Wakhtelhund - a bright representative of hunting dogs. The breed was bred in Germany at the end of the XIX - beginning of the XX century. This dog will be a good helper on the hunt: the German Vahtelhund is famous for its working skills. In common dogs called quail dog or German Spaniel.
History of origin and purpose
In the 1850s, the main hunting dogs were English cop dogs, but representatives of this breed were far from the best partners of hunters. People needed a dog that would do well both in the open and in the underbrush. It was important that the dog could search for prey in a 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 catching quails and hunting for falcons.. There is an opinion that spaniels are the result of the crossing of dogs of Spanish breed and German long-haired dogs.
The word "watchman" in German means "quail", and "hund" - "dog." The discoverer of the breed is forester R. Freese. He was fond of hunting dogs, had his own kennel, in which he bred spaniels. For several years he studied the working qualities of the breed and was able to get rid of many hereditary diseases. Initially, Freeze divided dogs by color.
The brown dogs walked alongside the owner during the hunt, and the blacks coped perfectly well without a person and could independently find a trace. Modern dogs of this breed are able to perform both that and other work.
All German hunting dogs are versatile and can perform a variety of tasks, vakhtelhund is no exception. This dog is looking for and bringing in a game, he is independently capable of searching along the blood tracks of cleats, moose, and deer. The representative of this breed is able to keep the boar before the arrival of the owner. In Russia, many hunters use these animals to hunt ungulates.
The great advantage of this breed is that the dog will not get in the way during the hunt. A dog on command can easily search the forest, it works without problems even in the thickest brushwood. 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 the prey, then within 30 minutes he will return back.
Below will be considered the features of the German Vahtelhund:
- dog stubbornly seeking prey;
- can easily get on the trail;
- shows itself well as a partner;
- dog has an excellent sense of smell;
- during hunting the dog is aggressive enough, which is a big plus;
- well serves prey from the water.
If the dog is trained from childhood, he is able to hunt without a master. This dog is useful both in the forest and on the water.
Description
The German Vahtelhund has a muscular physique, it is a medium-sized strong dog with long hair. The head of the dog is rounded and pulled out, the paws are medium in size. Pronounced sexual dimorphism. The average height of males is 49-53 cm, and females 45-50 cm. Typical representatives of this breed weigh from 18 to 25 kg.
The skull has proportional dimensions relative to the torso, different flattened wide shape. The base of the nose is broad, not pointed, slightly rounded at the bottom. The tip of the nose is large, black, nostrils open. Lips are elastic and constantly dry, do not hang down, adjoin to jaw.
Bite right, scissor.But there are representatives of the breed with a direct bite. In the mouth 42 teeth, cheekbones do not bulge. The breed has dark, expressive eyes of small size, located a little obliquely. The outer part of the eyelids is covered with wool.
The neck of the representatives of this breed is rather muscular and strong. The chest is a little oblong. Elbows are located above the chest. The breed has inherently curved ribs and a tucked up belly. In a state of calm, the tail is approximately at the level of the back or slightly lower. Experienced hunters recommend cutting the tail to a third of the entire length.
The front paws are even, parallel, rather strong. Hind limbs have pronounced knees. Paws of an oval form, fingers are collected.
The breed has a very thick wavy hair, which fits tightly to the body. Sometimes there are individuals with smooth hair and a thin undercoat. Curls form at the back of the head and ears. On the face and head also has a thick coat. Vakhtelkhund comes in two colors: brown with red or cream spots and red-roan.
Regardless of color on the face, under the tail and on the paws can be tanned.
Character
Vakhtelkhundy different calm and friendly character. Such a dog trusts his master and, in a calm state, shows no signs of cowardice. The dog does not have flashes of rage. Usually, at the sight of strangers, the watchman happily gives a voice and wags his tail.
This pet never barks without a 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.
Vakhtelkhund is very loyal dog. He gets along well not only with the owner, but with all members of the family. This is a very kind dog that is in good contact even with small children. It can be easily retrained or retrained if necessary.
Pet adapts well to any conditions. The character of an adult dog shows courage and strength.
Remember that the success of hunting with a spaniel depends on the training of the dog, and the quality of the training depends on the owner. You can’t just start raising a hunting dog, you need to have some knowledge in this area. The Vakhtelkhund is considered to be a fairly clever dog, capable of memorizing many commands on the fly.
You only need to iron and praise the dog if successful, as well as to encourage them with treats. You should not show strength against the dog, as he may be offended and refuse to hunt with you at all. But sometimes you can't do without a light whipping.
Maintenance and care
If you need a decorative dog for keeping at home, the watchdog is not the best choice. This is a working dog with an innate hunting instinct. This pet can be kept in the yard, he feels great in the fresh air. In winter, you can bring him home, in the apartment he will behave very calmly and carefully. The dog almost never gets under his feet, he prefers to rest peacefully in a corner waiting for the next hunt.
Of the minuses can be noted that dogs tend to quickly gain body weight in the absence of physical activity. Some owners of this breed every day go for a run with their four-legged friend. In the summer, you can walk to the river with your dog and train upporting from the water. With the appearance of free time at the owner It is advisable to go hunting with the dog each time in order to hone skills and work out the pet's innate talent.
In order for the animal's coat to always have a neat appearance, it must be periodically combed so that your dog can avoid molting. Wash your pet as needed. It should be bathed with special shampoos 1 time in 30-40 days.
Every week, examine the ears of the four-legged friend, they need to be periodically cleaned.Claws are clipped as they grow. Please note that cutting the claw at the root is prohibited.
In the winter months, it is desirable to cut the hair between your fingers, otherwise there will be stuck pieces of snow and ice, due to which the pet's paw may be injured.
Health problems
German Vahtelhund has a high immunity. Puppies are almost always born strong and healthy. The average life expectancy of these dogs is 12-15 years when keeping an animal in good conditions and with constant physical exertion.
Some representatives of the breed have a tendency to the following diseases:
- skin problems;
- if the dog has an overbite, then dental problems are likely to occur;
- eye diseases - problems with the retina or cataract, which can only be treated surgically;
- sometimes dogs are allergic;
- 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.
In order to avoid health problems with your pet, veterinarians recommend that you follow all the necessary measures: medical examinations, vaccinations, parasite treatments.
Cost of
It is advisable to purchase puppies only from breeders who are members of the Wachtel Club. The price of dogs varies in the area from 20 000 to 28 000 rubles. Purebreds of the breed must meet all its standards, and at the time of purchase, potential owners undergo a kind of casting to get the opportunity 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 a dog without documents can be purchased much cheaper, but there is no guarantee of its purebred origin. Dogs registered in other communities are usually not controlled, therefore, no one is responsible for the quality of the breed.
The following video will tell you about the features of the watch men.
