German Hound

Also called Deutsche Bracke, German Bracke, Olper Bracke, Westphalian Bracke, Sauerländer Bracke

Recognised breedFCI group 6Short profile

From Germany (Westphalia / Sauerland)1 2

At a glance the quick version

Height40 to 53 cm1 2

Sizemedium

tireless tracker

good sense of direction

friendly expression

1 2

Coat and looks how to spot one

short, dense, harsh

An elegant, rectangular hound with a long narrow head, hanging ears and a long tail. The coat is quite long for a short-haired dog, very dense and almost bristly, and the tail carries a light brush underneath.1 2

Coloursred to yellow with black saddle or blanketwhite blaze, muzzle, collar, chest, legs and tail tip1 2

Personality what they are like

A persistent, focused tracking hound that stays affectionate at home and thrives when it lives with the family rather than in a kennel.2 1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Bred to track deer, hare and fox on foot, so it needs long daily walks and scent work.2

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

A quick weekly brush keeps the dense, harsh coat in order.1

Home where they are happiest

Happiest in a rural or active household with safe, fenced space.2

Company who they like around

Enjoys being part of family life and close to its people.2

The story where it all began

Germany once had many regional Bracke hounds, but only the Westphalian type survived. Around 1900 local Olpe, Sauerland and Westphalian hounds were merged into a single breed named Deutsche Bracke, and a breed club founded in 1896 later moved to Olpe.1 2

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
It was the first Bracke to be registered as a distinct breed, in 1900.2
2
Its bushy tail helps protect it from knocks against trunks and branches in the forest.1
3
The breed is seldom seen outside Germany.2

Recognised by the official bits

FCI: Standard No. 299, Group 6 (Scenthounds), Section 1.3 (small hounds), with working trial1
VDH: National breed standard2
UKC: Recognised breed2

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a German Hound. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

Brushingevery week
Bathevery 8 weeks
Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery month
Ear checkFloppy ears trap moisture, so check and dry themevery week
Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery 2 days
ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 8every year

Start a free diary

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

FCI Standard No. 299 Deutsche Bracke fci.beused for classification, height, coat, colour, history
German Hound - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.orgused for history, names, temperament, recognition

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.