Austrian Black and Tan Hound
BRAHNDL-brah-keh
Austria· The Austrian Alps
The Austrian Black and Tan Hound — known at home as the Brandlbracke — is a medium-sized scenthound bred to track wounded hare and other game, particularly at high altitude. It is instantly recognisable by its glossy black coat with rich tan markings, including the two tan dots above the eyes that earned it the affectionate nickname 'Vieräugl', meaning 'four-eyes'.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Medium
Exercise needs
High (at least 90 minutes daily)
Home size suited to
Rural home
Grooming frequency
Weekly brushing
Coat length
Short
Sheds
Moderate
Lifespan
12–14 years
Town or country
Country
Garden size needed
Large, securely fenced garden
Where it comes from
Origins of the Austrian Black and Tan Hound
Austria's native black-and-tan tracking hound, bred for slow, sure scent work in mountain country.
- Region
- The Austrian Alps
- Climate it was bred for
- Cool Alpine
- Original job
- Tracking wounded hare and game at altitude
The long read
About the breed
The breed is thought to descend from old Celtic hound stock crossed with the smooth-coated hounds of the Swiss Jura, and it belongs to the same family of 'bracke' hounds found across the Alpine region. It works with a slow, methodical, sure-footed style and a fine nose, giving voice readily on a scent.
With its family the Brandlbracke is good-natured, agreeable and affectionate, but it is a specialist hunting dog rather than an all-round companion: it needs space, exercise and an outlet for its tracking instinct, and it thrives most in a working home.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Energy
4/5
Settles well once exercised.
Barking
4/5
Quick to sound off.
Grooming
1/5
Wash-and-go coat.
Sociability
3/5
Steady with people it knows.
Independence
4/5
Independent thinker; tolerates being left to it.
Trainability
3/5
Capable, with consistent fair handling.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Head
Lean and dry, with a slightly domed skull, pronounced occiput and a clear stop.
Colours & patterns
Recognised coats
Which coats the standard accepts — and which are simply popular.
Black & Tan
Standard colour
The only accepted pattern: glossy black with fawn to red-brown tan points, including the famous tan 'four-eyes'.
Timeline
History & development
Antiquity–1800s
Old hound stock
The breed is believed to descend from Celtic hounds, later refined with smooth Jura-type hounds from Switzerland to fix the black-and-tan tracking type.
1880s
Type established
Organised Austrian breeding consolidated the smooth-coated black-and-tan hound as a distinct regional variety.
1954
FCI recognition
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognised the breed under standard number 63 as the Österreichische Brandlbracke.
Today
Working specialist
The Brandlbracke remains almost exclusively a hunter's dog in Austria and neighbouring countries, rarely kept purely as a pet.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Slightly longer than tall, with a straight back, muscular loin and a deep, broad chest.
- coat
- Smooth, close, dense and glossy, about 2 cm long, lying flat to the body.
- ears
- Set high, of medium length, broad and hanging flat with rounded tips.
- eyes
- Dark brown, clear and calm in expression, with the characteristic tan dot above each eye.
- gait
- Free, supple and ground-covering, suited to hours of steady tracking.
- head
- Lean and dry, with a slightly domed skull, pronounced occiput and a clear stop.
- size
- Height at the withers is between 48 and 56 cm.
- tail
- Set on high, strong at the root, of medium length and carried slightly curved with a brush on the underside.
- colour
- Black with clearly defined fawn to red-brown tan markings above the eyes, on the muzzle, chest, legs and under the tail; a small white chest star is tolerated.
- muzzle
- Strong and straight, with well-pigmented black lips and nose.
- temperament
- Good-natured and agreeable, with a passionate hunting drive, a fine nose and a confident, independent working manner.
- general appearance
- A medium-sized, supple and elegant hound with a strong frame, long legs and the classic black-and-tan pattern.
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
Inherited disease
Watch closely
No widely documented breed-specific disorders, but data is limited.
Ear care
Watch closely
Hanging ears benefit from regular checks and cleaning.
Condition
Screen for it
A working breed that stays healthiest with hard, regular exercise.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
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Accessory
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