Deutscher Wachtelhund
- Medium
- Foundation Stock Service
The Deutscher Wachtelhund, or German Spaniel, is a medium-sized German gun dog bred to flush and track upland birds. Determined, friendly, and comfortable in water, it weighs 40 to 55 pounds and suits active homes.
- Height
- 18 to 21
- inches at the shoulder
- Weight
- 40 to 55
- pounds, adult
- Life expectancy
- 12 to 14
- years, median 13
- Senior from
- 9.8
- years, about
Senior starts in the last quarter of a breed's expected lifespan, following the 2019 AAHA canine life stage guidelines. Individual dogs vary.
About the breed
- Temperament
- Friendly, versatile, determined
- Coat
- Wavy, Double, medium
- Origin
- Germany
The Deutscher Wachtelhund is a medium-sized, muscular gun dog with a noble head, strong bone, a graceful neck, a compact body, and a heavily feathered tail. Adults stand about 18 to 21 inches tall and weigh roughly 40 to 55 pounds. The German name translates to German quail dog, a nod to its skill at flushing upland birds, and the breed also goes by the German Spaniel.
This is a determined, courageous hunting breed with a strong willingness to work and a love of scent tracking that can border on obsessive. An innate love of water makes these dogs a natural fit for hunting waterfowl. Because their drive to follow a scent is so strong, keep them on a leash or in a fully fenced yard so they do not wander off outdoors.
The breed descends from the Stober, an old German hunting dog whose scent-tracking skill rivaled the Bloodhound. Stobers first appear in records in 1719, but by the 1880s the original line had run short, so German hunters found a few dogs in Bavaria and crossed them with spaniels known for strong hunting ability. The result was the Deutscher Wachtelhund, still kept today by German hunters and gamekeepers as a hunting partner.
The breed reached the United States in the 1950s and later Canada, though only about 150 dogs live in North America today. One major US kennel registry recognized it in 1996, and another has recorded it in its Foundation Stock Service since 2011.
Temperament and needs
Scored 1 to 5 for the breed overall. Individual dogs vary.
- Affectionate with family4 out of 5
- Good with young children5 out of 5
- Good with other dogs3 out of 5
- Openness to strangers3 out of 5
- Playfulness3 out of 5
- Watchdog and protective nature3 out of 5
- Adaptability3 out of 5
- Trainability4 out of 5
- Energy level3 out of 5
- Mental stimulation needs3 out of 5
- Barking level3 out of 5
- Shedding2 out of 5
- Grooming frequency2 out of 5
- Drooling2 out of 5
Care
The routines that matter most for this breed. Open one at a time.
Nutrition
Feed your Deutscher Wachtelhund a high-quality food matched to its life stage, whether puppy, adult, or senior. Many brands offer formulas sized by breed, and the German Spaniel falls in the medium range. What you feed is your choice, and your veterinarian or breeder can help you set meal frequency for a puppy and the right adult diet.
To hold a healthy weight, measure meals rather than free-feeding and keep track of treats. As a guideline, treats should make up no more than 10% of daily calories.
Keep clean, fresh water available at all times.
Grooming
The German Spaniel's coat is short and fine on the head and longer on the body, where it grows thick and wavy or curly with enough undercoat for protection and good feathering. Brush weekly to lift loose fur and prevent tangles in the feathering, and add an occasional bath to keep the dog clean.
The strong, fast-growing nails need regular trims with a clipper or grinder to prevent overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. Overgrown nails can be painful and make running or walking awkward.
Check the ears regularly and clear any wax or debris to lower the risk of infection. Provide dental care with regular at-home brushing, veterinarian-recommended dental chews, and professional cleanings.
Exercise
As a hunting breed, the Deutscher Wachtelhund needs a moderate amount of daily exercise and at least a moderate amount of space to run, play, and sniff. Long leashed walks, hikes, swimming, ball chasing, and retrieving flying discs all give that energy a good outlet.
These dogs also thrive on mental work. Indoor games like hide-and-seek, rolling a ball along the floor, and learning new tricks keep them busy on quiet days.
They are well-suited to dog sports, including agility, obedience, rally, flyball, and scent tracking, which offer another way to channel both body and mind.
Training
Deutscher Wachtelhunds are intelligent and versatile, quick to learn commands and how to work various types of game. Positive reinforcement suits this breed well.
Early socialization helps a puppy grow into a well-mannered adult. Deutscher Wachtelhunds are friendly, affectionate, and generally compatible with other dogs. They can adapt to family life when given regular interaction.
Health conditions
1 condition is documented for the Deutscher Wachtelhund.
A predisposition is not a diagnosis. Ask your vet which screenings make sense for your dog's age.
Sources
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