German Spaniel

The German Spaniel Dog Profile

The German Spaniel, also known as the Deutscher Wachtelhund (German Quail Dog), is a hunting dog breed that was established in Germany around 1890. The Stöberer (lit. “rummager”) is a descendant of an old German breed that became popular with commoners after the 1848 German state revolutions, when they needed a versatile hunting dog.

In Germany, the Stoeberer is currently a type of hunting dog, with the Wachtelhund as its sole member. Outside of Germany, the breed is very unknown, but it was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1996. 

Its color is brown with occasional white patches and it is a well-built breed. It may be trained to track as well as retrieve games. It is connected to the Small Münsterländer (′′Heidewachtel′′) and the Drentse Patrijshond, which are all descended from a quail dog that dates back to the 15th century.

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German Spaniel Highlights

• The Deutscher Wachtelhund is a medium-sized gundog breed with long, thick, wavy hair and a solid bone structure.
• It is well-constructed, allowing it to retrieve huge animals such as hares and foxes.
• The ears should extend halfway up the nose to the tip. The size ranges from 18–21 inches (46–53 cm) at the withers.
• The dog’s body length is twice its height, measured from the tip of the snout to the base of the tail.
• The breed’s males and females weigh between 44 and 66 pounds (20 and 30 kg).
• It can live for 12 to 14 years.
• The coat on the head is short and fine, but the coat on the body is strong, thick, wavy or curly, and has an extensive undercoat for protection.
• It has a fluffy coat that is usually brown or brown roan in hue.
• Despite being brown, it can have white markings on its breast and/or legs, as well as white ticking elsewhere on its body.
• Other colors available for the coat include red and white, as well as solid red.
• The coats of the breed are not uniformly black.

German Spaniel Breed Profile:

Dog Breed Group:  Working Dogs

Height: Male: 48–54 cm, Female: 45–52 cm

Weight:  Male: 18–25 kg, Female: 18–25 kg

Life Span: 12 to 14 years

AREA OF ORIGIN:  Germany 

DATE OF ORIGIN: 1800s

OTHER NAMES:  Deutscher Wachtelhund, Deutscher Wachtel, German Quail Dog

Temperament: Intelligent, Friendly, Versatile, Docile, Lively, Passionate

Type: Purebred

Color: White, Fawn, Liver, Grey, Brown, Red

Litter Size: up to 8 puppies 

Puppy Prices: You should anticipate to pay roughly $1,000 for a German Spaniel puppy, depending on availability in your area, breeders, and the dog’s pedigree. Outside of Germany, these canines are incredibly rare, and you’ll most likely have to pay much higher fees.

Pros: wonderful gun dog performs well in water great stamina

Cons: does not suit a family with little children hunts other animals does not suit a city dweller

German Spaniel Health:

The German Spaniel is indeed a healthy breed, yet all dogs are susceptible to some health issues. Aside from field injuries, this breed may suffer from hip dysplasia, ear infections, skin disorders, and allergies.

German Spaniel Grooming:

Although the German Spaniel does not require much care, they do shed twice a year profusely, in the spring and autumn. Furthemore, brushing once every week, along with an occasional bath in clean water, should suffice: Shampoos can interfere with the natural oils in your dog’s coat. Spaniels have long ears that must be checked on a regular basis and kept clean and dry to avoid infection.

They have fast-growing nails that will need to be trimmed on a regular basis to avoid splitting and cracking, and their teeth will need to be brushed weekly to prevent dental disease.

German Spaniel Exercise:

The German Spaniel is a highly energetic breed with a lengthy history of hunting and running vast distances across difficult terrain, so that they will require a lot of exercise. Even if they are just used to hunting, they will require strenuous exercise on their days off to maintain themselves happy and healthy.

If you only maintain a German Spaniel as a friend, you’ll need to take them for walks, runs, and jogs multiple times a day to keep them fit. Playtime in a secure yard is also important for keeping them cognitively occupied and is a terrific opportunity to bond with your dog. To keep your German Spaniel emotionally and physically occupied, we suggest agility classes and obedience training.

German Spaniel Training:

The German Spaniel is a smart, trainable breed that was bred for its great hunting instincts and flexibility. These dogs are often sociable to other dogs and people and adaptive to new conditions, and brave in the field. As a gun dog, this breed may perform a range of tasks such as hunting, tracking, and retrieving. 

The German Spaniel enjoys his work and may be an aggressive hunter, so if you intend to maintain him as a family pet, training may be required to curb his tendencies. When it comes to teaching, these dogs require a firm and persistent hand in leadership, as they may not respond well to severe training methods. It is advised to use positive reinforcement training.

German Spaniel Food and  Nutrition:

Aim for about 2-3 cups of high-quality dry kibble per day, and make sure that clean, fresh water is constantly available.

German Spaniels are a very active and energetic breed that requires a diet that matches their fast-paced lifestyle. Dry kibble high in animal-based protein is a practical option because it contains all of the vitamins, minerals, alongside nutrients that your pet needs to live a full life – as long as it is of excellent quality. Having said that, we strongly advise supplementing their dry food with lean meats and organ meats for the essential amino acids and variety that meat will bring to their diet.

We do not recommend free feeding these dogs because they are highly food motivated and can get overweight soon. Give them three different meals every day to keep them satisfied. Avoid meals containing filler components such as wheat, maize, and soy, as they are empty calories that will not give appropriate nourishment and will instead force your dog to consume more, causing him to acquire needless weight.

German Spaniel Temperament and Personality:

The Deutscher Wachtelhund is a gun dog with a lot of versatility.  They are energetic, with a strong hunting instinct and a friendly demeanor toward humans and other dogs. The Wachtelhund is a brave dog that is quick to learn and adapt to new conditions. While they cannot compete with the ability of more specialized spaniels and retrievers, they can successfully hunt upland game, retrieve, track, and blood trail large game, making them popular among hunters who want a dog that can perform multiple tasks.

German Spaniel Care/Upkeep:

Brushing the coat thoroughly on a regular basis will keep it in good shape. As previously said, these canines enjoy water and would benefit from showers, especially during the summer. The hair between the toes should be clipped on a regular basis during the winter. These dogs are fantastic retriever dogs. Ear infections are common in them. Ears must be checked and cleansed on a regular basis to avoid ear infections. Similarly, after each hunting excursion, eyes must be examined and cleansed to remove foreign materials such as grass seeds and minute dirt particles.

German Spaniel Relationship with Children and Other Pets

Because German Spaniels are rarely kept as pets, there is little information on their personality when living in a family home. These dogs are well-known for being kind and gentle with both their owners and outsiders and are rarely violent. They are normally patient and friendly with youngsters, though their strong energy and noisy attitude may be too much for younger children.

These dogs encompass a strong hunting instinct and prey drive that is difficult to control. While German Spaniels are reputed to be non-aggressive and loving toward other dogs, small pets like cats will undoubtedly be viewed as prey. Even with early socialization and good training, controlling this breed’s high prey drive will be difficult.

Names: 

Alger—noble, bright

Alfred—counselor

Arvin—friend to all

August—exalted, revered

Axel—peaceful

Bernard—brave as a bear

Bismarck—German statesman

Bruno—brown-haired

Cayden—spirit of battle

Clovis—famous warrior

Damian—the fighter

All About German Spaniel

The German Spaniel breed, is known as the Deutscher Wachtelhund or German Quail Dog in its native Germany, has long been utilized as a flexible and capable hunting dog. Outside of German hunting circles, the breed is little known, but it is gaining popularity worldwide. Because of their tremendous prey drive, these powerful hunting dogs are not generally kept as pets, but they are extremely popular among professional hunters and are frequently used as capable gun dogs.

They are highly adaptable dogs who get along well with strangers and other dogs, though they can be a little rowdy and overbearing around little children. Their strong energy, powerful prey drive, and somewhat stubborn personality are not suitable for inexperienced owners. Nevertheless, they are incredibly loyal, capable, and adaptable as a gun dog and hunting partner, making them as one of the most popular choices in Germany.

While these dogs are well-known for their tracking and hunting abilities, they are also gaining popularity as devoted companion dogs. If you want to learn more about this vibrant breed, keep reading for an in-depth look at the German Spaniel.

German Spaniel History:

The German Spaniel is thought to have been around for hundreds of years. In old hunting literature, a dog with similar physical characteristics and hunting abilities was referenced. Around 1890, a German breeder named Frederick Roberth is said to have created this gundog breed. Several small and medium-sized long-haired breeds were utilised in the development of the German Spaniel, but the old German breed known as the Stober stands out the most. Stober is a German hunting dog that has been around for centuries.

During the seventeenth century, hunting was an exclusive privilege reserved for royalty. Kennels are only affordable to nobles. After the German Revolution, however, the common man was permitted to hunt. However, because they cannot afford to keep specialized dog kennels, the German commoner must design a versatile hunting dog that will meet the needs of the common hunter. 

The Sober is a versatile hunting breed that dates back to 1719 in German hunting history. This dog has a scenting capacity similar to that of a bloodhound. Stober specimens have been discovered in Bavaria. The Germ was founded on these remains of the breed.

The Stober was developed through crossbreeding with other water dogs and sporting spaniels with superior hunting abilities. The Wachtelhund was the outcome of the breeding (pronounced Valk-tel-hund). Wachtelhund is the German word for quail dog. The Deutsche Wachtelhund was officially recognized in 1903. The Verein für Deutsche Wachtelhund (VDW) was formed to represent the breed. 

In the Stober group, the German Spaniel is the sole breed that exists. The hunting qualities of this sporting breed are exceptional. A German Spaniel is a tireless hunter that never fails to find and retrieve game. The keen nose of this breed is known for trailing wounded game. A particularly exceptional breed that hunts both feathered and furred gambols.

This breed prefers to hunt alone. It is a passionate and aggressive hunter who will kill a smaller animal and keep a huge game at bay until the hunter comes. Rarely are these dogs retained as pets. Foresters and professional hunters in Germany own and care for the German Spaniel. Non-hunters are rarely sold this breed. Although many German Spaniels were imported to the United States in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the breed is relatively unknown outside of Germany. These dogs were bred, and a total of 17 puppies were born. German Spaniels have been owned by Canadian guides and hunting groups for the past 20 years. These dogs were used to find and chase down black bees.

All About German Spaniel:

The German Spaniel, also known as the Deutscher Wachtelhund, is a hunting breed notable for its thick, wavy coat and amiable temperament. Despite being bred as a hunting dog, this breed is remarkably adaptable to a variety of living settings as long as his exercise needs are met. Despite this, his primary goal is to work as a gun dog hunting upland game.

FAQs:

Are German Spaniels suitable as family dogs?

It is also highly gentle and welcoming of strangers, never displaying unprovoked aggressiveness, and because of its confident attitude, it is not readily “spooked,” making it generally trustworthy among youngsters.

Is German spaniel hypoallergenic?

The German Spaniel is not a hypoallergenic breed dog and requires weekly brushing to maintain a healthy coat.