German Hunting Terrier

One of the most popular terrier breeds still used for hunting duties, the Deutsche Jagdterier is truly a remarkable working dog of great intelligence and fantastic drive and agility. Even though small black-n-tan terriers existed in Germany since at least the 18th century, this breed was created in the 1920's, after a group of Fox Terrier fanciers decided to abandon their investment into the popular English breed which they felt was becoming a softer pet and show dog while losing its hunting abilities. There is some uncertainty concerning the actual programme and what breeds were used in the creation of the German Hunting Terrier, due to many of the documents being lost during WW2, but the employment of suitable rough-coated English Foxterriers, Welsh Terriers and Old English "broken-haired" Terriers has been confirmed, while the rumoured use of Manchester Terriers, German Schnauzers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Border Terriers, German Pinschers, Dachshunds, Taurunum Terriers and Irish Terriers requires more research. In the early days of the breed, there was a variety of sizes and colourings, so the decision was made to select for coat colour alongside the preferred drive, tenacity and health requirements. The first breed Club was formed in 1924 in Munich by Grunewald, Fries and Zangenberg, the leading men in the programme. A noted hunter and Schnauzer breeder named Herbert Lackner decided to abandon his own dreams of developing a new breed in favour of taking an active role in the establishment of the German Hunting Terrier, quickly inheriting the position of the Club's president from Rudolf Fries and subsequently becoming one of the most important people in the breed's history.

Apart from occasional disagreements about the expected prey-drive levels and coat types, the Club functioned quite well and in a relatively short amount of time, the Deutscher Jagdterrier's type was established. All of the dogs needed to be proven in hunting tests before registration, ensuring that only the best working specimens contributed to the breed's gene pool. The breed gained many admirers quickly and it reportedly numbered a population of around 4000 representatives after the 2nd World War. However, many dogs were unregistered and since the breed Club ceased to function during wartime, a new Club was founded in 1947, again with Lackner as president and chief promoter of the breed in Germany, but also in Austria and Switzerland, as well as other European countries. During the 1950's, the German Hunt Terrier found its way into the United States and the Soviet Union, where it quickly found loyal followings. To this day, it is succesfully used all over the world for a number of duties and although commonly seen as a companion and Show dog, this working breed remains primarily a rugged and tenacious hunter of foxes, badgers, rabbits, boars and even bears and pumas. A natural ratter, it also makes an excellent vermin destroyer. In some countries, these dogs can even be seen in fighting rings, oftentimes being pitted against much larger breeds than itself.

This is a dog that knows no fear and posesses a fierce and explosive personality, remarkable intelligence and playful nature. While loyal to its master and reasonably trainable, the German Hunting Terrier can be unfriendy towards strangers and very aggressive towards other dogs, needing early socialization and responsible ownership. It can be an amenable pet for experienced handlers, but its irritable and quick-trigger nature doesn't make it the best choice for a child's playmate or an urban companion. Although a small breed, the Deutscher Jagdterrier is immensely powerful and athletic, having a strong and muscular body, a deep chest, straight sturdy legs, a level back and a somewhat wedge-shaped and broad head, with a powerful muzzle and well-developed jaws. The tail is usually docked, while the ears are left unaltered. Although rough-coated examples are the most common and preferred by the Standard, a large number of shorthaired working representatives exist which are quite valued by some fanciers.

The most popular colouring is the traditional black-n-tan, but some dark grey, brown and red-coated dogs can be seen on occasion, all of which must have clearly defined tan markings, with a small white spot on the chest permitted. Average height is around 14 inches.