An industrialist, a Hanoverian tracking bitch and a rough-haired Istrian hound male: this unusual pairing began the Styrian Coarse-haired Hound’s (Steirische Rauhhaarbracke) story in 1870. Its hair is weather protection for mountain work rather than ornament.
| FCI | Group 6 (Scent hounds and related breeds), Section 1.2 Medium-sized Hounds, Standard No. 62, with working trial (hunting by scent and blood-tracking trials) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Austria |
| Size (height at the withers) | Males 47 to 53 cm, females 45 to 51 cm |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | no reliable study figure found (N/A) |
| Coat | rough, not shaggy, dull, harsh and coarse; shorter on head, with moustache |
| Colours in the standard | red and fawn; white chest star permitted |
A litter from 1870
According to the standard, Carl Peitinger, an industrialist in Styria, began breeding with the Hanoverian tracking bitch Hela I and an Istrian rough-haired hound male outstanding both in hunting and appearance. The litter’s best puppies were raised and bred onwards. The breed therefore contains the Hanoverian Scent Hound and the Istrian Wire-haired Hound. Its smooth-haired Austrian relatives are the Austrian Black and Tan Hound and the Tyrolean Hound.
Hunting and blood tracking in the mountains
The FCI requires two working trials. The standard explains why: its work includes hunting vocally on a trail but often also pure blood tracking in difficult mountain regions, searching for wounded game.
Serious, but not vicious
That is how the standard describes its expression. In nature, it is a passionate, tough hunting dog that readily gives voice on the trail, follows scent reliably and has determination. Timidity is a fault. Daily life means an enduring, weatherproof worker that becomes a reliable partner with consistency and real purpose, but finds its own paths without a task.
Health: little reliable evidence
We found no disease or lifespan studies for the Styrian Coarse-haired Hound. McMillan and colleagues list it as Coarse-Haired Styrian Hound but do not analyse it, and Europe PMC provides no breed-specific health paper. This does not mean freedom from problems, only that nobody has systematically studied them. Ask about hip results, eye examinations and grandparents’ ages.
Rough hair in daily life
The harsh, coarse hair dries quickly and resists thorns and wet well. Occasional brushing and hand-plucking loose hair usually suffice. Check the moustache after meals, paws and legs after work.
Where it belongs
In hunting hands: with hunters working a vocal hound on scent and wounded-game trails in mountain territory. Non-hunters must offer regular tracking and many hours outdoors.
If you do not want a hunting dog
Then this is the wrong choice, however appealing its bearded face. A dog bred for mountain hunting grounds finds no sufficient territory in a city park.
To check whether a tough tracking hound fits your life, try the breed quiz or explore more closely with our book “Welcher Hund passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German). For the first weeks with a puppy, there is the free Puppy Starter Pack. If a Styrian Coarse-haired Hound already lives with you, find ideas in the dog portrait in a wooden frame and all our dog portraits.
Further reading
- Weimaraner: the beautiful hunting dog that never clocks off
- Autumn shedding in dogs and cats: what is normal and what is not
- Dog pulling on the lead: 5 mistakes almost everyone makes
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI-Standard Nr. 62 Steirische Rauhhaarbracke (fci.be, version dated 10.10.1995, original language German); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024 (breed listed, not analysed).
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