Schweenie vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Breed Comparison

The Schweenie is a hybrid dog, with the parent breeds being the Shih Tzu and the Dachshund.

The Schweenie dog has been around for about 4 decades when breeders were looking for a dog that would be free of the health issues of the purebred parent breeds.

Because the Schweenie is a mix breed, it doesn’t qualify to be part of the American Kennel Club. He is however recognized by the Designer Breed Registry and some other clubs.

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 Schweenie will be a smallish dog standing at roughly 27cm to 50cm and weighing 4 – 9kg.

Because of the Dachshund parent, he will likely have a long body. The coat is shortish to medium length and can be a variety of colors – from a rusty color to brown, black, grey and even a cream shade. The ears are floppy and the tail medium length.

Temperament:

He is a small dog who is smart and bright and who wants to please his human owners. He loves people and wants to be around them and involved in their activities.

Small and cute though he is, he can be a stubborn dog and become a little big aggressive too if he is feeling a bit moody. He will need to be trained and socialized if you want him to obey your simple commands such as sit, stay, lie down and come.

He is intelligent enough to learn these simple commands with ease.He is both alert and vigilant, and this makes them good watchdogs.

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.

The Schweenie can be somewhat reserved and they need exercise regularly as well. If they don’t get enough exercise, they tend to become jittery and this can make them become a bit snappy. The are more prone to be snappy and aggressive with children who haven’t been taught how to treat animals gently and with respect.

They’re small enough to adjust to life in the city or countryside but will still need to be exercised.

The little Schweenie, with the right kind of owner can become a great little pet and companion.

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.

With good care, your Schweenie can live to be 12 to 15 years of age. Every dog, no matter how healthy, can get some of the health problems that plague many dogs.

Intervertebral Disk Disease:

This is where the cushions between each vertebra come into contact with the spinal cord. It can result in nerve damage and sometimes even paralysis. Because the Shih Tzu is one of the parent breeds, you will need to be aware of this ailment as these dogs are more susceptible to this disease.

Hypoglycemia:

Hypoglycemia is fairly common in small dogs and it is where there is a drop in blood sugar. It can be brought on by stress. It can also be referred to as low blood sugar and it can be deadly. If your pet is hypoglycemic, you will notice a loss in appetite, extreme lethargy, trembling and unusual behavior. You will need to get your Schweenie to the vet immediately for tests and treatment.

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.

Your Schweenie will need to be brushed at least twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Because of his floppy ears, you will need to clean them and check for redness. If you don’t like the idea of probing inside the ear, professional groomers or the vet will do it for you.

Trim his nails if they don’t wear down on their own.

Provide him with a nice dry, warm spot to sleep.

Provide him with nice chewy toys that will keep him occupied.

Exercise him every day. Taking him on walks and playing ball games with him will keep him fit and trim but also help with staving off boredom.

Ensure his vaccines against deadly diseases are up to date. See that he gets to the vet when he appears to be under the weather.

He is a small dog so you have to be careful about how you feed him. You need to feed him a nutrient-rich dry kibble. Read the packaging and buy dog food according to his size, age and activity levels.

Try and include some home-made food into your dogs diet. A little bit of boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach all chopped up will do him good and can be added into the dry kibble twice a week. Some raw meat should also occasionally be added in as this can help to prevent some skin problems. Be sure that cool, fresh water is available for your pet at all times.

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.