Summary
The German Spaniel, or Deutscher Wachtelhund, is a medium-sized, long-haired, heavily built flushing dog from Germany, bred by hunters for hunters as a versatile gundog for woodland and water. Muscular and sturdy, it is longer than it is tall, with a thick double coat that is mostly wavy, and it comes in two colour strains — solid brown and brown roan. Lively, passionate and friendly, it is a tireless worker that flushes, tracks and retrieves, and it makes an affectionate family dog for an active home. It needs plenty of exercise, training and time outdoors to be happy.
History & origin
The German Spaniel has been known in German hunting literature for centuries, but systematic breeding began around 1900 from a dog called Lord Augusta 1834 L, from Staufenberg in Upper Bavaria, and a few suitable bitches. Early litters produced brown dogs, sometimes with white markings, and white-and-brown dogs; the brown roan colour entered the breed through the bitch Baby auf der Schanze 1838 L. Breeder Rudolf Friess, who shaped the breed for decades, kept the brown and roan strains separate to preserve genetic diversity. The breed has always been bred exclusively by hunters as a flushing and versatile hunting dog, and it was recognised by the FCI in 1954.
Care
The German Spaniel's coat is strong and close-fitting, mostly wavy and sometimes curly, with a thick undercoat and feathering on the legs and tail, plus a frill on the neck. It needs regular brushing — two or three times a week, and more during the moult — to keep it free of tangles and to control shedding, and the ears, which are well furnished with hair, need checking and drying. This is a working gundog with real stamina, so it needs plenty of daily exercise and, ideally, real hunting or scent work: woodland walks, retrieving, tracking and water work all suit it. Intelligent and very docile, it trains willingly with kind, consistent methods, but it is also lively and independent in the field and needs early, thorough socialisation and recall training.
Conditions
The German Spaniel suits active owners, especially those who hunt, work or train their dogs, and it needs a home where it gets plenty of outdoor exercise rather than a quiet indoor life. Friendly, adaptable and neither nervous nor aggressive, it is good with children and other pets when properly socialised, and it is an alert watchdog. Because it is a passionate hunter with a strong desire to find game, it needs a secure garden and reliable recall, and it should not be allowed to roam. It dislikes being left alone for long and can become destructive without enough to do. With a job, daily exercise and consistent, kind training, it is a cheerful, loyal and hard-working companion.
