Hunting with the kurtshaar has been known since the end of the 19th century. However, the descendants of this breed have been involved in fishing since time immemorial. And at that time there were no firearms, faithful dogs got the game, shot down by hunting birds or shot down by nets, from swamps and backwaters. The official name of the noble breed is “German Short-haired Pointing Dog Kurzhaar”. The definition of the breed in the specifics appeared only in 1879.
general characteristics
Hunting with the kurzhaar has become popular due to the fact that these dogs are natural prey. They have great flair, great endurance and patience. Additional advantages of this breed are precise execution of commands, excellent obedience, and trail search. It’s easy to train this dog, because he naturally possesses intelligence and obedience.
The main purpose of hunting breeds of this type is to search for and capture waterfowl. In kurtshaars, the wool gets wet very slowly, dries quickly. Strong and short limbs with membranes in the interdigital space provide good swimming ability with the ability to climb the most slippery and swampy parts of the coasts.
The considered breed of dogs has a distinctive feature - entering the rack, the animal stops abruptly and freezes. The dog is able to stand in this position for a long time, without being distracted by any extraneous things. A pet can get out of such an enchanting stupor only at the command of the owner or after obtaining animals.
Character Features
When choosing a method of hunting with a kurtshaar, it is necessary to remember that this dog is peace-loving, having a calm disposition, is not bad for keeping housing. The dog gets along well with people, has excellent contact with children and their environment.
These animals are loyal to guests or strangers, but their final reaction directly depends on the team or the behavior of the owner. In general, the kurtshaar is a companion dog that is difficult to survive alone and suffers from the loss or change of ownership. Therefore, you should start such a dog only if you can give it enough heat and attention.
Appearance
As for the exterior, it has a characteristic color, which is expressed in the brown shade of the head, camouflage spotted color of the body and legs. Mostly drathaar and kurtshaar for hunting are considered only as hunting breeds. In the circles of dog handlers, there is no dispute about their possible belonging to the exhibition or working breeds, unlike most other stripes. This parameter says a lot, especially to knowledgeable people.
Representatives of these breeds have short coarse hair, which adheres tightly to the base, while undercoat is absent. A brief description - aristocratic dogs with a strong skeleton, a wide "sternum" and iridescent muscles under a shiny skin.
Advantages and disadvantages
Hunting with the Kurzhaar is a universal action. With him, you can go to feathered game, large and medium-sized animals. It should be borne in mind that males try to dominate, so it is important to prioritize from an early age. Representatives of this breed require increased attention. When acquiring such a friend, it is necessary to count time not only on his walking and feeding, but also training on the "profile", as well as working with the dog in the "field" conditions.
It is noteworthy that the animal can be kept in an apartment and a private house, where it will be necessary to equip it with a personal space with bedding and toys. Nevertheless, the minimum number of walks is three times a day, and walking on a leash is not an option. The dog needs free runs. Otherwise, the owners can find out how active and aggressive the dog is in the living area, which will correspond to an imitation of hunting with a kurzhaar for a pheasant or a hare.
For dogs provide a two-time diet. Dry food should be given in accordance with the recommendations on the box, fatty foods should be excluded to the maximum. Maintaining optimal weight is one of the most important factors in keeping these dogs. The normal visibility of the last three ribs indicates normal weight.
Parenting
In order for hunting hares with a kurzhaar to bring pleasure in winter and summer, you need to worry about the timely education of the dog. This process should begin with puppyhood, given that animals are highly amenable to training. The main thing is that the little four-legged hunter should immediately clearly understand what is possible and what is not. After that, they begin training the dog with basic commands.
Puppies are not only understandable, but also sociable. They always strive to stay close to the owner, which allows them to create a friendly and comfortable environment from the early months. Just at this moment, one should introduce the attitude toward understanding subordination and obedience. On walks, puppies should not be allowed to be distracted unreasonably by birds, animals and foreign objects. Otherwise, they will lose dexterity and concentration in “combat” conditions, leaving in pursuit, and not aiming at patient work.
Main training
Training with the Kurzhaar to hunt for a hare and other game starts at about six months of age. According to experts, it is during this period that the dog instinctively wakes up. The main thing is that up to this moment the puppy unquestioningly carry out the owner's commands.
The first lessons with a dog can be held in a house or apartment. After honing the basics, they go on to street activities. As soon as the pet begins to clearly execute all the commands, it's time to move on to the exercises in the field or forest.
The first thing a kurtshaar is to learn how to track and tray a small bird, after which you can switch to a larger game and beast. The main objective of this plan is to teach the dog to stand on the pen. As options, conducting hunting by "eights" or "shuttle". Modern hunters use the latter method more often. This is due to the fact that for the same time, the dog will be able to explore a larger area. At these stages, you should ensure that the dog keeps the right distance and can catch the owner’s orders in a timely manner.
Search Skills Development
The main part of the initial training for hunting with the Kurzhaar in the winter is carried out where there are no numerous bird settlements. A pre-prepared carcass is thrown so that the pet does not see the moment of casting. To do this, you need to move to the wind flow at a right angle, command the call "look." After the dog finds the trophy, the command "give." At this stage, you must wait until the dog completes the specified task in accordance with all the rules.
At the first field lesson, it is necessary to take into account that moment so that the four-legged assistant is not distracted by external stimuli. If the dog does not fulfill the command, you should go to cover so that the kurzhar lost his master from sight. He will soon rush into the search himself, after which he will not be so careless, listening to what he is told.
If the dog refuses to stand up, this position is worked out with a long leash. This procedure is performed as follows:
- after finding the bird, the leash is pulled;
- the forced position is held for several minutes;
- repeat the trick, if everything is fine, training can be considered successful.
Puppy selection
When choosing a small pet, pay attention to the following details:
- The weight of a monthly kitten should be at least three kilograms.
- External examination of the eyes, which should shine.
- The correct configuration of the skull.
- Short and thick paws.
- Glitter skins, which should easily lag behind the base.
- Checking for the search for meat, which of the kids will find it faster, he will be more active on the hunt.
- The most active puppy is not the best hunter, because it will initially be aimed at dominating the pack or family.
- A vigilance test by throwing an object at the time of the dog’s distraction (which reacts or runs to the object, that is the best candidate for helpers).
