Wachtelhund: features of the breed and conditions for keeping dogs

The Wachtelhund is a prominent representative of hunting dogs. The breed was bred in Germany at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. This dog will be a good hunting companion: the German Wachtelhund is famous for its working skills. In the common people, the dog is called a quail dog or a German spaniel.

In the 1850s the main hunting dogs were English Pointing Dogs, but representatives of this breed were far from the best companions for hunters. People needed a dog that would do well both outdoors and in thickets. It was important that the dog could search for prey in the dense forest.

It was then that the hunters remembered the German spaniel. The main tasks that were set before the representatives of the breed were quail fishing and falcon hunting.... It is believed that spaniels are the result of crossing Spanish dogs and German long-haired dogs.

The word “watchman” in translation from German means “quail”, and “hund” means “dog”. Forester R. Freese is considered the discoverer of the breed. He was fond of hunting dogs, had his own nursery, in which he bred spaniels. For several years he studied the working qualities of the representatives of the breed and was able to get rid of many hereditary diseases. Initially, Freese divided the dogs by color.

All German hunting dogs are versatile and can perform a wide variety of tasks, the Wachtelhund is no exception. This dog seeks and brings game, he is independently able to search for the blood trail of cleavers, elk, deer. A representative of this breed is able to keep the boar until the owner arrives. In Russia, many hunters use these animals to hunt ungulates.

The huge advantage of this breed is that the dog will not get in the way while hunting. On command, the dog can easily search the forest; it works without problems even in the densest thickets. These dogs are able to run for a long time without stopping, catching up with their prey and directing it to the arrow. If the dog does not find prey, then within 30 minutes he will return back.

Below we will consider the features of the German Wachtelhund:

• the dog is stubbornly looking for prey;
• can easily follow the trail;
• shows himself well as a partner;
• the dog has an excellent flair;
• during the hunt, the dog is quite aggressive, which is a big plus;
• well serves prey from the water.

The German Wachtelhund has a muscular physique, it is a medium-sized strong dog with long hair. The head of the dog is round and elongated, the paws are medium in size. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced. The average height of males is 49-53 cm, and females are 45-50 cm. Typical representatives of this breed weigh between 18 and 25 kg.

The skull is proportional to the body, it is characterized by a flattened wide shape. The base of the nose is wide, not pointed, slightly rounded on the underside. The tip of the nose is large, black in color, the nostrils are open. The lips are firm and permanently dry, do not hang down, close to the jaw.

The bite is correct, scissor bite. But there are also representatives of the breed with a straight bite. There are 42 teeth in the mouth, the cheekbones do not protrude. The breed has dark expressive eyes of small size, set slightly obliquely. The outer part of the eyelids is covered with hair.

The neck of the representatives of this breed is quite muscular and strong. The chest is slightly oblong. The elbows are above the chest. The breed has neatly curved ribs and a taut belly. In a calm state, the tail is located approximately at the level of the back or slightly lower. Experienced hunters recommend trimming the tail one third of its length.

The front feet are straight, parallel, rather strong. The hind limbs are distinguished by pronounced knees. Paws are oval in shape, toes are collected.

The breed is distinguished by a very thick wavy coat that fits snugly to the body. Sometimes there are individuals with smooth hair and a thin undercoat. Curls form on the back of the skull and ears. There is also thick hair on the muzzle and head. The Wachtelhund comes in two colors: brown with red or cream spots and red-roan.

The Wachtelhund are calm and friendly in nature. Such a dog trusts its owner and does not show signs of cowardice in a calm state. A dog does not have outbursts of rage. Usually, at the sight of strangers, the Wachtelhund happily gives a voice and wags its tail.

This pet never barks for no reason. These hybrids have a well-expressed hunting instinct from birth. It is not recommended to buy such a dog if you live in the city. The fact is that in urban conditions it will be difficult to realize the hunting talent of your four-legged friend.

Wachtelhund is a very loyal dog. He gets along well not only with the owner, but also with all family members. This is a very kind dog that has good contact even with small children. It can be easily retrained or reeducated if necessary.

The pet adapts well to any conditions. Courage and strength are visible in the character of an adult dog.

Remember that the success of hunting with a spaniel depends on the training of the dog, and the quality of training depends on the owner. You can't just take and start raising a hunting dog, you need to have some knowledge in this area. The Wachtelhund is considered a fairly intelligent dog, capable of memorizing many commands on the fly.

All you need to do is pet and praise the dog if successful, as well as reward with treats. You should not show strength in relation to the dog, as he may be offended and completely refuse to hunt with you. But sometimes you can't do without a slight thrashing.

If you are looking for a decorative dog for keeping at home, then the Wachtelhund is not the best choice. This is a working dog with an innate hunting instinct. Such a pet can be kept in the yard, it feels great in the fresh air. In winter, you can take him home, he will behave very calmly and neatly in the apartment. The dog almost never gets underfoot, it prefers to rest peacefully in the corner in anticipation of the next hunt.

Of the minuses, it can be noted that dogs tend to quickly gain body weight in the absence of physical activity. Some owners of this breed go out for a run every day with their four-legged friend. In the summer, you can walk to the river with your dog and train loading from the water. When the owner has free time It is advisable to go hunting with the dog every time in order to hone skills and work out the innate talent of the pet.

In order for the animal's coat to always look neat, it needs to be brushed periodically, so your dog can avoid shedding. You need to wash your pet as needed. It should be bathed with special shampoos once every 30-40 days.

Inspect your four-legged friend's ears every week, they should be periodically cleaned. Claws are cut as they grow. Please note that root clipping is prohibited.

The German Wachtelhund has a high immunity. Puppies are almost always born strong and healthy. The average life expectancy for these dogs is 12-15 years. when keeping the animal in good conditions and in the presence of constant physical exertion.

Some members of the breed are prone to the following diseases:

• skin problems;
• if the dog has an incorrect bite, then with a high probability there may be dental problems;
• eye diseases - problems with the retina or cataracts that can only be treated with surgery;
• sometimes dogs have allergies;
• diseases of the spine in the form of a herniated disc, to which these dogs have a genetic tendency;
• melanoma and epilepsy are very rare.

It is advisable to purchase puppies only from breeders who are members of the "WahtelKlub". The price for dogs ranges from 20,000 to 28,000 rubles. Purebred representatives of the breed must meet all of its standards, and during the purchase, potential owners undergo a kind of casting in order to be able to buy such a dog. Dogs purchased through "VakhtelKlub" have all the necessary documents and vaccinations.

It is not recommended to buy puppies that are sold on marketplaces. Although an undocumented dog can be purchased much cheaper, there is no guarantee of its purebred origin. Dogs registered in other communities are usually not monitored, therefore, no one is responsible for the quality of the breed.

The following video will tell you about the features of the Wachtelhund.