Dog breed · Austria
The Austrian Black and Tan Hound is a medium-sized scenthound originating in Austria and is used for tracking wounded game, most commonly hare, in high altitudes.
Temperament: It is an elegant runner, used in tracking all sorts of game. It has a lovely voice, and makes a great pet due to its affectionate and good-natured personality. It is not a dog wanting to be in a city. A suitable home will be in a rural area where the dog will have much space to run unrestricted by a leash. It loves to work.
Appearance: Colouring in this breed is highly important. The dogs have a smooth, dense and short black coat with tan or fawn markings on the legs, chest and face. Two fawn marks above the eyes must be present. The long tail is slightly bent and the ears are medium in length and lie flat with rounded tips. They are a medium-sized breed, with a large skull and brown eyes. Males are 50–56 centimetres (20–22 inches), while females are 48–54 centimetres (19–21 inches). They weigh 15–22 kilograms (33–49 pounds). The dark coat helps protect the dog from harsh weather conditions, while the tan markings make it easily visible to hunters in dense vegetation.
Health: There are no breed-specific genetic diseases known to affect this breed, which is fairly healthy, and lives up to 12 to 14 years of age.
History: The breed's history can be traced back to ancient times when the inhabitants of Austria selectively bred dogs for hunting purposes. The Austrian Black and Tan Hound's ancestors were likely a crossbreed of various Celtic hounds, possibly mixed with Jura hounds from Switzerland.
During the 19th century, Austrians began to advocate for the development of breed standards and purebred registries for their hounds. In 1884, the Österreichischen Hundezuchtvereins (lit. Austrian dog breeding club) was founded and the first dog registered was an Austrian black and tan hound named "Bergmann." The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognized the breed in 1954 and the United Kennel Club in 2006.
