Hygenhund vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Breed Comparison

When Celts began settling in Western Europe, they brought their dogs along. The Celtic Hounds had a duty to hunt, guard and fight in battles. They were, most likely, the ancestors of breeds like Greyhounds and Irish Wolfhounds. The original Austrian black and tan hound was created in Austria during the late nineteenth century. They were very specific dog breed because of their sharp nose, agility, speed, trainability and extraordinary persistence while hunting or tracking.

The Hygenhund is a hound from Norway that was developed in the early 1800’s by the Norwegian breeder Hygen. It was developed for hunting small game such as fox, rabbit, hare or racoon. It is known for its endurance and ability to survive travel across vast artic land without fatigue. It was developed by crossing several Norwegian hounds with ones from England and Germany. This includes basset hounds, holsteiner hounds, beagles, Bloodhounds, Scandinavian hounds and English Pointers. The resulting Hygehound is a scent hound whose popularity fell in the 20th century. Most of the remaining dogs today are located in Norway. The Norwegian Kennel Club and the UKC have both recognized the breed yet its numbers remain low. Even at that the breed today remains a great hunting dog but it is also a great companion or family dog.

The Austrian black and tan hound is one of the larger dog breeds. The coat colour of this breed is unique: the coat must be black with small and defined fawn markings. The body, head and legs are black, with dark or fawn markings with the fawn marks above the eyes.

The Black and Tan is a smooth coated, slim breed with the broad chest and a wide skull shape. Their teeth meet in a scissor bite. They don’t have very long ears and their tail is long and slightly bent.

Description

The Hygenhund has a solid rectangular and compact body with muscular and compact legs and paws. Their heads are shaped like a triangle with dark eyes and a broad skull. The muzzle and neck are long and the topline is even. They carry their tail high, but they do not curl it over their back. They are a medium sized dog with short hair. They have an overabundance of energy and get bored easily. They can come in black with chestnut or white markings, yellow and red, chestnut without or with black markings.

Adaptability

The Austrian Black and Tan Hound get along well with strangers, other dogs or any animals. If they are not trained, their instinct to hunt will be a problem for other, smaller dogs and small animals. This is why this breed can’t be a guard dog. He is usually very friendly, and he remains friendly in most situations. It is very easy to train and socialize them, but you must remain firm while teaching them right from wrong. They are not the breed for the indoor, apartments or senior citizens. If you are not able to fulfil his daily need for activity, he can become quite destructive.

Bite statistic

Nonexistent for the last 30 years. But, if the dog gets mistreated, neglected or threatened – this breed knows to be aggressive. But, if you are a good and loving owner who makes sure that your dog is well raised, fed, loved, trained and socialized while he is still a pup, you will have no reason for the fear.

1. Children friendliness – The Hygenhund is very friendly to children and love to play with them.

Special talents

Stamina, intelligence and ability to endure cold climates.

Adaptability

Very adaptable in some ways – enduring cold climates for instance. However, they need a large yard or area to run in. They are not as adaptable in an apartment.

Learning ability

The Hygenhund is very intelligent and a quick learner. They love learning new things.

Hip and elbow dysplasia

(hip or elbow joint malformation) can happen from injury or overuse of the joints since the Austrian black and tan hound is a runner and jumper.

Ear diseases

They have sensitive ears and they can suffer from ear infections. To avoid this, you must have regular vet checks and have a habit of regular cleaning - hygiene of their ears.

Demodectic mange

Caused by Demodex canis. If you notice hair loss, redness and scaling you must take your pet to the vet urgently since this disease can be transmitted humans.

The Hygenhund is prone to a variety of health problems including:

• Kidney Stones/Chronic Kidney Infections
• Food Allergies
• Arthritis – can cause lameness
• Bloat – can be fatal if not treated
• Von Willebrands Disease
• Anesthesia sensitivity
• Hip Dysplasia – can result in lameness or arthritis

Feeding

Austrian Black and Tan Hounds don’t eat a lot even if you might think that they do. The truth is that they won’t need more than the prescribed portions that can be found in the instructions of high-quality dry dog food per day. All you have to do is make sure they have 3 meals during the day until they are 6 months old, and later they can settle for two meals per day.

Don’t give them the freedom to eat as much as they want. That can cause serious health complications. Their stomachs won’t be able to digest human food because it is usually made with a lot of spices. You can feed them with treats like eggs, fresh cheese, fruits and vegetables are okay as treats but only if these treats make less than 10% of their daily portion.

Points for Good Health

This playful dog needs the daily dose of outside activities. The grooming is easy but it must be regular. Once-a-week brushing at least is necessary. They don’t need to be bathed regularly but you must check their skin conditions daily since they have high risks of skin diseases. Nails need to be trimmed since they grow too fast and ears need to be cleaned every day to avoid ear infections.

Games and Exercises

The Austrian Black and Tan Hound are like any hound: they have an excellent sense of smell and they love to explore. They like to run and they can run for miles. Any outside activity will be a good choice. They like to bark and they bark even when they are happy. They are usually friendly towards strangers and other dogs, so the dog park is a good choice as well. They will love being at playgrounds as well since they love children and they can be a great Frisbee partner.

Feeding the puppy

Since the Hygenhund is such a high energy working dog feed a high quality food. Feed 3-4 times a day for a total of 2.3 cups.

Feeding the adult

Again this is a high energy dog. Feed a high protein good quality dog food twice a day for a total of 3-4 cups.

Points for Good Health

Good speed and stamina. Good in cold climates.

Games and Exercises

The Hygenhund needs plenty of exercise to dissipate all its working energy. They will excel at field trials, lure coursing, fly ball, tracking, and agility.