Overview
The Jagdterrier, or German Hunt Terrier, was created in the early twentieth century to be a pure working dog, used to flush fox and badger from earths and to track and bay wild boar. It is compact, dark, smooth or rough coated, and bred for toughness, courage and tenacity rather than looks or sociability.
Most Jagdterriers in Britain belong to people who work them or who have terrier experience. They are intensely loyal to their handler, suspicious of strangers, and often sharp with other dogs and any small animal that moves. They are also quick to learn and very trainable for the right person.
Exercise and walking needs
Ninety minutes a day of hard exercise plus mental work is a minimum. They have stamina out of all proportion to their size and get into trouble when bored. Long line walks over rough ground, scent games and training sessions all help.
They are weatherproof and do not care about rain or cold, so a wet day is no reason to cut the walk short.
On the walk
- Prey drive: Extreme. Cats, squirrels, rabbits and birds will trigger a chase and often a dig. Keep the dog on a lead or long line everywhere that is not fenced.
- Other dogs: Frequently intolerant, especially of dogs that approach without manners. Not a group walk candidate without a long history to the contrary.
- Holes: Jagdterriers go to ground. Watch for badger setts, fox earths and rabbit warrens; a dog underground may not come out for hours.
- Lead: Strong for its weight and inclined to lunge at anything that moves. A snug harness and a short lead in busy places.
Tips for professional walkers
- Walk the dog one to one and choose routes without livestock or busy dog traffic.
- Know where the dog is at every moment near hedgerows and banks; a terrier can vanish into an earth in seconds.
- Reward engagement with you constantly; a Jagdterrier that checks in is a Jagdterrier you can manage.
- Check for cuts, thorns and ticks after every walk through cover.
What to ask the owner
- Has the dog been worked, and does it have a history of going to ground or chasing?
- Which dogs, if any, does it get along with, and how does it react to strange dogs on a path?
- What recall and stop commands does it know, and in what circumstances do they actually work?