Let's talk Coarse-haired Styrian Hounds
The Coarse-haired Styrian Hound is a rare breed from the mountainous region of southeast Austria. Due to their hard-working character and exceptional flair for hunting, they might not immediately be regarded as a family pet. However, at their core, they are highly affectionate and gentle, and are especially quick to bond with their primary caregivers. As long as the Coarse-haired Styrian Hound is able to sufficiently output their energy outside during the day, their easy-going, fiercely loyal nature is a true pleasure to be around.
Official name: Coarse-haired Styrian Hound
Other names: Steirische Rauhhaarbracke
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.
Male
48 - 53 cm
Height
16 - 20 kg
Weight
Female
46 - 51 cm
Height
14 - 18 kg
Weight
| Baby age | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age | 2-12 months |
| Adult age | 1-7 years |
| Mature age | 7-10 years |
| Senior age | From 10 years |
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Get to know the Coarse-haired Styrian Hound
All you need to know about the breed
Hailing from the lush, mountainous regions of Austria, the Coarse-haired Styrian Hound has been around for quite some years. Despite the extensive list of positive attributes that the Coarse-haired Styrian Hound expresses in his day-to-day behaviour – sociable, dramatically loyal, and doting – they can occasionally act wary of unfamiliar faces. This being said, they are rarely aggressive and once you’ve been accepted into their trusted cohort of humans...you are in for life.
Given their history as true working dogs, Coarse-haired Styrian Hounds naturally boast exceptionally high levels of stamina and endurance. Therefore, they do require a healthy dose of daily exercise. However, feel free to get creative with the type of outdoor activities you engage them with, be it a long run, a hilly hike, or even a swim. The Coarse-haired Styrian Hound makes one impeccable exercise buddy for nature enthusiasts.
As they were bred to help hunters track large boar initially, you will need to keep your Coarse-haired Styrian Hound on leash to avoid having them bolt away if their nose catches an interesting scent. Their heightened prey tendencies also make it difficult to introduce them to small household pets, including cats. Once trained however, they are warm and welcoming towards other dogs and they also get along great with children (preferably older) due to their similar lively energy levels.
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2 facts about Coarse-haired Styrian Hounds
1. Only eyes for you
Although your Coarse-haired Styrian Hound should naturally be chummy with each of their human family members (early socialisation helps!), they do have a tendency to become particularly attached to one person in the household - usually the person that feeds them. This “one person dog” attachment can be reduced if canine caretaking is dividly fairly evenly amongst several people.
2. Not for the novice dog owner
The Coarse-haired Styrian Hound might be too much to handle for first time dog owners. They’re extremely lively dogs who, if not stimulated enough both mentally and physically, can easily become bored, leading to destructive behaviour. They are also quite free-spirited and can come off stubborn during early training sessions. Challenging qualities for novice dog owners!
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History of the breed
Unlike most other hound dog breeds, the exact history and existence of the Coarse-haired Styrian Hound remains can be easily identified. Hailing from the “Green Heart” of southern Austria, famous for its large forests, the Coarse-haired Styrian Hound was originally developed by Karl Peintinger in 1870, who aspired to create a breed that was resilient, robust, and could hunt wild boar across perilous terrain.
In order to achieve this desired breed, he strategically cross-bred two revered hunting dogs, the Hanoverian Hound (from Germany) and the Istrian Coarse-Haired Hound (from Croatia). Over time, and after several careful breeding trials, the Coarse-haired Styrian Hound was introduced to the world.
Now still predominantly found in Austria, and in bordering Slovenia, the Coarse-haired Styrian Hound is celebrated for their fierce tenacity and firm commitment to their job, even if that means battling through rough weather conditions or steep, hilly terrains. Since they carry the genes of two powerful and hearty hunting dogs, Coarse-haired Styrian Hounds thrive in these kinds of harsh environments.
Although it only took several years to be initially recognised in their homeland, it was not until 2006 that they were officially accepted by the United Kennel Club (UKC).
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Coarse-haired Styrian Hounds
1. Head
Curved head with a long muzzle and brown eyes.
2. Body
Deep and broad chest with a straight back and lean, muscular legs.
3. Coat
Coat is rough and coarse, and is predominantly red or fawn in colouring.
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Coarse-haired Styrian Hound
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Caring for your Coarse-haired Styrian Hound
Grooming, training and exercise tips
When it comes to grooming your Coarse-haired Styrian Hound, one to two weekly brushes will keep their wiry coat both clean and healthy. It is recommended to use a firm-bristled brush that is capable of removing any brambles gathered during a day spent outdoors. Nails should be trimmed regularly and teeth brushed daily to prevent dental disease. To keep up with their lively exercise needs, they need at least one to three hours of outside adventuring, whether that’s a long walk or chasing balls (think enclosed area to avoid them running after a tempting smell!). Coarse-haired Styrian Hounds are highly intelligent and require an owner who will demonstrate patience and a firm approach to training. Any food-based rewards that can help with positive reinforcement or encouragement should be counted as part of your dog’s daily kibble portion.
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All about Coarse-haired Styrian Hounds
They can be - but only if you are heavily committed to taking them for long distance walks or runs every day. They will naturally become bored and destructive if not properly taken out for adequate exercise. Ideally, the Coarse-haired Styrian Hound breed thrives in a more rural, open environment, so that they can enjoy more space to properly expend their high energy load.
The company of other canines is welcomed by the Coarse-haired Styrian Hound breed, despite their independent nature. But there is unlikely to be a happy ending when it comes to smaller household pets, such as cats or rodents (guinea pigs, hamsters etc). Their prey drive will get in the way so best to avoid this introduction.
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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/