Scent hound Small size 13-18 kg

Westphalian Dachsbracke

A short-legged German scenthound that is friendly and hardy - the nose and stamina still need daily outlets.

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Find out how this breed matches your household

Quick overview

Small
Size
13-18 kg, 30-38 cm at the shoulder
High
Exercise needs
High for its size; loves tracking
Moderate
Alone-time tolerance
Copes with a normal work day
Moderate
Training
Willing but scent-driven
Minimal
Coat care
Short coat, low upkeep
Good
Fit with kids
Friendly and good with children
Moderate
Other pets
Sociable; watch the hunting instinct
Light
Health burden
Dental Disease, Ear Infections

The Westphalian Dachsbracke typically weighs 13-18 kg, stands 30-38 cm, and lives 10-13 years.

Consider this breed if…

you want a friendly, hardy small hound with an easy short coat,
you enjoy tracking, scent games, or long sniffy walks,
you can give daily exercise and a secure place to explore,
you have a sense of humor about a stubborn, nose-led dog.

Do not consider this breed if…

you want reliable off-leash recall near interesting scents,
baying or a loud hound voice would be a problem,
you cannot commit to daily walks and mental work,
you keep small pets its hunting instinct might chase.

A typical day with a Westphalian Dachsbracke

  1. 6:30 · Morning
    40-60 min walk with plenty of sniffing
  2. 9:00 · Midmorning
    Chew or a scent puzzle, then rest
  3. 12:30 · Noon
    Short walk and a quick tracking game
  4. 16:00 · Afternoon
    Nose work or training, 10-15 minutes
  5. 18:30 · Evening
    A longer walk or a family outing
  6. 21:00 · Night
    Settles happily after enough activity

Temperament and training

Scent drive Very high
Friendliness High
Energy High
Independence Moderate
Vocality High
Trainability Moderate
Common owner mistakes
Trusting off-leash freedom once the nose locks onto a trail · Underestimating the exercise needs of a small but working hound · Free-feeding a food-motivated hound into obesity

Family and environment

Kids Good
Friendly and tolerant with children.
Dogs Good
A pack hound at heart; usually sociable with other dogs.
Cats Conditional
Can coexist if raised together; watch the hunting instinct.
Apartment Conditional
Possible with daily exercise, but the hound voice can carry.
House with a yard Suitable
A securely fenced yard suits its nose-led wandering.
City Conditional
Adapts with enough walks and scent work.
Countryside Ideal
Trails and open ground suit its tracking roots.
Health data provided by RealVetCost
Overall health burden Light

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 profile
Top health concerns
Chronic Ear Infections Drop ears trap moisture; keep them dry
Obesity Food-driven hound; watch portions and weight
Intervertebral Disc Disease Long back and short legs strain the spine
Dental Disease Plaque buildup; routine cleanings help

Similar breeds - by reason

Not visually similar - similar in what they mean for you.

Close short-legged scenthound relative
Alpine Dachsbracke
A sturdy, low-set scenthound bred to trail wounded game, friendly at home but happiest with a nose-led job to do.
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Similar small tracking hound
Drever
A short-legged Swedish scenthound bred to track - friendly and even-tempered, but a determined nose that needs secure walking.
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Comparable short-legged, nose-led breed
Dachshund
A bold, comical scenthound on short legs - charming and apartment-sized, but the long back carries a real spinal-disease risk and the stubborn streak tests first-time owners.
View profile →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Westphalian Dachsbracke a good family dog?
Yes, for an active family that enjoys a scent hound. It is friendly, hardy, and good with children, with an easy short coat. It is still a working hound, though: it wants daily exercise, follows its nose relentlessly, and can be stubborn and vocal. It fits an outdoorsy home better than a quiet one.
Can a Westphalian Dachsbracke be trusted off-leash?
Not reliably. Like most scenthounds, it will follow an interesting trail and tune out your calls. It can learn good obedience, but recall in the presence of strong scents is a genuine weak spot. Most owners keep it on a long line or in securely fenced areas.
How much exercise does a Westphalian Dachsbracke need?
More than its short legs suggest. Plan for around an hour of activity a day, ideally including sniffy walks and some tracking or scent games. Mental work matters as much as physical exercise for a hound. A bored, under-exercised one can become noisy and prone to weight gain.
How much does a Westphalian Dachsbracke cost?
This is a rare German hunting breed seldom seen outside continental Europe, so in the US expect very limited availability, waitlists, and likely an import with added shipping costs. Prices vary and are hard to pin down. Lifetime care for a small, generally healthy hound runs roughly $12,000-$18,000 over its life, plus watching the back and ears.