Twice, the FCI standard expressly compares this dog with the Dachshund, both times to emphasise a difference. The chest is narrower, and the hindquarters are much more strongly developed relative to the forequarters. The Westphalian Dachsbracke (Westfälische Dachsbracke) is a short-legged scenthound rather than an earth dog.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.3 Small-sized Hounds, Standard No. 100, with working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Size (height at the withers) | 30 to 38 cm (no distinction between sexes) |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | very dense and coarse over the whole body; short on head, ears and lower legs, longer over back and neck and beneath the tail |
| Colours in the standard | red to yellow with black saddle or mantle and white hound markings (blaze or snip, white muzzle and neck ring, white chest, legs and tail tip); bicolour dogs and black on head undesirable, chocolate brown faulty |
The German Hound, lowered
The standard calls this the short-legged form of the German Hound. Essential features resemble the taller form, but the dog appears more compact and powerful. The standard gives no separate history. What is certain: Germany is the country of origin, the FCI definitively recognised the breed on 29 November 1954, and the current original standard dates from 24 June 1987. Other breeds called Dachsbracken include the Alpine Dachsbracke and Sweden’s Drever.
Short legs, but straight
The desired hunting dog is 30 to 38 cm tall, moderately long and powerfully built. Front legs should look straight from the front, not bowed, with paws pointing forwards. The legs firmly support the chest, which must not hang too deeply between them. The standard therefore requires short legs, not crooked ones. Whether the same inherited trait lies behind this as in the Dachshund remains unknown. Two FGF4 variants shorten legs in many breeds. The variant on chromosome 12 is considered a risk for disc herniation; authors of a study involving Alpine Dachsbracken and Small Swiss Hounds therefore recommend breeding specifically without it (Bannasch et al. 2022). Such data are lacking for the Westphalian Dachsbracke.
Friendly, serious and attentive
The standard says surprisingly little about temperament. It describes only a loyal, friendly, serious and attentive facial expression, giving the purpose simply as scenthound. The required working trial shows what the breed is developed for. These dogs follow trails persistently, even if short legs make them slower than taller hounds.
Activities and coat
Without hunting, provide regular scent work: tracking, searching games and long walks on a long line. Limit stairs and jumps from the car while nobody knows which FGF4 variants occur in the line. Brush the dense, coarse coat weekly and check the medium-length, broad ears after every outing.
Health data: almost none
McMillan and colleagues list the breed but excluded it from lifespan analysis. Europe PMC includes only individual dogs in studies addressing other questions. Ask the breeder about testing for FGF4 variants and the parents’ examinations.
Who will be happy with this dog
Hunters seeking a steady scenthound for smaller hunting grounds and experienced owners enjoying tracking. Less suitable are people without time for daily scent work and anyone expecting a small city companion. Height at the withers is the only small thing here.
Short legs, a great nose: the breed quiz helps you assess whether that suits you, and our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) helps you weigh the decision thoroughly. For a new puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. The hound markings look striking in our dog portraits from your own photo, for example as digital artwork to download.
Further reading
- Dachshund: the back shapes their whole life
- Is my dog overweight? How to assess body condition and ideal weight
- Housetraining your puppy: the first 4-week plan
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 100 Westfälische Dachsbracke (fci.be, German version dated 02.08.1994, original language German, valid original standard published on 24.06.1987; English version dated 06.05.1997) and FCI breed page No. 100; McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed not analysed); Bannasch D et al., The Effects of FGF4 Retrogenes on Canine Morphology, Genes 2022.
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