Alpine Basset

The hunting dogs employed in Antiquity evoke the type of the Alpine Basset. The Alpine Basset is believed to originate from Germany, more precisely from the Metalliferous Mountains between Bohemia and Saxony. The breed spread very quickly and was initially known as the Mauersberg Pointer. In 1881 and 1885, Rudolf of Habsburg asked to bring 'dachsbracken', literally 'short-legged running dogs', for hunts in Turkey and Egypt to his professional hunters of Mürzsteg and Ischl. The Austrian Canine Association recognizes the breed in 1932 under the name 'Alpine Basset of the Erzgebirge' as the third red dog breed. The name is changed to 'Alpine Basset' in 1975 and in 1991 the International Canine Federation classifies the breed among the red dogs of Group 6. The breed is fairly well known in Austria and some subjects are present in Italy but outside these countries, the breed is very rare.

The FCI standard describes the Alpine Basset as an alert, friendly, fearless and unwavering breed. Affectionate, it is however poorly suited to city life, unless accustomed to it from a very young age.

The Alpine Basset is a short-legged hunting dog of robust constitution. The bone structure is strongly developed with firm musculature. Set high, the tail is strong at the root and is carried slightly lowered. It just reaches the ground. The hair forms a brush on the underside. The eyes are dark brown in color. The ears are set high, without fold, smooth and wide, drooping. Of medium length, their extremity is well rounded. The coat is tight, double and very dense with thick undercoat. The coat admits two colors: solid fawn and black and tan. For the solid coat, the ideal color is dark fawn tinged with red called red-deer, with or without black ticking. For black and tan, the tan markings are well defined on the head (four-eyed dog), on the chest, on the limbs, on the feet and on the underside of the tail. A white star on the chest is tolerated.