Hound Medium size 15-22 kg
Austrian Short Haired Hound
An agile Austrian scenthound bred to trail game over hard country, loyal at home but needing space and a nose-led outlet.
Match with your household
See match detail → Quick overview
Medium
Size
15-22 kg · 48-56 cm
Very high
Exercise needs
Tireless; needs a job and hard daily exercise
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Copes with a normal workday if eased in
Moderate
Training
Capable but needs motivation
Wash-and-go
Coat care
Wash-and-go coat
Good
Fit with kids
Good, patient family dog
Good
Other pets
Generally sociable with other animals
Moderate
Health burden
Dental Disease, Hip Dysplasia
The Austrian Short Haired Hound typically weighs 15-22 kg, stands 48-56 cm, and lives 12-14 years.
Consider this breed if…
you hunt, track or spend serious time in rough terrain,
you want a loyal, even-tempered hound with a real working heritage,
you can offer secure rural space and nose-led work,
you appreciate a low-maintenance coat on a weatherproof dog.
Do not consider this breed if…
you cannot provide tracking work or an equivalent outlet,
you live in an apartment or dense urban housing,
reliable off-leash recall matters to you - scent trumps commands,
you need a breed obtainable in the US - it is essentially confined to Austria and neighboring countries.
A typical day with a Austrian Short Haired Hound
- 6:30 · Morning60 min walk or trail run
- 9:00 · MidmorningRests; a worked hound is a quiet hound
- 12:30 · NoonShort sniff walk
- 16:00 · AfternoonLaid scent trail or mantrailing session
- 18:30 · EveningLong outing in field or forest
- 21:30 · NightSettles close to its people
Family and environment
Kids Good
Gentle and steady with the family's children.
Dogs Good
Sociable with other dogs, hunting heritage helps.
Cats Conditional
Manageable indoors if raised together; chases outdoors.
Apartment Poor fit
Energy, voice and range all say no.
House with a yard Conditional
Only with real work layered on top.
City Poor fit
Bred for mountains, not sidewalks.
Countryside Ideal
Forest, hills and a tracking job - its world.
Health data provided by RealVetCost Overall health burden Moderate
Detailed health data - inheritance, prevalence, course, and typical treatment costs - lives in a separate expert database. This is general guidance, not veterinary advice - confirm any decision with your vet.
View the full health profileTop health concerns
Dental Disease Routine dental care and cleanings needed
Hip Dysplasia Screen breeding stock; watch for early lameness
Bloat (GDV) Feed smaller meals and know the emergency signs
Chronic Ear Infections Keep the ears dry and check them often
Similar breeds - by reason
Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.
Fellow Austrian mountain scenthound
Tyrolean Hound
A hardy Alpine tracking hound best suited to active rural homes - the nose and stamina need an outlet.
View profile →
Alpine blood-tracking specialist
Bavarian Mountain Hound
A focused Bavarian tracking hound built to follow wounded game, bonded and calm indoors but wired for serious scent work outdoors.
View profile →
Heavier German tracking hound
Hanoverian Hound
A serious tracking hound bred to follow wounded game - devoted to one handler and best suited to working homes, not casual pet life.
View profile →Frequently asked questions
How much does an Austrian Short Haired Hound cost?
There is no US market to quote: the Brandlbracke (Austrian Black and Tan Hound) is bred almost exclusively in Austria and neighboring countries, mostly into hunting homes, and clubs often vet buyers. In Europe, puppies typically run 800-1,500 EUR; an American buyer would add import costs of $1,000-$2,000 and should expect breeders to prioritize working homes. Yearly upkeep matches other active medium hounds at roughly $1,200-$2,000.
Can it be a family companion rather than a hunting dog?
Temperamentally it is calm, loyal and good with the family. Practically, it was bred to trail wounded game through alpine terrain for hours, and that drive does not evaporate on a sofa. Homes offering mantrailing, tracking sport or long daily mountain-style outings can make it work; ordinary pet routines cannot.
Is it loud?
It has a deep, far-carrying hound voice - a working requirement, since it trails with voice on the scent. In quiet rural settings this is unremarkable; in a neighborhood it can be a genuine problem, especially if the dog is bored. Exercise and scent work keep the volume down.
How healthy is the breed?
Reasonably robust, as most purpose-bred working hounds are - but the population is small and there are no reliable breed-wide statistics, so treat any confident health claims skeptically. The listed issues are standard scenthound risks: ears, hips, weight and bloat. Ask the breeder what they screen and what their lines have produced.