Let's talk Tyrolean Hounds
Hailing from the mountainous region of Tyrol in western Austria, the Tyrolean is a medium-sized scent hound that has traditionally been used for hunting. However, these affectionate animals can adapt just as well to a more relaxed pace of life. Highly intelligent and very friendly, the Tyrolean Hound is also known for their calm and gentle temperament. With a keen awareness of their surroundings, the Tyrolean Hound makes a good watchdog too – even if they are more likely to greet an intruder with a big lick than anything else.
Official name: Tyrolean Hound
Other names: Tiroler Bracke, Tyroler Bracke
Origins: Austria
| Drooling tendencies |  |
Warm weather? | |
| Shedding level |  |
Suited to apartment living? |  |
| *Energy Level | Moderate | *Friendly pet? |  |
| Compatibility with other pets | |
*Can stay alone? | |
* We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches. Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behavior. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socializing your pet as well as covering their basic welfare needs (and their social and behavioral needs).
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.
translations.feature.breeds.male
45 - 51 cm
translations.feature.breeds.height
16 - 27 kg
translations.feature.breeds.weight
translations.feature.breeds.female
42 - 49 cm
translations.feature.breeds.height
16 - 27 kg
translations.feature.breeds.weight
| Baby age | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age | 2 to 12 months |
| Adult age | 1 to 7 years |
| Mature age | 7 to 10 years |
| Senior age | From 10 years |
1/7
Get to know the Tyrolean Hound
All you need to know about the breed
More than equipped to deal with the tough terrain of the Austrian mountains, the Tyrolean Hound is renowned for being a hardy scent dog with a super-charged sense of smell and an impressive sense of direction. With their long, floppy ears, big brown eyes and short, smooth coat, they are also a very handsome breed – and the Tyrolean Hound has an exceptionally good temperament too.
Descended from the old Celtic Hound, the Tyrolean has long been a popular breed in their native homeland – and, perhaps not surprisingly, their fanbase is spreading. Despite their hunting background, these medium-sized dogs aren’t usually aggressive at all, and are therefore good with children once trained. Among their other traits, the Tyrolean Hound also learns very quickly – though they do know their own minds so can be a little stubborn at times! But it’s all part of the fun, of course.
Just one other thing to bear in mind… If you’re wondering how much exercise a Tyrolean Hound needs, the answer is quite a bit! Ideally, they will also do best in a home with some outdoor space. But, as long as you can provide these requirements, your Tyrolean Hound will undoubtedly prove to be an excellent companion.
2/7
2 facts about Tyrolean Hounds
1. Coat of many colours
The Tyrolean Hound has a dense double-coat that is perfectly suited to the snowy landscapes of the Austrian mountains. In terms of colour, the Tyrolean Hound is typically either red, black or tan, or a tri-coloured mix of all three, often with white markings. On another point of interest, their coat can be an attractive liver shade too – though this is not permitted for showing.
2. A handy training tip
Given their sporting background, it’s perhaps no surprise that Tyrolean Hounds respond well to pursuit. So, why not use this to your advantage in training by creating a game of chase? When combined with the vocal instruction of “come”, they will pick up the command in no time at all – a bonus considering they can be a tiny bit stubborn at times. As with all breeds, positive, rewards-based training works best.
3/7
History of the breed
With a long and distinguished history, the Tyrolean Hound is thought to have been a breed favoured by Maximilian I of Habsburg, the Roman Emperor no less, who is said to have kept them as early as the 16th century. Whether that is fact or fiction, it’s hard to say, but what we do know is that the Tyrolean Hound has certainly been around for several hundred years.
Believed to be descended from the Celtic Hound – with some Foxhound and Bloodhound in the mix too – the Tyrolean Hound was first noted in Austria around 1860. Their popularity grew and the breed was formally registered there in 1908. However, it was many years before they started to receive wider recognition, with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) accepting them in 1996 and the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 2006.
One of the three ‘Grand Bracke’ breeds of Austria, numbers remain highest in their native homeland. Today, though, they can be found in some other European countries too.
4/7
From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Tyrolean Hounds
1. Body
Medium-sized with long, muscular body and longish tail.
2. Head
Broad head, big brown eyes and large rounded ears.
3. Coat
Thick double-coat is usually red, black or tan, can be tri-coloured, with white markings.
5/7
Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Tyrolean Hound
6/7
Caring for your Tyrolean Hound
Grooming, training and exercise tips
Despite their dense, double-layered coat, the Tyrolean Hound is fairly easy to take care of grooming-wise. A gentle brush once or twice a week, and a bath after a muddy walk, should more than suffice. However, you’ll want to up the ante during shedding season when the Tyrolean Hound will need more attention. Their teeth should be brushed daily (or as often as possible…), nails clipped as needed and ears checked regularly for any debris, wax or sign of infection. In terms of exercise, the Tyrolean Hound is an energetic dog that would normally be tearing around the high altitudes of Austria. As such, they do need plenty of activity, with a combination of runs, walks and games, ideally in wide-open spaces. When it comes to training, the Tyrolean Hound can be a bit stubborn so puppy-training is a good idea. However, the Tyrolean Hound is a highly intelligent breed, so patience and perseverance will pay off. Early socialisation is recommended – and be careful with other pets, including cats, due to the natural prey drive of the Tyrolean Hound.
7/7
All about Tyrolean Hounds
In spite of their hunting origins, the Tyrolean Hound is a gentle and docile dog, so they should do fine with children once they are trained. As with all breeds, it’s best to keep them supervised with very little ones, just in case either party is a little more boisterous than intended.
While it’s true that they are present in several European countries, the Tyrolean Hound can still be quite hard to come by outside their native country of Austria – and it’s very rare to find them outside Europe. For example, they have yet to be registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC). So, unless you live in the Austrian mountains, you may have to be prepared for a wait.
translations.feature.breeds.otherbreeds
Read more on this topic
How your dog's nutrition needs change with age
How to adopt a dog
Things to consider before getting a dog
Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/