment.

Without this exercise, this breed of dog can also display negative behaviors.

As a tracking dog , the German Bracke naturally has an excellent sense of smell, but it also has the will and ambition to track its prey over long distances. It makes a very special tracking sound that is very high and does not necessarily resemble the barking of a dog.

But the German Bracke is not only a great hunting dog. With his friendly and affectionate nature, he is also a good family dog.

Training this breed of dog is relatively easy with consistency and patience. A little experience doesn't hurt, of course. But the German Bracke is not considered dominant and generally listens well.

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Health and care

Sufficient exercise is the most important thing to keep the German Bracke healthy and happy. If you live in a city apartment, you'd better not fall in love with this breed of dog. A house with a garden or, even better, your own property with a forest would be the ideal environment for a dog like the German Bracke.

She is a working dog and should therefore be kept accordingly, otherwise she will be under-challenged.

Otherwise, the German Bracke is fairly undemanding when it comes to care. Of course, that doesn't mean that nothing needs to be done. This is especially true for their ears. As with all dogs with floppy ears, the problem is that there is too little air circulation and the risk of infection increases.

Therefore, the ears of the German Bracke should be kept under observation. If they are too dirty, a trip to the vet is recommended. Cleaning the ears of this breed of dog is not so easy, which is why you should have a vet do it - or at least have them show you how to do it. The eyes also need to be cleaned regularly, but you can do this yourself.

The coat of the German Bracke, on the other hand, is fairly undemanding. Occasional brushing and, if it is really dirty, a dog bath is all that is needed. The latter should only be done with dog shampoo, however! The claws should wear down on their own with enough exercise on rough surfaces, but if this is not the case, you will need to help them. Have a vet or qualified dog trainer show you how to trim the claws, as you can do it wrong and harm the animal.

German Bracke - Origin & History

Brackes are so old that they are considered the ancestors of today's hunting dogs. It has been proven that they were popular with the Romans over 2000 years ago and the Germanic tribes also had Brackes as hunting dogs. At that time they were spread across large parts of Europe. Over the centuries, hunting became less and less important and so did the Bracke. Historical events such as the German Revolution of 1848 did not exactly encourage the spread of this breed of dog. Over time, they were increasingly displaced by pointing dogs such as the Weimaraner.

It was not until 1896 that the first German Bracke Association was founded. This brought together the various Bracke breeds, as there was the Sauerland Wood Bracke, the Westphalian Bracke and the Stone Bracke. At the turn of the century in 1900, the German Bracke was created. Due to the many different places of origin, people still talk about the Olpener Bracke, the Sauerland Bracke and the Westphalian Bracke today.

With the National Socialists in power in Germany, hunting for Brackishers was severely restricted in 1934. However, the dog breed is still often used as a hunting companion and for tracking rabbits, hares and foxes.

Bracking refers to the hunt for hares. The behavior of the hare is used, which usually flees in a wide arc and always returns to its "snout" (a type of nest for hares). The dogs are deliberately slower than the hare and constantly make a tracking sound. If the hare returns to its nest, the hunter can kill it.

German Bracke - The right accessories

The basic things that every dog owner needs are a collar or harness, one or two dog leashes, a drinking and feeding bowl, and a comfortable dog bed in a quiet area of the house or apartment. You will also need a dog transport box for transporting your dog in the car. This also applies to air travel and, in some cases, traveling by train with a dog. A muzzle is definitely needed when traveling by train.

A brush and dog shampoo are useful for grooming. If you want to cut the claws yourself, you will of course also need nail clippers.

Finally, with hunting dogs, it is not uncommon to attach a GPS transmitter to the dog and put a stab-proof dog vest on it.

Chews and bones are ideal for dental care, but there are also tooth cleaning sets for dogs.

Conclusion

The German Bracke has everything it takes to be a good hunting companion. Only those who really have enough time and drive should acquire this workhorse. However, if the conditions are right, the German Bracke is an excellent choice that has proven itself for thousands of years.

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