German Hunting Terrier

The Deutscher Jagdterrier is a breed created in the early twentieth century by German foresters who wanted to obtain a small versatile dog capable of rivaling the best British terriers. After a few years, the general appearance of the breed was established through crosses of Fox Terrier, Welsh Terrier and Old England Terrier with an infusion of Pinscher and Dachshund blood. The Jagdterrier is used exclusively for hunting, it has a working vocation, it hunts, brushes, barks on the trail, retrieves, digs, and searches for blood. This terrier temperament, apparently stubborn and aggressive on the hunt, is offset by numerous qualities at home.

A great hunter, it has a willful, courageous, combative and athletic character. Its liveliness, small size and natural hunting abilities make it a complete hunting dog and certainly not a lap dog. Its proper habitat is the countryside. If this dog does not have a vocation to become a companion dog, it is an ideal companion for children, it is trustworthy, naturally very playful, very affectionate, very sociable and obedient. It must be noted, however, that the Jagdterrier is endowed with a strong character and boundless vitality. It will not forgive the weakness of a master that is too lenient nor the brutality of a master seeking a power struggle. Positive training works very well. Conversely, lax training will make it unmanageable and coercive training will make it fearful, aggressive or withdrawn. The Jagdterrier must be socialized very early and appropriately, as it tends to be aggressive toward other dogs and it is not the size of its opponent that will discourage it, it is scarcely impressionable. Regarding other animals in the house, it must be put into contact with them very early so that cohabitation proceeds correctly. On the other hand, if it is overflowing with affection for its owners, it is wary of strangers and despite its small size, it is a very good guardian.

Jagdterriers are small hunting dogs not exceeding 40 cm for both males and females, well proportioned, most often black and tan with sometimes a few white marks. Their coat is hard, short or curly and their muzzle is elongated. They are also endowed with very solid and substantial dentition.

It is a dog of very high physical resistance, it is hardy and rarely ill. It does not suffer from any particular pathology, although some individuals may have a weakness at the level of the kidneys. It should also be noted that if it is naturally robust, its reckless character can lead it to injure itself. The Jagdterrier, as a robust animal, does not require special food but it must be adapted to its physical activity.