Deutsche Bracke
10-12 yrs
35-40 lbs
16-21"
Germany

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Deutsche Bracke

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Deutsche Bracke

35-40 lbs

16-21"

Germany

German Bracke, Olper Bracke, Westphalian Brache

Small to medium in size, the Deutsche Bracke is a distinctive and beautiful dog. They are popular within Germany, but are relatively unknown elsewhere. Bred as a hunting dog, they have high exercise requirements and need a regular daily workout, preferably two. They enjoy human company and can get anxious if left alone for too long, which can lead to them getting into mischief. Gentle with children, they make an excellent family pet. The Deutsche Bracke gets along well with other dogs as they have been raised to hunt in packs or on their own. But when it comes to smaller pets, the Deutsche Bracke maintains their strong hunting instinct. Extreme care must be taken when they are around smaller animals such as cats or rabbits. The Deutsche Bracke has a mellow nature but with an independent streak that can make training interesting. Harsh words or punishment will get a poor response from this dog, and should not be used. Instead, focus on positive reinforcement and keep the training interesting, varied, and at times, short so your dog remains focused. Keep this dog on a leash when out walking as they will respond quickly to any scent their nose picks up and will be gone in an instant. Once they are on a trail, it is hard to get them back. Overall this hound is eager to please, affectionate, kind and highly intelligent, as well as being a loyal and devoted friend.

                
                Purpose
              
Scent Hound, Watchdog, Guardian, Companion

                Date of Origin
              
18th Century

                Ancestry
              
Beagle, English Pointer, Foxhound Breeds

Deutsche Bracke Health

Average Size

Height: 16-21 inches Weight: 35-40 lbs

Major Concerns

Cataracts
Canine Hip Dysplasia

Minor Concerns

Glaucoma
Cryptorchidism

Occasional Diagnoses

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
Bloat

Occasional Tests

Eye examination
Urinalysis
Blood Analysis
Complete Blood Profile
Regular Full Physical Examination By Veterinarian
Complete Ophthalmologic Examination
X-rays or other radiographic imaging

Deutsche Bracke Breed History

The heritage of the Deutsche Bracke can be traced back as far as the 18th Century in Germany, to a region known as Westphalia. These dogs are known for their distinctive narrow heads and long floppy ears. They are the descendants of the ancient Bracke hound dog and were bred to be hunting dogs. And the breeders achieve just that - a dog with a strong nose that could pick up a trail and follow it right to the source. These dogs have a loud resonant bark to alert their owners to what they have found. The Deutsche Bracke is incredibly focused when following a trail, almost to the exclusion of all else going on around them. Hardy and sturdy, the Deutsche Bracke adapts well to harsh conditions and has a dense hair coat to protect them from the worst weather. The type of prey they were involved in hunting were mainly wild boars and hares. In 1896 the Deutschen Bracken Club was formed to support all local Bracke dogs. Then in the year 1900, all the old breeds were merged under the Deutsche Bracke breed. Today there are only two types of Bracke dogs acknowledged: the Deutsche Bracke and the Westphalian Dachsbracke which is a breed developed from the Deutsche Bracke. This amazing dog is not recognised by the British or American Kennel clubs, while they are well known and popular throughout their German homeland and Europe. The Deutsche Bracke is a skilled hunter, an affectionate and loyal companion and a good all round dog with a pleasant nature and elegant appearance.

Deutsche Bracke Breed Appearance

The Deutsche Bracke is an attractive dog that is small to medium in size. They have an elegant profile, although they are sturdy by nature. The long slightly arched body is supported by short, strong legs that have rounded, well padded paws. A deep chest, muscular neck, and fine narrow head characterise this breed. The Deutsche Bracke looks like a typical hound, with their long narrow muzzle, black nose and wide set nostrils that allow them to be excellent at following the trail when hunting. They have long pendulous ears and dark rich brown eyes that have a soulful look to them. This good looking dog can reach up to 40 pounds and stands around 20 inches high. Their short coat is tri-colored, usually black, tan and white. The tail is long and narrows to a point and is held quite low. Built for tracking and hunting, this active dog is healthy and robust and has a strong hunting instinct and will require extreme care around cats or other smaller animals.

Eye Color Possibilities

Brown

Amber

Nose Color Possibilities

Black

Coat Color Possibilities

Pied

Brown

Red

Black

White

Coat Length

Short Medium Long

Coat Density

Sparse Normal Dense

Coat Texture

Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Deutsche Bracke Breed Maintenance

The short coat of the Deutsche Bracke dog doesn't require much in the way of maintenance. Their short, dense fur is easy to maintain with a good brushing routine once or twice a week, just to remove any loose hair. They respond well to a rub down with a soft damp cloth, as this is all that is needed to keep them looking great unless they have been out in wet, muddy fields. This dog will enjoy the attention of a good soap up (using mild dog products to avoid drying their skin out) and a good body massage. The Deutsche Bracke are dedicated to their owner and family, and they will bask in any attention you give them - even if it is a bath! With such long drooping ears, they will need these to be checked and cleaned regularly to prevent infections. While your dog is young, teach them to enjoy having their teeth brushed; this will avoid teaching a mature dog a new trick that they may not like so much. Get them while they are young and they will think teeth brushing, ear cleaning, and toenail clipping is just the norm.

Brushes for Deutsche Bracke

Pin Brush

Slicker Brush

Deshedder

Nail Clipper

Brushing Frequency

Daily Weekly Monthly

Deutsche Bracke Temperament

What can we say about this attractive dog that hasn't already been said? They are great hunters, ideal outdoor pursuit companions, and they are just a big softie when it comes to the family. Loyal and devoted, they are never far away from you when everyone is home. This dog is a cuddle bug as well; they will happily curl up as close to you as they can and slip into a deep snooze. They are very intelligent dogs and respond better to rewards and kind words than they do to threats. The Deutsche Bracke has a streak of independence to their nature, and if you let them get away with doing things their way, you are going to set your self up for all sorts of problems. They are very intelligent dogs and respond better to rewards and kind words than they do to threats. While they mix well with other dogs, they cannot be trusted with smaller animals. It's not because they are aggressive, because they are not. But because their hunting instinct is very strong, they will chase smaller animals down. Not suited to an apartment, this dog does much better in a large home with a yard or ideally, a small country farm. They are active and inquisitive and will follow you around to see what you are doing or if you need help. This canine is truly a loving companion who doesn't like to be left alone and prefers to be with family members at all times.

Deutsche Bracke Activity Requirements

The Deutsche Bracke has been bred to be busy. They love following a trail, and their howl of success is so loud it will resonate around the valley. Activity is second nature to this dog, they love to be busy whether it is following a trail, playing with the children or learning a new trick. They have a need to be active and will need at least one walk each day, or more, to burn off their energy. A dog with energy to burn is a dog who is going to get into trouble. If you like to hike or jog, this dog is the ideal companion. They will love to explore new territory, and chase after leaves blowing in the wind. Seriously though, this hound needs a large yard to run around in, long weekend walks, daily meanderings, and plenty of games and mind stimulating puzzles to solve. Toys that allow you to hide a treat in them are ideal as stimulation for this dog. They will spend hours trying to figure it out and what joy when they finally get the treat! Just make sure you purchase the strongest version of the toy, or there may not be much of it left once your dog gets serious.

Activity Level

                  Low
                  Medium
                  High
                
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
14 miles

Minutes of Activity Per Day
80 minutes

Similar Maintenance Breeds to Deutsche Bracke

Similarly Sized Breeds to Deutsche Bracke

Deutsche Bracke Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
2 cups
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $40.00

Deutsche Bracke Height & Weight

6 Months

                  Height: 10.5 inches
                  Weight: 13.5 lbs
                
                  Height: 10.5 inches
                  Weight: 13.5 lbs
                
12 Months

                  Height: 16.5 inches
                  Weight: 25.0 lbs
                
                  Height: 16.5 inches
                  Weight: 25.0 lbs
                
18 Months

                  Height: 20.0 inches
                  Weight: 36.0 lbs
                
                  Height: 20.0 inches
                  Weight: 36.0 lbs

Written by a Golden Labrador Retriever lover Jean Brewer

Published: 04/06/2018, edited: 02/24/2021

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