A universal dog that combines excellent hunting and watchdog skills, devotion to the owner and a benevolent attitude to all family members - this is 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 breed origin
The birthplace of the Drathaars is Germany, where in the 19th century the first representatives of the breed were bred. Her breeding involved German cops, griffons, stichelhaars and pointers. Drathaar owes its name to a rather rough to the touch coat. The name of the breed is translated from German - coarse-haired. In Russia, this species of dogs was little known. It gained popularity after World War II, when a large number of these dogs were brought into the country as a trophy. The main place for breeding drathaars became the nursery "Red Star".
Drathaar - breed characteristic
The unique appearance of the drathaar will not allow him to be confused with any other breed. This is a very agile and agile animal, able to keep up with prey. It has a strong muscular torso. The weight of the dog is 27–32 kg, and the height at the withers of males can be up to 68 cm, and that of females is slightly less. The straight limbs are strong boned, the hocks are low. Expressive eyes and shaggy eyebrows stand out on the elongated face, giving the dog a philosophical look. The medium-sized hanging ears are set wide apart. The tail is usually docked.
The coat at Drathaar is very thick and tough. She does not hide the shape of the body. Thick waterproof undercoat protects the dog from adverse weather conditions. The chest and abdomen are covered with a longer cover. On the face it is shorter.
Drathaar has a balanced character and a sufficiently developed intellect. There is practically no aggressiveness in it. Although strangers can be very alert and distrustful. Not only an excellent assistant on the hunt, but also a good guard, as well as just a wonderful pet and family member can become a dog breed Drathaar.
Puppies: what to look for when choosing?
The question of acquiring a puppy should be approached very responsibly, because the dog will be with you for many years. The comfort of living together will 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 for game and large animals or will become just a friend and companion. In the latter case, any deviations from the standard, not allowing participation in exhibitions, but completely invisible to an inexperienced person, are quite acceptable for puppies. The price of the dog will largely depend on the purpose of the dog.
When acquiring a puppy for hunting, it is important to pay attention to its working qualities. Therefore, the choice is best made with an experienced specialist or on the recommendation. Drathaar puppies must have a RKF metric confirming its hunting origin. It is advisable that parents have awards and diplomas for participating in various hunting competitions. It is necessary to pay attention to color. Allowed brown-black, with gray, pied. Spotted puppies of Drathaar 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 must be active, moderately agile, sociable, not afraid of strangers. Inadequate psyche can be indicated by inappropriate behavioral reactions. It is recommended to acquire 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 maintenance in the apartment, as well as in the courtyard of a country house. Before buying a puppy, it is necessary to prepare for him a place where he will be cozy and comfortable. It will take two bowls - for feeding and for water. Tanks should be bought heavy and stable, so that he could not turn them over. Toys will also be useful - with their help, the pet quickly adapts to new conditions.
The maintenance of dogs of the Drathaar breed does not take much time and energy. Puppies also do not require much attention. It is enough to regularly make intensive walks with the baby, provide a balanced diet and maintain a clean coat. Dog washing is recommended only in exceptional cases. Their wool has a unique ability to clean itself. But comb it (especially during molting) is necessary as often as possible.
Feeding
Drathaar puppies eat the same way as representatives of 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. Food should be warm and semi-liquid - cereals, meat and fish soups with vegetables and cereals. Variety in nutrition is welcome. Do not give the puppy fatty, spicy food. Garlic, pepper, and tubular bird bones that can damage the esophagus are contraindicated. Puppies at this age need to be fed at least 5 times a day. After he eats, the bowl of food is removed. In constant access, the dog should have only clean water.
As the puppy grows, the number of feeds per day is reduced, while increasing the amount of food. So, at six months of age, food is given 3 times a day. And by ten months they are transferred to two-time feeding. Drathaar puppy should be provided with vitamins and minerals necessary for growth and proper development of the skeleton. For this purpose, fish oil, sodium glycerophosphate, and Tetravit are added to food.
How to feed a drathaar puppy yet? The most practical in the application of dry food industrial production. It is only important that he be of the highest quality, because his health, activity, mood and condition of the coat are more dependent on the diet of the puppy drathaar. Ready-made premium dry feed contains all the nutrients and vitamins necessary for the full development of the baby. The packaging usually indicates which breeds and age the product is intended for. Therefore, there is always the opportunity to choose the right option for a particular dog. As a rule, high-quality feed cannot be cheap. It is not recommended to immediately buy a big bag. It’s better to get a sample of different varieties to get started, in order to choose the one that your puppy will like the most. Approximately every 3 months, the variety must be changed so that the feed does not become boring.
Vaccinations
Puppies of the Drathaar breed need active walks, like to run and spend a lot of time on the street. Therefore, vaccinations are urgently needed.
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 (approximately 2 weeks), the puppy is given anthelmintic drugs. After vaccination, the baby may feel unwell, but after 2-3 malaise disappears. 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. When the dog reaches the age of one, vaccinations are given annually. This will significantly increase the pet's chances for a long and happy life.
Raising a puppy
Like many hunting breeds of dogs, drathaars are very mobile. Therefore, the most difficult moment in education will be the direction of its indefatigable energy in the right direction. From the very first days of the puppy's stay in the house, you need to wean him from the habit of biting shoes and other objects. To do this, it is enough to provide him with toys and timely switch the attention of the baby to them.
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 the animal appears in the house, they begin to accustom it to the nickname with the help of gentle intonation and goodies. Teaching the rules of behavior of representatives of this breed is easy. Even two-month-old babies already distinguish between affection and severity, encouragement and punishment. The main thing is not to overdo it: not to pamper the dog and at the same time not to intimidate.
Team training
Raising a drathaar puppy also involves training teams. The very first of them - "To me," "You can’t." And for such a hunting breed it is also “Aport”. Indeed, 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 encourage voice and dainty for proper behavior.
The hardest thing to teach a dog is the Aport team. First you need to interest the animal with a special subject (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 regret the praise. You will have to repeat this lesson many times until the baby clearly understands that with the Aport 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 to train to bring game.
Water training
Fearlessness is the main thing that you should pay attention to when raising a dog like drathaar. Puppies may not be particularly courageous at first and may fear 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 a puppy on the shore of a pond. Let him come to the water himself. When he becomes older, you need to train to go into the river or lake after the owner. To do this, it is very affectionate to suspect the baby. And as soon as he decides to step into the water - immediately praise and give a treat. Drathaar puppies from working parents rarely fear 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 make shots first at a distance of 150 or 200 meters, and if necessary, then on. The owner at the same time watches the dog and distracts its attention. Gradually, she gets used to the shots that sound in the distance, after which the distance to them can be reduced.