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Quite
often I speak with individuals that are somewhat confused with the versatile dog
concept. The Truly Versatile dog, in this case is the Deutsche Drahthaar, is a
dog in which a single pup can be properly trained for hunting upland game,
waterfowl and furred game. It is not uncommon for a Deutsche Drahthaar owner to
hunt waterfowl at the crack of dawn, hunt upland game, and blood track a wounded
deer all in the same day with the same dog!!
In the United States we have become accustom to hunting with so called
specialist i.e. retrievers, pointers, and tracking dogs. Very often I talk with
people that state that they have hunted with a friends Labrador that (in their
words) can’t handle field work like a pointer..??? Don’t blame the dog he is out
of his element, they were not designed for that type of work. Instead, credit
the dog for his effort and question the dog’s owner about his selection process
for his type of hunting.
While not a totally new concept to North America the versatile dog is steadily
increasing as the first choice amongst the serious hunter that demands a
competent dog for the various types of hunting that he/she will need a dog for.
One dog specifically designed for this type of hunter is the Deutsch Drahthaar.
European hunters and more specifically the German hunter has for the last 100
years raised the bar for their expectations of a Truly Versatile hunting dog.
While this was not easy in the beginning due to the many nay sayers, the VDD has
persevered and what is more amazing in this day and time, the bar has not been
lowered!!
The idea...a breed emerges
The Deutsch-Drahthaar (DD) began with the idea of developing a breed from
the existing individual hunting specialists that would be universal and could do all the
practical hunting tasks. Among the ancestors of the Deutsch-Drahthaar belong the old
Water Poodle and the English Pointer. At the end of the 18th Century, a robust, fully
usable dog was created in Germany from the best of the existing coarse hair breeds,
Pudelpointer, Stichelhaar, and Griffon, and bred with
the Deutsch Kurzhaar.
Hegewald...performance counts
The spiritual father of the Drahthaar, Freiherr Sigismund of Zedlitz and
Neukirch, also called Hegewald, demanded that the primary breeding goal of the
hunting dog be versatile performance ability. His thoughts became the principle
of Drahthaar breeding: "through performance to standard."
The Hegewald breeding test is known because of
him. Yearly at this international fall breeding test, the strongest performing young dogs
are presented from within and outside of Germany for critical comparison and to give
information about the status of the Drahthaar breed.
Intelligence and calmness...the
way to success
The Drahthaar is the most frequently used hunting dog by the hunting
establishment in Germany, and that is not without reason: The versatile work range of the all-around
dog demands an intelligent, mentally flexible dog. Endurance and a will to obey, as well
as the ability to concentrate on work, characterize this robust fellow in the coarse
jacket. When others quit, work is just beginning for him. As a dog that can be used
universally for a full range of tasks and as a dog for the work after the shot, the
Drahthaar is unsurpassed. He brings to the hunt many specialties.
Born...to hunt
The Drahthaar is a passionate hunting dog with industry and endurance, calm by nature,
friendly in relations. As with every genuine working dog, however, he needs legitimate
specialty training and guidance. Only when given sufficient activity does he feel content.
Today, it is also important that the Drahthaar be a
pleasant companion for other aspects of life. He is friendly and self-aware with regard to
people and other breeds. The Drahthaar is gentle with children and a suitable family dog.
He is no problem to keep in the kennel or the house.
Hunting performance...not just a
pointer
Persistently and methodically the Drahthaar searches the field with a sensitive
nose. He shows the game he finds by pointing. In the forest and water he
performs exemplary hunting tasks. In particular he exhibits the characteristics
of a retriever of lost game. He
does this by his ability to pursue wounded game persistently and
uncompromisingly and to follow under the most difficult conditions in order to
save the game from unnecessary suffering.
Just by choosing the Deutsch-Drahthaar breed,
the work after the shot is capably assigned. His obedience and concentration abilities
make him particularly suited for hard work. Consequently
the Drahthaar is not only a pointer but a truly many faceted dog.
By every type of
hunt, and in all weather conditions, he is a true companion. Conforming to
animal protection and skill hunting requirements is possible to and exceptional
degree with this all-around dog.
Breed standard...through
performance to standard
Hunting dogs need a healthy, performance capable body and a reliable nature to fulfill
their purpose. The Drahthaar is a mid-sized, dog with robust health.
The shoulder height varies for the male from
around 61 to 68 cm, for the female from around 57 to 64 cm.
The wiry, tightly fit hair, with thick under wool, offers optimal protection from external
influences such as moisture, heat and cold, as well as thorns and sharp cornered reeds.
The dark eyes with the extended eye brow as well as the typical beard give the Drahthaar
his characteristic appearance.
The Deutsch-Drahthaar has a variety of colorations: brown and gray, black and gray, and
brown with and without white breast spots.
The VDD...The Deutsch-Drahthaar
Organization, e.V. (registered club)
The organization was founded in May 1902. With over 10,000 members, it is
the largest hunting dog breeders organization. The Verein Deutsch-Drahthaar (VDD) is a
member of the Jagdgebrauchshundeverband (Hunting Dog User Association) (JGHV) and
associated with the Verband fur das deutsche Hundewesen (Association for German Dog
Affairs) (VDH) and the FCI. The club has 34 regional groups belonging to it in many
countries, including USA and Canada.
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