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The Alpine Dachsbracke, also known as just the Alpenlandischer Dachsbracke, the Alpenlandische Dachsbracke, or the Basset des Alpes, is a dog that comes from the land of Austria. It is said that there was a dog that bore a suspicious, possibly identical, resemblance to this breed in ancient times, but it was in 1932 that the breed was recognized. At that time, the Alpine Dachsbracke was named as the third scenthound breed.

In 1991, they were accepted for registry in the FCI under the "scenthound" category. Today, they are also accepted into the APRI, NKC, CKC, ACR, ACA, and DRA registries. Although having a registered dog may not mean that much to the average owner, it does increase the value of the dog for those who want to breed or compete him or her.

Their original purpose was to be used as hunting companions in the mountains of Austria. They were especially skilled in tracking wounded deer, as well as in scenting out hare and fox for the hunters. They are effervescent and tenacious hunting partners and appear to be at their very best when on the hunt. This is where they will truly shine, but there are also many people who own the breed as household pets and companion dogs.

According to breed standards, the Alpine Dachsbracke is should be between 13 and 16.5 inches tall, when measured from the ground to the withers. Their weight ranges between 33 and 40 pounds, with males often being larger than females. They should be well-muscled in appearance, but not look overly heavy in build. The legs are short and the thickly tapered tail is held in the downward position. The long, silky ears are held in the flop position, laying down flat against the sides of the head. The dark eyes are alert and keen in expression, as well as being sensitive-looking. The nose is black, and the muzzle on the slightly long side of average in length. The upper lips overhang the lower slightly, both of which are pigmented with black, and the teeth meet in a scissor or pinscher bite.

The double coat of the Alpine Dachsbracke is dense underneath and thick on the top. The colors that are accepted are black and reddish-brown. Some of these dogs will have a white star on the chest, as well. Their grooming is fairly easy, but must be maintained regularly. They need a thorough brushing a couple of times per week with a stiff brush to ensure that there is no matting, nothing stuck in the fur, and to remove loose hairs.

These dogs are kept by hunters, as well as by people who want a companion and a household pet. The Alpine Dachsbracke is a breed that will need a moderate amount of exercise in order to burn off the energy that they have. A brisk walk daily should suffice and they should be expected to be rather active indoors, as well, playing and running about. They are quite friendly and loving dogs. The high level of intelligence that the breed possesses means that they should have plenty of mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom. If they are not kept busy enough, they will be prone to obsessive barking, destructiveness, and other undesirable behaviors.

They are quite intelligent and willing to acquiesce to the wishes of the owner, as long as their is a good communication and understanding between the two. Training should be consistent, with the human establishing his or her position as "pack leader" from the start. If you are firm, stable, and calm, the dog will respond well to training and learn quickly, especially regarding the natural hunting instincts that they have, but also regarding their position and the expectations of them in the family. The breed has an average lifespan of twelve years.

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