The history of the origin of the breed and its purpose, the standard of the exterior of the German drathaar, character and health, care, interesting facts. Price when buying a puppy. The Drathaar is an almost ideal hunting dog, capable of simultaneously combining the functions inherent in completely different hunting dogs. This amazing animal, capable of staunchly and disciplinedly tracking down game, chasing it for a long time across the difficult terrain, fearlessly attacking (even a wild boar) or, on the contrary, accurately and quietly finding and silently showing the hunter his target. He is able to reach and delicately (without damaging) serve a duck shot by a hunter, even after swimming a whole mile in icy water. Indeed, such a dog deserves real respect. It is not for nothing that experienced hunters in Germany (and not only Germany) adore these handsome men with bearded-mustachioed muzzles, pampering and taking care of them in every possible way.
The history of the origin of the German Drathhaar breed
The history of the emergence of the universal hunting dog, which, in fact, is, in fact, the German Pointing Dog Drakhaar (Deutsch-Drahthaar) is directly related to the socio-political and economic changes that took place in Western Europe in the 19th century. Previously the exclusive prerogative of wealthy strata of the population and the aristocracy (owning hunting grounds, financial resources and breeding dog breeds), hunting in the 19th century became available to a much wider circle of the population. The Industrial Revolution abolished feudal privileges and created a strong middle class capable of acquiring and maintaining even more than one purebred dog.
Unfortunately, the new nouveau riche had only money, but they did not have the necessary knowledge to breed pedigree dogs and the necessary hunting culture and ethics of aristocrats who appreciated the traditions in hunting and the uniqueness of each of the breeds. The old aristocratic hunters watched in horror as their hunting system disintegrated, and the breeding branches of pedigree development, falling into illiterate hands, fell into complete decay.
Several German enthusiasts, among whom Sigismund Freiherr von Zedlitz-Neukirch stood out, could not come to terms with such a society's attitude towards hunting and breeding of pedigree dogs. Sigismund Sedlitz, better known under the pseudonym "Hegewald", decided, by all means, to revive the best traditions of German dog breeding, devoting his whole life to creating a universal hunting cop, suitable for all types of hunting, which he has now become German Drakhaar. So, we can say that this breed owes its existence precisely to the persistence of this enthusiastic breeder, who developed the fundamental principles of a new universal species.
Initially, enthusiastic dog breeders, led by Hegewald, tried to revive the “alte Deutsche Vorstehund”, that is, the “old German pointing dog”, which had disappeared almost everywhere by the middle of the 19th century. But with this experiment, nothing came of it. Then, breeders turned their eyes to not the most hunting, but a reasonable and disciplined dog - a poodle. To obtain the smartest multipurpose hunting dog, they began to experiment with crossing a poodle with a pointer. The motto of the originators has become "due to productivity - to the type". It should be noted that the revolutionary at that time selective crossing of animals of different breeds, used by the creators of the "new German ideal dog", was not to all cynologists' taste. The enthusiasts were constantly criticized by other breeders. Nevertheless, they persistently moved towards their goal.
Gradually, the standard Germanic poodle was transformed into an independent breed that did not look like a poodle - the Pudelpointer Poodle Pointer. Later, after a series of selection experiments, the originators bred absolutely new German dogs ("Neudeutsche Hunde"): the German bristly cop "Stichelhaar" and the famous and unique in its performance dog - Drakhaar ("Deutsch-Drahthaar"). By the way, the name of the breed: "Deutsch-Drahthaar" translates as "German wire-haired pointer dog." The breed was officially recognized in 1903.
The creators of the new varieties also developed a number of unparalleled working tests to check the result of selection (an unprecedented scientific approach to breeding hunting dogs at that time). Such working testing of dogs has been preserved by dog handlers in Germany to this day. All Drathhaar puppies offered for sale are checked not only for the uniqueness of the exterior, but also for working qualities with the help of special tests. Thanks to this, Drathhaar dogs have now become the most popular breed among hunting cops in Germany (over 3000 Drathhaar puppies are produced annually in Germany).
Now the breed has gained its distribution, recognition and popularity not only in Europe, but also in the USA, and even in New Zealand and Australia.
Purpose and use of the German drathaar
Being an exceptionally efficient, strong and indefatigable dog, with a stubborn and fearless character, with a strong article and a unique discipline of behavior, the Drathhar is a powerful universal hunting dog, which allows it to be successfully used in almost all types of hunting in the field and in the forest, in swamps, as well as near rivers and lakes. The Drathaar is capable of persistently tracking, pointing, chasing and serving (or holding) a wide variety of game, being an excellent disciplined multifunctional gun dog. It is in this capacity that it is most often used by European hunters.
Description of the German Drathhaar exterior standard
The representative of the breed is a surprisingly elegantly balanced Pointing Dog, strongly muscular, but slender and agile (the swinging stroke of the animal is energetic and smooth) with an all-weather coat that is unique in its structure.
The dimensions of the drathaar are quite comparable to the bulk of hunting dogs from the cop family. So, the height at the withers in a dog reaches 61–68 centimeters with a body weight of up to 32 kg. Females are slightly shorter, their height is within 57–64 centimeters.
- Head rather large, but in proportion to the body, firmly set on a muscular neck. The skull has a flat shape with some lateral roundness. The superciliary arches are distinct: wide and well developed. The stop is very clear. The skull line is parallel to the line of the animal's muzzle. The bridge of the nose is wide and somewhat humped, not particularly long. The nose is large, well-defined, with wide nostrils. Pigmentation of the nose - in accordance with the color of the dog. The mouth is wide and deep, with a fairly strong grip. The lips are firm, thick and not pendulous. The jaws are strong with a regular scissor bite of large white teeth. The number of teeth is standard - 42 pcs.
- Eyes rounded in shape, set rather wide, but not rolled out and not sunken, with a vigorous and lively expression, the size is small. The color of the eyes is desirable dark (coffee brown, brown or dark brown). The eyelids are tight, dry, and may be edged in black.
- Ears with a high seating position, wide-triangular (wide at the base), large and long (reaching the bottom of the cheekbones), hanging on the sides of the head.
- Neck strong and muscular, dry, free from dewlap, rather flexible and agile.
- Torso strong, well-muscled, somewhat elongated. The rib cage is wide and deep, with prominent ribs, cylindrical in shape. The withers are well defined. The back is muscular, the back line is straight (almost horizontal). The loin is short and strong. The croup is wide and long, slightly sloping. The belly is tucked up in an elegant arch.
- Tail Drathhaara is thick at the base and of medium thickness along the entire length, it is a continuation of the horizontal line of the back (some upward bend of the tail is allowed, but not steep). Usually it is docked (except for countries that prohibit docking).
- Limbs parallel and straight, erect, muscular-sinewy. Ideally, the length of the limbs should meet this criterion: the distance from the ground to the knee of the animal is equal to the distance from the knee to the withers of the dog. Paws are oval or round, of medium size, with toes gathered together, with elastic pads colored in the color of the fur pigment.
- Skin covering dense, not having folds and depressions.
- Wool. The hair of the coat is very coarse (wire-like) and dense, with an undercoat and a total coat length reaching 2–4 centimeters in different parts of the Drathaar's body. There is a "mustache" and "beard" that add a unique flavor to the dog. Thanks to the tough and dense fur, the dog is well protected from the vicissitudes of the climate, as well as from injuries to the body by sharp thorns of bushes and injuries of resisting large and predatory game.
- Color. The current standard allows the following possible coat colors for the German wire-haired dog: piebald; black and piebald; brown piebald; completely brown or brown with a so-called "tie" - a pretty and rather rare white spot on the chest.
German Drahthaar dog character
Sigismund Freicher von Sedlitz-Neukirch and his colleagues did not overthink the exterior of the new dog while creating the breed of these coarse-haired dogs. They were much more interested in the working qualities of the animal, its hunting inclinations and versatility in use. Nevertheless, even with this approach, the working approach of the dog-drathaar outwardly turned out with its own unique charm and charm. All his extraordinary appearance testifies to strength, endurance, unpretentiousness and unsurpassed hunting talents. And, if we talk about the character and behavior of the animal, then even a short time of communication with this dog allows us to say that the Drathhaar is a dog exclusively for hunting, a different rhythm and dynamics of life for such a dog is not completely suitable. Even as a companion dog (not to mention any official or guard functions), these animals are only limitedly suitable, only if the owner provides proper physical activity and the possibility of long and frequent walks in nature. Without this, the dog simply withers before our eyes, loses the potential of health, strength and cheerfulness.
Drathaar is unusually dynamic, persistent in hunting, constantly on the lookout. The instinct of tracking and pursuit is highly developed. Therefore, the dog needs socialization and regular patient explanation that the birds and cats surrounding him on the street are not potential prey. Control over the dog by the owner is mandatory, as a particularly young individual is able to get lost, carried away by tracking or chasing imaginary game.
This dog, for all its friendliness, is distinguished by willfulness and does not lend itself too well to training, especially not directly related to hunting, requiring a patient and regular trainer (preferably a professional dog handler).
Attachment to the owner, and even "sticky" if he is a hunter. He can hardly bear parting with such an owner, and especially going on a hunt without him (which he always knows unmistakably by some of his "dog" signs). Jealous, he treats other dogs calmly and non-aggressively, but without much sympathy. Not too friendly to outsiders. Drathaar's affection and love still need to be able to win.
In general, the German Wirehaired Pointing Dog is one of the most popular hunting dogs. All the features of his not simple character are more than redeemed by his devotion and hunting talents. Therefore, it is best to start a drathaar for a hunter or an energetic person who has experience in keeping such dogs.
German Drahthaar dog health
In general, these dogs are classified as animals with a strong constitution and health. Nevertheless, these dogs also have some negative predispositions to diseases (mainly associated with some breeding lines that exist in the world). So European and American veterinarians have recorded the breed's tendency to hip dysplasia, ear infections, skin cancer and genetic eye diseases of various etiologies.
The average life expectancy of drathaars ranges from 12 to 14 years.
Tips for the maintenance and care of the German Drathhaar
Such dogs in the content are not particularly pretentious and whimsical. Their wiry fur with a warm undercoat perfectly provides the animal with the protection it needs from the cold and injuries from thorny plants, does not get tangled, and therefore does not require constant tedious combing. However, after each hunt, an attentive and caring owner will still inspect the skin and fur of his pet, and will definitely try to bathe and comb it out.
When compiling a diet, it is important for the owner to fully replenish the energy consumption of a mobile dog, properly balance all protein-fat-carbohydrate components of the portion, supplementing it with a mineral and vitamin complex.
Interesting facts about the German drathaar
Nowadays, in Germany (in the homeland of the breed), regular spring and autumn hunting tests (Verbands-Jugendprufung (VJP) and Herbst Zucht Prufung (HZP)) are held, as well as special (and very prestigious) competitions of drathaars "Hegewald" and "Faugepi" … The program of these competitions consists of a number of interesting exercises.
For example, in the spring, this is the work of a young (born one year or a year and three months before the test) dog on a wild hare, when the search, stance, work of dragging a hare and the attitude of a young hunter dog to a shot are assessed. Moreover, the assessment by the judges is very tough and biased. Up to the presence of a special uniform on the dog - a red collar, which makes it possible to distinguish it from a wild animal. The most prestigious competition among German drathaars is the Hegewald. Let us remind you that such a pseudonym (in translation meaning "Reserved Forest") was worn by the creator of the breed, Sigismund von Seedlitz-Neukirch. At this competition, not only the exterior of each contestant is closely assessed, but also a sample of his guard hair is taken for a break. The stiffer the hair, the better. Only dogs that have successfully passed the Hegewald competition are allowed for further breeding.
The most difficult competition for drathaars is the "Faugepi" competition, which determines the highest skill not only of the animal, but also of the owner himself. The program of the competition includes as many as 32 (!!!) exercises, including: pursuit of game "on a bloody trail" with a trail of 48 hours old and a whole "bunch" of all kinds of obstacles on the way; "Work" with a live wild fox overcoming obstacles in the form of a river or a fence and practically without any help from the owner. Well, and other extremely difficult exercises. And the drathaars can do it! These are such glorious hunters!
Price of German drathaar puppies
Despite the fact that this breed has spread all over the world (including in Russia - since the mid-1990s), the best puppies were and remain teenage puppies from Germany, which have passed a complex breeding selection and special testing. The cost of such a carouse in Germany ranges from 400 to 2500 euros, depending on gender, status and other nuances. In Russia, the cost of a good puppy with the future is from 5,000 to 25,000 rubles.
For more information about the drathaar, see this video:
