Jagdterrier is a dog breed that I have a soft spot for due to its extraordinary qualities. This little puppy is clever, courageous, and playful. It is a great working dog that takes joy in its work.
The hound is also referred to as Deutscher Jagdterrier, German Hunt Terrier, due to its nationalistic German origin.
It has a great temperament suited for hunting dogs and house pets. The dog can grow up to 17-22 pounds in weight, 13 to 16 inches in height, and live up to 12 years.
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How Does the Dog Look Like?
You could have a Jagdterrier with you but cannot tell it apart from other breeds. Don’t worry; I am here to unpack the little canine for you.
The Deutscher Jagdterrier is small, compact, and well proportioned, like a rottweiler pup. They have a dense coat that may be smooth or have a wiry coat.
Its coat can be black, black and tan, black and gray, or dark brown. The most dominant dog color is black with a tan, with the tan being most pronounced on its eyebrows, base of the tail, chest, muzzle, and legs. All Jagdterrier shed the coat. Shades of the tan can vary significantly from creamy tan to rusty copper, or in some cases, the marking can be brown, something between chocolate brown and liver brown.
You can sometimes find those with white markings on the chest and toes. The eyes, eye rims, lips, and noses are black, but in some rare cases, they can be brown.
The German Terrier has a long and narrow head with a fiery axial expression. Its muzzle is strong and long, with muscular jaws to accomplish its work.
Expect some oval-shaped eyes that are small and black with V-shaped ears that are almost dropped. The neck is long and slightly wider at the shoulders, perfect for getting into small dens. The chest is broad while the legs match the size of the mutt.
The dog’s body size puts it in a class of small dogs. Infect it measures 33 cm (33 inches) to 40 cm (16 inches) at the shoulders. Females may weigh 7.5 Kg (17 lb.) kilograms to about 8.5 Kg (19 lb.), with males weighing a bit heavier at 9 Kg (20 lb.) to 10 Kg (22 lb.). The tail is mainly docked all the time.
History
A Jagdterrier is a type of hunting terrier bred in Germany. The puppy was specifically bred for hunting above and below ground. The breed was introduced in Germany to cut foreign species and introduce Germanic species from legend and mythology.
Creating the breed was to attain perfection, nationalistic pride, and pedigree. Nationalistic sentiments were rife in Germany in the period of the world wars. The species is a bit young but well-developed compared to other species.
The German Hunting Terrier Club was formed in 1926 to create a national dog breed. The main characteristic chosen was hunting. Its development efforts were led by a step and breeder who broke away from a German Terrier Club. The selection process was massive a massive selection. In 1938, Max Thiel brought the first Jagdterrier year to the first world war, but he lost his digs.
The initial species of Jagdterrier was created by mixing the Old English Fox terriers, Welsh terriers, English Wirehaired Terriers, German Pinschers, and some other varieties of black and Tan Hunting Terriers. A Jagdterrier resulted from careful breeding in an all-purpose dog, a purebred hunting machine.
Later he bought two dogs of the same species and moved to the United States. The new terrier breed owner had a new litter in the US and met in Louis, Missouri. They tried to get the dog accepted in the kennel club, but it never got to the ground. The breed has, however, grown in popularity in recent years.
Hunting Prowess
The growth in popularity of the hound boils down to being fierce and tenacious hunting skills. The dog is courageous and adept at hunting cougars, raccoons, foxes, weasels, squirrels, bobcats, and wild boars.
Its small body size does not impede Jagdterrier and weight. Instead, it is improved by them. The dog is a leader on the field that’s a bright determined, intense, and unrelenting hunter. It is bold and brave to won’t back down from any challenges. It is just so well adapted to hunting. Its instinct on the hunt is unmatched.
Jagdterrier is an all-around dog you would love to use for hunting or as pets at home. Whatever the game animal you need to hunt, it got the skills to handle it. It will quarry dens or even underground to get to the hunt.
The hound is quite adaptable to hunting different animals, whether wounded dears or rabbits, out of the thickets. It’s got high excellent tracking skills and intelligence.
Temperament
This little hound is primarily bred for the hunt and would not fare well with other dogs. In actuality, the dogs are very aggressive as they prefer to be the only canine in the home. Yeah, they are pretty protective and would not fare well with even cats in the house.
Due to the Jag terrier’s strong prey drive, you cannot trust them with any small pets in the house, other small dogs, or rodents. You can successfully raise a German hunting terrier with other dogs in the home. But it would help if you were warned that you could not guarantee happiness in such a setting.
Jagdterrier’s aggression toward other canines and rodents is canceled by its soft spot for fun and play. These are among the most active dogs that constantly want something to do. You’ll find them playing, jumping, and running around. This energetic and fun-loving aspect makes them ideal play partners for you.
You would be in for a treat if you got kids, as the little hounds love playing around with kids. They are friendly, energetic, and playful with kids of all ages. As an addition, they are protective of the kids, which might come in handy at some point.
German hunt terriers are not susceptible to separation anxiety. If you leave them for too long, expect them to amuse themselves. Suppose you have had a dog before; you know that a dog’s idea of amusement is opposites. It is real mischief and, at times, raises havoc.
You can count on the mongrel’s intelligence, loyalty, and affection as committed companions. The small dogs have a lively spirit that exceeds their small sizes. They are pretty proud and enjoy the sound of their barks. You may have to learn to deal with the beautiful dog having to bark all the time if you choose to have one. They bark for their amusement, and it is up to you to figure out a sign of protest at times.
The dog is protective of the home and very alert and makes excellent watchdogs. If they spot anything out of the ordinary, you will be sure to get a bark.
Exercise Regimen
Gauging from the Deutscher Jagdterrier stamina, high spirit, and love for physical activity, you know it is built for exercise. It requires a great deal of physical activity and mental stimulation to keep going. You have to change your routine adapt to the dog first paced lifestyle. It is pretty active indoors but requires extended time outdoor for healthy growth.
Get several pairs of running shoes because you may have to exercise a lot too as you help the small canine get into shape. A long walk or jog would be welcome and perfect for a Jagdterrier to help it burn off some excess calories while cushioning you from the “fun activities” it might have to do at home. You may be pulled and dragged a bit due to the dog’s energy and speed as you exercise.
You can try multiple exercise options around the home apart from jogging and running. You can start with playtime in the backyard if you live in a fenced area. If there is sufficient indoor space, you can opt to play hide and seek, chase the ball on the floor, or teach her new tricks.
When you have time for outdoor activities, there is a variety such as swimming, playing catch, hiking, or retrieving flying disks. The exercise does not have to be highly intensive, and even short walks on the hallway of an apartment building can give the Jagdterrier the kick it needs.
The short exercises are suited during inclement weather such as winter. You can also partake in dog sports to promote the cute canines’ agility, obedience, and rally as you offer its exercise regimen.
Health
Jagdterrier is some of the healthiest dogs you can have with a relatively long life expectancy. Depending on the region you live in, the puppy may experience a few health concerns that can be sorted out with a few visits to the vet.
However, it would help if you reduced the health risk to the dog by acquiring the mongrel from a breeder who performs genetic testing to reduce the chances of passing the infection to the offspring.
The hound’s sound health and relatively long-life expectancy give a lot of bonding time and a reason to learn a few health precautions on taking care of a Jagdterrier. One of the inherited diseases of the breed standard is primary lens luxation (PLL). The illness can develop between three and eight years and may result in blindness if not treated in time.
Other illnesses could develop with a man’s favorite friend, though this is not very common. Common ones are:
- Legg-Calve- Perthes disease
- Perioral hearing and blindness
- Hypothyroidism
- Cataracts
- Glaucoma
You may be tempted to treat the pouch with off-label and non-prescribed medicine. However, it is not a wise step as the dog is as the dog has a sensitive stomach that experiences irritation and ulcers.
Whatever the dog breed you have, you need to ensure regularly vaccinated. The different shots you have will depend on the area’s laws in terms of the rules and other diseases that you face in your area. You can get a vaccination schedule for your little dog by talking to your vet.
Neutering is also a great option to consider reducing the risk of developing some medical condition. Neutering or spraying helps to increase your pet’s life. It is critical to neuter the pet at all times unless you plan to get some offspring from the dog.
Grooming
Dog grooming is integral in keeping your dog clean and attractive. Besides having a cute dog, it is a beautiful bonding experience. The dog is relatively easy to clean as it has a short coat that may shed. Some grooming needs are trimming to avoid the nails overgrowing or splitting, checking the ear to remove wax, and brushing the dog regularly.
Tools you need for grooming are:
- Dog shampoo
- Damp cloth
- A firm thistle brushes
Nutrition
Your beautiful German hunting terrier is as healthy as the food it eats. You should make an effort to ensure that homemade food and commercial food served are of high quality. The diet is specified by age. Ensure the dog has access to clean, fresh water at all times.
They have a good appetite and will come whenever they sense food in the vicinity. As you set out to feed your dog correctly, you should be wary that Jagdterriers often get overweight when they overfeed, leading to obesity.
Also, try to learn more about human food that is safe for dogs to avoid poisoning your dog. Consult your dog breeder, vet, or nutritionist for comprehensive dieting instruction.
Dog Training
Jagdterriers are relatively easy to train but may be a hassle for first-time dog owners. The dogs are very respectful to the leaders during the training, making the job relatively easy. Try to socialize them with other pets as they are not very fond of them. Keep the training session short for best results.
Cost
The cost of buying and maintaining a German hunting terrier can be a bit restrictive, ranging from $300 to $500 to buy. The cost of medical checkups and insurance can quickly crunch up to $780, but you’ll be glad to have one.
If you are a first-time owner, you may have to start with another dog before getting a terrier breed.
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