Official UKC Breed Standard
@Copyright 1996, United Kennel Club, Inc.

The goals and purposes of this breed standard include: to furnish guidelines for breeders who wish to maintain the quality of their breed and to improve it; to advance this breed to a state of similarity throughout the world; and to act as a guide for judges.

Breeders and judges have the responsibility to avoid any conditions or exaggerations that are detrimental to the health, welfare, essence and soundness of this breed, and must take the responsibility to see that these are not perpetuated.

Any departure from the following should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.

HISTORY

From the many varieties of Bracken that originally existed, only one survived in Germany, the Westphalian Bracke. These were interbred with local Steinbracken, and one type evolved, which has been known since 1900 as the Deutsche Bracke, or German Bracke Hound.

The Duetsche Bracke was recognized by the United Kennel Club January 1, 1996.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

A light, high stationed, elegant yet strongly made hunting dog with a noble appearance.

HEAD

Fine, clean and long, with flat cheeks.

Fault: Teckel-like head shape.

SKULL - The skull is slightly domed, and the occiput is not prominent. The stop is minimal.

MUZZLE - The bridge of the nose is very slightly convex. The lips are moderately pendant.

TEETH - The Duetsche Bracke has a complete set of evenly spaced, white teeth meeting in a scissors or level bite.

NOSE - The nose has a light, almost pink, strip in its center. The rest of the nose is dark.

EYES - The eyes are dark and clear, with a friendly expression.

EARS - The ears are long and broad, close fitting, and rounded at the ends.

NECK

The neck is moderately long, and strong in relation to the head.

FOREQUARTERS

The shoulders are clean, and the withers are high.

FORELEGS - The legs are lean, fine boned and sinewy, with close elbows.

BODY

The chest is deep, reaching below the elbow. The ribcage is long. The back is slightly arched, and the croup falls away slightly.

Fault: Long and low body shape.

HINDQUARTERS

HIND LEGS - The upper thighs are broad and full in profile. The lower thigh is long, not very broad, and well angulated.

FEET

Longer than cat feet, with very tight toes.

TAIL

Long, and not noticeably strong at the root. The tail has bushy long hair, and therefore appears heavy, yet it tapers to a point. It is carried down or upward in a curve.

Fault: Ring tail.

COAT

Dense, hard and bristly. Long, for a short haired dog. There is a brush on the tail and there are breeches on the hind legs.

COLOR

Red through yellow. with a black blanket or saddle, and white ‘bracken’ markings: blaze, white muzzle, white neck ring, white chest, legs and tip of tail.

Faults: Chocolate or parti-color.

HEIGHT

Height at the withers for males and females is 17 inches to 21 inches.

DISQUALIFICATIONS

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Albinism.