GERMAN JAGD TERRIER

This breed was bred in the 30s of the XX century in Germany. The breed standard was first adopted in 1934. The aim of the breed was to create dogs that would be intended for hunting, with very little attention paid to appearance. Initially, breeders decided to create a breed that would be unpretentious in care, not encroaching on participation in exhibitions.

The ancestors of German jagdterriers are fox terriers Are tireless game hunters. Now, looking at photographs of jagd terriers and fox terriers, the external similarity of the breeds is obvious. But there are also distinctive features - the standard of the Jagdterrier breed implies a black and tan color, sometimes with small blotches in the chest and paws, while fox terriers have a predominantly white color interspersed with red and black markings. In addition, in size and weight, jagdterriers are somewhat larger than their ancestors. But dogs of both breeds are excellent and uncompromising hunters, although the main characters of this article are the most ferocious hunters. In addition to the Fox Terriers, Old English Terriers and Welsh Terriers participated in the formation of the breed.

In the USSR, German hunting terriers appeared in the 1970s. Due to their unpretentious content, small size and excellent hunting skills, game terriers have gained popularity among hunters of the Soviet Union in a short time.

Dogs of this breed do not succumb to difficulties, often pounce during the hunt for animals that are much larger than them. The owner of the dog is obliged to pay special attention to training from an early age, since ill-bred German game terriers can harm both the owner and other animals. Do not underestimate these dogs because of their small stature, weight. Thanks to a strong grip, developed muscles and flair, these animals are real living weapons, so great attention should be paid to their upbringing.

Jagdterriers rarely make house friends, their main purpose is to hunt down game. In the hunt, they are persistent, they are not afraid of bad weather, having sensed the beast, the game terriers will never let it go.

Before purchasing a German hunting yagdterrier, you should read a lot of literature on its upbringing, consult with experienced breeders. It is preferable that the jagdterrier lived in a family where there are no small children and other animals. (cats, rodents, others small breed dogs). The hunting instinct can provoke a jagdterrier to harm a person or an animal, even in cases of play, these dogs are quite dangerous. They, as a rule, never voluntarily release their prey, which can lead to a real tragedy for the owner. In addition, these dogs choose one leader for themselves - their master, whose commands they follow rigorously, and other household members are often treated coolly, as if condescendingly.

Caring for this breed does not provide for any special nuances. They should be bathed with a special shampoo no more than 6-7 times a year, if there is no heavy pollution. By the way, they love swimming in open water. The owner should periodically brush the dogs with special brushes to remove dead skin and hair. Even during the molting period, these animals do not cause any special problems in care (especially smooth-haired game terriers). You should also pay attention to the condition of the eyes and ears of German hunting terriers. At the slightest deviation from the norm, it is better to consult a specialist. Scheduled inspection is desirable at least 2 times a year.

Jagdterriers can live both in an apartment and in the fresh air. In the first case, a certain space should be allocated for them in the room, equipped with a sleeping place, bowls for food and water, and a large number of rubber toys. Dogs contained in the apartment, require daily walking, and they are tireless and very active, so it is preferable to exercise for at least 1-2 hours (or more, if the time of year and the owner's ability allows). Dogs kept in the yard should have a spacious (according to their size) kennel, which should be insulated. In addition, if the animal does not have an aviary and freely walks throughout the territory of the property, the owner should be confident in the foundation and strength of the fence. Jagdterriers are by nature very reckless and prone to undermining, they can easily escape if they sense the "enemy". Keeping outdoors somewhat complicates the care process - it is more problematic to bathe street dogs (due to the possibility of catching a cold in the cold), they are more susceptible to invasive diseases.

The training of German hunting terriers should begin from 6-10 months of age, depending on the nature of the animal, the degree of trust in the trainer, the developmental characteristics of the dog, the process can take at least six months. Training is conducted twice a day for 1 hour - in the morning and in the evening, before eating or a few hours after. It is desirable for the dog to trust the trainer, for this it is necessary to establish contact between the person and the animal.

The main task of training is to get the dog hunting skills. Training and coaching of jagd terriers is based on the methods of excitation and inhibition of the animal's nervous system. You should never overload the animal by trying to teach it many commands at the same time. If training for elementary teams can be carried out, if desired, by an inexperienced owner, then complex skills should be instilled by a specialist (or at least under his supervision, on his advice). For this, it is advisable to find a hunting dog breeding club, where you can count on help in training.

Experienced instructors will tell you about the intricacies of training such dogs. The advantages of contacting such a club are not only in the availability of specialists, because there they will also provide a training ground, which is especially important for those owners who do not have the opportunity to train a dog daily in the fresh air, away from the tracks, on a large territory. It is worth remembering that training of these dogs is mandatory. An untrained (or improperly trained) jagdterrier becomes uncontrollable, unnecessarily aggressive, threatening the life and health of people and animals.

The purpose of breeding the breed was to get a hardy dog, easily getting used to difficult conditions. Despite their small size, they are extremely robust and in excellent health. Therefore, with the timely prevention of "canine" diseases (distemper, enteritis, rabies), deworming, getting rid of external parasites, you can have a completely healthy dog. Undoubtedly, even strong jagdterriers can get sick and die, but preventive examinations at the veterinarian, vaccinations, strict monitoring of the state of health can prevent the appearance of many diseases.

For jagd terriers, a properly selected diet is important. As food, you can use both natural food and dry or wet industrial feed. It is necessary to take into account the composition of the finished products, they should not contain preservatives and dyes, the emphasis in the feed should be on meat and offal. It is advisable to coordinate the diet with a veterinarian, sometimes dogs need food that is developed taking into account the age of the animal or any characteristics of the body (gastrointestinal disorders, for those prone to allergies, etc.). Vitamin complexes are also needed as a source of shiny coat, clear eyes and great well-being.