Drathaar puppies: breed description and training tips (photo)

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

A universal dog that combines excellent hunting and guard skills, devotion to the owner and a friendly attitude towards all family members is a drathaar. Puppies of this breed are in great demand among many dog lovers. But first of all, they are of interest to hunters.

History of the origin of the breed

The homeland of Drathaars is Germany, where the first representatives of the breed were bred in the 19th century. German cops, griffons, stichelhaars and pointers participated in its breeding. The drathaar owes its name to the rather rough to the touch wool. The name of the breed is translated from German - wire-haired. In Russia, this kind of dog was little known. She gained popularity after the Great Patriotic War, when a large number of these dogs were brought into the country as a trophy. The Krasnaya Zvezda kennel became the main place for breeding drathaars.

Drathaar - characteristics of the breed

The unique appearance of the Drathaar will not allow him to be confused with any otherbreed. This is a very agile and agile animal, able to keep up with prey. Has a strong muscular body. The weight of the dog is 27-32 kg, and the height at the withers for males can be up to 68 cm, for bitches - a little less. Straight limbs are distinguished by strong bones, hocks are low. On the elongated muzzle, expressive eyes and shaggy eyebrows stand out, giving the dog a philosophical look. The medium-sized hanging ears are set wide apart. The tail is usually docked.

Drathaar's coat is very thick and coarse. She does not hide the outlines of the body. Dense waterproof undercoat protects the dog from adverse weather conditions. The chest and abdomen are covered with a longer cover. It is shorter on the muzzle.

Drathaar has a balanced character and a fairly developed intellect. There is practically no aggression in it. Although strangers can be very wary and distrustful. Not only an excellent hunting assistant, but also a good guard, as well as just a wonderful pet and family member, a dog of the Drathaar breed can become.

Puppies: what to look for when choosing?

The issue of purchasing a puppy should be approached very responsibly, because the dog will be with you for many years. The comfort of living together will largely depend on the correct choice of a puppy. First of all, you should decide on the purpose of acquiring a pet - it will be a real assistant in hunting game and a large animal, or it will become just a friend andcompanion. In the latter case, some deviations from the standard are quite acceptable in puppies, which do not allow participation in exhibitions, but are completely invisible to an inexperienced person. The price of the dog will largely depend on the purpose of the dog.

When purchasing a puppy for hunting, it is important to pay attention to its working qualities. Therefore, the choice is best made together with an experienced specialist or on the recommendation. Drathaar puppies must have RKF metrics confirming their hunting origin. It is desirable that parents have awards and diplomas for participating in various hunting competitions. It is necessary to pay attention to the color. Brown-black, with gray hair, piebald is allowed. Spotted Drathaar puppies are often found (photos of dogs with different colors can be found in this article).

Equally important is the emotional state of the puppy. He should be active, moderately mobile, sociable, not afraid of strangers. Inadequate behavioral reactions may indicate an unstable psyche. It is recommended to purchase a puppy at the age of 3.5 months, when any deviations from the requirements for the breed are already noticeable.

Puppy care

Drathaar is an unpretentious breed. It is suitable for both keeping in an apartment and in the courtyard of a country house. Before buying a puppy, you need to prepare a place for him where he will be cozy and comfortable. You will need two bowls - for feeding and for water. Containers should be bought heavy and stable so that he cannotturn over. Toys will also be useful - with their help, the pet quickly adapts to new conditions.

It doesn't take much effort and time to keep dogs of the Drathaar breed. Puppies also do not require much attention. It is enough to regularly take intensive walks with the baby, provide a balanced diet and keep the coat clean. Washing dogs is recommended only in exceptional cases. Their coat has a unique ability to self-clean. But combing it (especially during the molting period) is necessary as often as possible.

Feeding

Drathaar puppies eat the same as other breeds. In the first 3 months of life, the basis of their diet is dairy products. Be sure to add a little beef meat, vegetables, cereals to them. Food should be warm and semi-liquid - cereals, meat and fish soups with vegetables and cereals. Dietary diversity is encouraged. Do not give your puppy fatty, spicy food. Garlic, pepper, tubular bird bones that can damage the esophagus are contraindicated for him. Puppies at this age need to be fed at least 5 times a day. After he eats, the bowl of food is removed. The dog should have only clean water available at all times.

As the puppy grows, the number of feedings per day is reduced, while increasing the amount of food. So, at the age of six months, food is given 3 times a day. And by ten months they are transferred to two meals a day. Drathaar puppy should be provided with vitamins and microelements necessary for growth and proper development of the skeleton. With thisthe purpose is to add fish oil, sodium glycerophosphate, Tetravit preparation to food.

What else to feed a Drathaar puppy? The most practical in the application of dry food industrial production. It is only important that it be of the highest quality, because the he alth, activity, mood and condition of the coat largely depend on the diet of the Drathaar puppy. Premium class ready-made dry food contains all the nutrients and vitamins necessary for the full development of the baby. The packaging usually indicates for which breeds and ages the product is intended. Therefore, it is always possible to choose the right option for a particular dog. As a rule, high-quality food cannot be cheap. It is not recommended to immediately buy a large bag. It is best to start by purchasing samples of different varieties in order to choose the one that the puppy likes the most. Approximately every 3 months, the variety must be changed so that the food does not become boring.

Vaccinations

Drathaar puppies need active walks, love to run and spend a lot of time outside. Therefore, they urgently need vaccinations.

The very first is done at the age of 6 weeks. Then after 30 days, at 6 months and at 1 year. On the eve of the procedure (about 2 weeks before), the puppy is given anthelmintic drugs. After vaccination, the baby may not feel well, but after 2-3 ailments pass. Each time after vaccination, the pet must be kept in quarantine for 2 weeks - not allowed to go outside and not allowed to communicate with other animals. Once the dog reaches one year of age, vaccinations are given annually. This will greatly increase your pet's chances of a long and happy life.

Raising a puppy

Like many hunting dog breeds, Drathaars are very mobile. Therefore, the most difficult moment in education will be the direction of his indefatigable energy in the right direction. From the very first days of your puppy's stay in the house, you need to wean him from the habit of chewing on shoes and other objects. To do this, it is enough to provide him with toys and switch the baby's attention to them in time.

The next step in raising a pet should be teaching him to sleep in his place. Drathaar puppies (photos confirm this) are not so small, and when they grow up, the owner may not have enough space on the bed. From the moment an animal appears in the house, they begin to accustom it to a nickname with the help of affectionate intonation and goodies. It is not difficult to teach the rules of behavior for representatives of this breed. Even two-month-old babies are already well distinguished between affection and severity, encouragement and punishment. The main thing is not to overdo it: do not pamper the dog and at the same time not intimidate.

Teaching commands

Raising a Drathaar puppy also involves learning commands. The very first of them - "Come to me", "It is impossible." And for such a hunting breed, it is also an "Aport". After all, one of the purposes of this dog is to bring prey. In no case should a puppy be beaten, shouted at him. But be sure to reward with a voice and a treat for the right behavior.

The most difficult thing is to teach the dog the "Fetch" command. First you need to interest the animal with a special object (for example, a stick). To do this, it is enough to give the opportunity to grab it, and then try to pick it up, holding the dog by the leash. When she releases the stick - do not spare praise. You will have to repeat this lesson many times until the baby clearly learns that with the “Fetch” command, he is required to bring a certain item. The main thing is not to overwork the puppy with training. The next step will be the task of bringing game.

Water training

Fearlessness is the main thing to pay attention to when raising a dog like a drathaar. Puppies may not be very bold at first and may be afraid of water, thickets and loud noises. All this can be overcome only through complete understanding and patience on the part of the owner. The manifestation of rudeness and the use of force is unacceptable.

First you can sit with your puppy on the bank of the pond. Let him come to the water himself. When he becomes older, you need to teach him to go into the river or lake after the owner. To do this, you need to call the baby very affectionately. And as soon as he decides to step into the water - immediately praise and give a treat. Drathaar puppies from working parents rarely experience fear of water. It is outweighed by the genetic desire to bring prey.

Shot training

An equally important stage is to accustom the dog to the sound of weapons. Here you can not do without an assistant who will first fire at a distance of 150 or 200 meters, andif necessary, then further. The owner at the same time watches the dog and distracts its attention. Gradually, she gets used to the shots sounding in the distance, after which the distance to them can be reduced.