Jagdterrier Breed Description

Introduction

Also known as the German Hunt Terrier, these dogs are a young breed, developed only since the early 1900s in Germany. They are a hunting dog used for a wide variety of game including wild boars, badgers, foxes and weasels. They were imported into the U.S. and Canada as tree dogs for raccoon and squirrel. Recognized by the UKC in 1993, Jagdterriers possess a spirit of liveliness and speed at work, yet regal at rest. They are alert, robust, unafraid and unrelenting hunters. The coat is both smooth and harsh and comes in various colors. They weigh 16 to 22 lbs. and stand 13 to 16" at the shoulders. Females are generally smaller.

History

Lutz and Heinz Heck were active Nazi party members in Germany; the former was the curator of the Berlin Zoo. As the spirit of nationalism spread, the Hecks focused their talents on recreating and reviving Germany's ancient animal breeds, many of which no longer existed in pure form. While they were working on cattle, the world became enamored of terriers. The craze for this group of dogs began with English and American Fox Terriers and that alone might have spurred the brothers Heck forward on a quest for a superior German terrier. They began searching for appropriate dogs as breeding stock and eventually located four Fell (a.k.a. Patterdale) Terriers that had many of the traits written and painted in early German records. These dogs became the start of the breeding stock to create a German Terrier. Dog fancier and breeder/geneticist Carl Erich Gruenewald became involved in the breeding; Gruenewald worked with hunter Walter Zangenburg, a fan of fox terriers, and a forest ranger by the named of Freiess, who bred Wachtelhunds (German Spaniels). As the British concentrated on white and tri-color smaller straight haired dogs, the Germans were more interested in the darker animals, usually with a black coat and tan or ruddy markings. While breeding for these colors, the Germans also worked to increase traits that would make the Jagdterrier (pronounced Yack Terrier) a perfect all-round hunting dog.

They succeeded on all counts, although the process took nearly 50 years to produce the Jagdterrier of today. Fans say it was worth the wait, as these terriers can do everything in the field except point!

General Appearance

While they share many of the traits terriers are known for, Jagdterriers also possess some important differences. They don’t have the thin straight legs most associate with the breed group, but overall this does not detract from their smooth and graceful appearance. Although they are square built, they have deep narrow chests so they can enter the burrows of prey with ease. The tail has traditionally been cropped so that hunters can use it as a handle to grab the animal and pull the terrier out of the den. This practice has been banned in many countries today.

The head of the Jagdterrier is wedge-shaped, somewhat elongated with a slight stop The skull is flat, wider between the ears and then tapering towards the eyes. The animal has prominent cheeks and a strong underjaw. Scissors bite is standard. Eyes are dark and deep set; nose is black in black/tan dogs, brown in brown varieties. Ears are v-shaped, set high and carried against the sides of the head. They are protectively thick. Neck is slightly arched, broadening at the shoulder integration. The slope leads to sturdy forelegs. The deep chest features well-sprung ribs. Back is level and strong and in proportion to the dog as a whole. Hindlegs are strong, feet are oval, forefeet often larger and wider than the hind.

The majority of Jagdterriers are black with ruddy tan markings. Those are distributed much like that of Dobermans and Rottweilers: over the eyes, inside the ears, on the sides of the cheeks and on the feet. Additionally, these terriers can be brown (shades include liver, tan, brown and red) or grey. The fur is sturdy and dense and can be described as impervious (to weather, to briars, to claws of prey).

Temperament

Despite their friendly nature, Jagdterriers do not trust strangers and in many families, they act as warning alarms when anyone unfamiliar approaches. Like most terriers, they will jump in and face danger to their family without a thought to their own safety, but this does not mean they should be used as guard dogs. Theses are protective and loving animals that can become treasured members of the family if they are provided with enough exercise for their active natures. They are excellent multi-skilled hunters and can be used to go after underground game or to track and blood large animals. They will flush fowl as well, with just as much eager obedience and initiative.

Health and Care

Hunting dogs can make wonderful family pets if they get enough exercise, and Jagdterriers are no exception. All dogs are at their best when they can do what they were bred for, and these terriers are accomplished hunters on the land and in the water. They require little beyond regular nail trimming in terms of grooming. Their fur repels most dirt, their fold-over ears stay free of dirt and most bacteria, and they need to be bathed only under extreme circumstances.

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