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The
Deutsch-Drahthaar was created in Germany in the late 19th
century by a small group of dedicated breeders who set
out to develop a versatile hunting dog that would
satisfy all aspects of German hunting in field, forest,
and water. This group of breeders succeeded in creating
a versatile hunting dog that took its traits from the
best dogs of the existing coarse hair breeds, cross bred
with the shorthair blood. These ancestors included the
Stichelhaar, Pudelpointer, Griffon, and the Deutsch-Kurzhaar.
The
Deutsch-Drahthaar
is a mid-sized, substantial dog. The height at shoulder
varies from around 61 to 68 cm for males, and 57 to 64
cm for females. The coat is generally wiry, and tightly
fit with a thick under wool. This coat was developed to
provide optimal protection form external influences such
as moisture, cold and heat, as well as thorns, brush and
insects. The extended "eyebrows" and the typical beard
give the DD his characteristic appearance. The breed has
a variety of colorations. They are: brown and white or
black and white ticked usually with some solid patches,
and solid brown with or without a white chest patch.
A group of breeders founded the
Verein Deutsch Drahthaar
(VDD) in May 1902. The driving force behind the
Deutsch-Drahthaar, Freiherr Sigismund of Zedlitz and
Neukirch, demanded that the primary breeding goal of the
hunting dog be versatile performance ability. His
thoughts became the principle of the
VDD breeding
program: "through performance to standard". This
principle is still upheld today, with registered
breeders following a tradition of required performance
and physical evaluation for all of the dogs used in the
breeding program.
Many breeders of the German Wirehaired Pointer (GWP)
errantly refer to their breed as
Drahthaar. In addition
to significant differences in breed standard, the
Wirehair has been bred without regulation or restriction
since the late 1950’s, but especially without the
performance testing that proves the ability of the
Drahthaar. After years of unrestricted breeding
and no versatile performance standards the German
Wirehaired Pointer has evolved into a distinctly
separate breed.
Today's DD is the dog most frequently used by the German
hunting establishment, and is rapidly gaining popularity
elsewhere, and that is not without reason. The
Deutsch-Drahthaar is a passionate, hard-working dog.
They are noted for their endurance and willingness to
obey, as well as the ability to concentrate on the work
at hand. After persistently searching the field with a
sensitive nose, the DD shows the game by pointing, so
that the hunter comes to a calm shot. Shot birds are
hunted down and retrieved to the master. In particular,
DD's exhibit the characteristic of a
retriever of lost
game.
They do this by their inbred capacity to track and
pursue (and even dispatch) wounded game persistently and
uncompromisingly in some of the most difficult
conditions. This saves the game from unnecessary
suffering. Their endurance, swimming ability and heavy
coat also make them well suited to waterfowl hunting in
the most adverse conditions.
While the Deutsch-Drahthaar is a superb
hunting
companion, they are also well suited as a family dog.
DD's are normally gentle and friendly with children and
other dogs, and are known to become protective of their
"family" and home. Their intelligence and calm manner
help them in adjusting to various living conditions.
VDD
Breeding Regulations specify that DD's who show
unwarranted aggressiveness toward people or other dogs
are to be removed from the breeding program, so these
traits do not get passed on.
As with all genuine hunting/working dogs, the
DD needs
legitimate specialty training and consistent guidance.
Only when given sufficient training and activity does he
seem content.
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