deutsch drahthaar hypoallergenic

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated November 18, 2024

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Deutsch Drahthaar

History

The Deutsch Drahthaar, also known as the German Wirehaired Pointer, is a breed of hunting dog that originated in Germany. The breed was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by a group of German hunters who were looking for a versatile hunting dog that could handle a wide variety of game and hunting conditions.

The Deutsch Drahthaar was created by crossing several different breeds, including the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Pudelpointer, and the Griffon. These breeds were chosen for their strong hunting instincts, intelligence, and athleticism. The resulting breed was a tough and agile hunting dog that could work in any terrain, from dense forests to open fields.

The Deutsch Drahthaar was officially recognized as a breed by the German Kennel Club in 1901, and it has since become one of the most popular hunting dogs in Germany and other European countries. In the United States, the breed is recognized by the American Kennel Club and is becoming increasingly popular among American hunters and pet owners.

One of the main characteristics of the Deutsch Drahthaar is its wiry, weather-resistant coat. This coat is dense and wire-like, and it provides the dog with protection from the elements and helps it blend in with its surroundings when hunting. The coat comes in a variety of colors, including liver, black, and various shades of brown.

In terms of personality, the Deutsch Drahthaar is known for being an intelligent and energetic breed. These dogs are highly trainable and are often used in various types of hunting, including upland bird hunting, waterfowl hunting, and deer hunting. They are also great at tracking and retrieving, and they have a strong desire to please their owners.

The Deutsch Drahthaar is a medium to large breed, with males typically weighing between 50 and 70 pounds and females weighing between 40 and 60 pounds. They have a strong, muscular build and are generally healthy and hardy dogs, with a lifespan of around 12 to 14 years.

Overall, the Deutsch Drahthaar is a versatile and highly skilled hunting dog that has a long and interesting history. It was developed in Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by a group of hunters who were looking for a breed that could handle a wide variety of hunting conditions and game. Today, the Deutsch Drahthaar is widely recognized as a top-quality hunting breed and is also gaining popularity as a family pet.

The Drahthaar is a passionate hunting dog with industry and endurance, calm by nature, friendly in relations. As with every genuine working dog, however, he needs legitimate specialty training and guidance. Only when given sufficient activity does he feel content.

Today, it is also important that the Drahthaar be a pleasant companion for other aspects of life. He is friendly and self-aware with regard to people and other breeds. The Drahthaar is gentle with children and a suitable family dog. He is no problem to keep in the kennel or the house.

The Drahthaar is the most frequently used hunting dog by the hunting establishment in Germany, and that is not without reason: The versatile work range of the all-around dog demands an intelligent, mentally flexible dog. Endurance and a will to obey, as well as the ability to concentrate on work, characterize this robust fellow in the coarse jacket. When others quit, work is just beginning for him. As a dog that can be used universally for a full range of tasks and as a dog for the work after the shot, the Drahthaar is unsurpassed. He brings to the hunt many specialties.

History of the Deutsch-Drahthaar

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 1950s, 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. Click here for a little more history on the German Wirehaired Pointer (GWP).

Todays 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, DDs 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. DDs 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 DDs 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.

To get a close up look at this truly versatile hunting companion, please go to our contact page to look for someone in your area. If there is no one in your immediate area, please contact the closest person. He/She can help you to locate a VDD/GNA member in your area.

Deutsch Drahthaar

Information and Pictures

Elk vom Stueth aka Ranger the Deutsch Drahthaar

Other Names

Deutscher Drahthaariger
Vorstehhund
Drahthaar

Pronunciation

Description

The Deutsch Drahthaar is a medium-sized, well-muscled dog. The body is a little longer than it is tall. The skull is broad with a moderate stop. The muzzle is long and straight leading to the dark brown nose. The medium-sized, oval eyes are brown, with medium length eyebrows. The ears are rounded, hanging close to the head. The teeth meet in a scissors bite. The neck is strong and slender. The chest is deep and wide. Dewclaws are usually removed. The high-set tail is docked to two-fifths of its original length. Note: Docking tails is illegal in most parts of Europe. The coat has an undercoat that is dense in the winter and thin in the summer. The weather-resistant, water-repellent, wiry outer coat is straight, lying flat and harsh about 2 inches (5.8 cm) long. Hair on the beard, forehead and whiskers is slightly longer to protect the face. The coat colors are liver and white, either with ticking, roan or spotted and sometimes a solid liver. The head is liver, with or without a white blaze and the ears are liver.

Temperament

The Deutsch Drahthaar is very active and intelligent. Eager to learn and loyal to its family, it needs a handler who is consistent in approach. The Drahthaar likes to be occupied and enjoys working for its owner. It is friendly with those it knows, but can be distant with strangers and should be socialized, preferably at an early age. If it senses its owner is meek or passive it will become rather willful. Its hunting instincts lure it to roam. Powerful and energetic, the Drahthaar can become bored and hard to manage without enough exercise. The Deutsch Drahthaar is a good all-around gundogable to hunt any sort of game on any sort of terrain. This dog has a good nose and can track, point and retrieve on both land and water. It is steady, lively and vigorous. Children should be taught how to display proper leadership skills. If this dog does not see humans as above it in the pecking order it will become dominating and pushy and may try to dominate other animals. With proper leadership it will get along well with other dogs and household animals. Drahthaars make good watchdogs.

Height, Weight

Height: Males 24 - 26 inches (60 - 67 cm) Females 22 - 24 inches (56 - 62 cm)Weight: 60 - 70 pounds (27 - 32 kg)

Health Problems

Some lines are prone to hip dysplasia, ear infections, genetic eye disease and skin cancers.

Living Conditions

The Deutsch Drahthaar is not recommended for apartment life. It can be somewhat high strung and very active indoors; needs plenty of exercise to prevent extreme indoor restlessness. It will do best with at least a large yard.

Exercise

This dog is extremely energetic and tireless. It is very important that it gets daily vigorous exercise to prevent it from becoming high-strung with extreme indoor restlessness. This breed can be a challenge for even the most active family and they should not be taken on as a family pet unless they can guarantee plenty of daily vigorous exercise. The breed does best when working, but if that is not possible it needs to be taken on a daily, brisk, long walk, jog or run alongside you when you bicycle. They are excellent jogging companions and love to swim and retrieve. While out on a walk or jog, be sure to make the dog heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, never in front, as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human.

Life Expectancy

About 12-14 years.

Litter Size

About 4 to 6 puppies

Grooming

The coat of the Deutsch Drahthaar should be brushed about twice a week with a firm bristle brush. The coat needs some stripping, but is not hard to learn how to do. The hairs should be hand plucked occasionally depending on the condition of the coat. It is usually thinned in the spring and fall. Bathe only when necessary. The hair of the coat should be as hard as possible, but must not look untidy. Check the ears to make sure they are clean. The feet should be checked after the dog has been out working. This breed is an average shedder.

Origin

The Deutsch Drahthaar was developed in Germany in the beginning of the 20th century by crossing the German Shorthair Pointer with the Griffon, Stichelhaar (a dog that was developed by crossing the Pointer, Foxhound, Pudelpointer, and Polish water dog) and the Pudelpointer (a dog that was a cross between the Poodle and Pointer). The German Wirehaired Pointer originated from the Deutsch Drathaar. The split occurred when they were imported to the US in the early 50s. At that time the US breeder hopefuls found the regulations of the Verein Deutsch Drahthaar (VDD) the German Breed Club that controls the breed worldwide to be to restrictive. While they could breed the dogs, they could not be registered so they could not sell them as pure bred or registered dogs. They worked through the American kennel Club to get the breed added for the purpose of being able to register their dogs. As an example, Deutsch Drathaar's still can not be bred in the UK. Any litter born of a Deutsch Drathaar pairing in the UK can be registered with their kennel club, however will not be registered with the VDD. The main difference between the Deutsch Drahthaar and the German Wirehaired Pointer is that the Deutsch Drahthaar is still bred to the standards that were established more than 100 years ago when the German breeders determined that they had cultivated the most proficient versatile hunting dog around. The breeding program and requirements for participating, have helped to ensure that genetic defects are not bred back into the breed and that the traits for which the breed was developed are maintained. The GWP has it's own standard with a lot of the concentration being on the show ring and less on the natural desire/drive for the pursuit of game. Deutsch Drahthaar are able to point, track, retrieve, and work as a gundog, in both field and water for both feather and fur.