Also known as the Deutscher Wachtelhund, Deutscher Wachtel, and the German Quail Dog, the German Spaniel is a friendly and affectionate breed. But how do you know whether you are ready to purchase a pet and if this breed is right for you? This information is absolutely necessary in making the decision to purchase a pet.
History
The origin of the German Spaniel can be traced back to early 20th century Germany. While the exact descendents of the breed are unknown, enthusiasts believe such breeds as the Springer Spaniel and various Retriever breeds to have taken part in the creation of the German Spaniel, though this has never been proven scientifically or otherwise.
Throughout its history, the German Spaniel has been most commonly used for hunting, scenting, tracking, and retrieving such game as fox, proving its superior abilities to work on both land and marshy terrain while providing companionship.
Today, while the German Spaniel has attained an underground popularity as a hunting and companion dog, the breed remains rather rare outside of its native Germany.
Personality Traits
Best known for its friendly and gentle nature, the German Spaniel is a genuinely happy breed. These dogs thrive on strong and dependable relationships with humans, and often look to their owner for direction and leadership. This breed is very intelligent and generally easy to train. As a pet, the German Spaniel is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate. These dogs are not suited for full-time indoor or apartment living, as they enjoy spending time outdoors, taking long walks, and playing games such as fetch.
Train-ability
Due to its eagerness to please and impress its owner and willingness to learn, the German Spaniel generally responds well to basic training and commands. This intelligent breed has the ability to learn to perform most any task its trainer is willing to take the time to teach.
Establishing immediate trust and respect is key to successfully training the German Spaniel. These dogs can be somewhat sensitive to criticism and respond best to positive reinforcement and reward-based training.
Benefits and Disadvantages of the Breed
There are many benefits to owning a German Spaniel. This active breed is often quite amusing and entertaining to watch while at play. These dogs are very bright, easy to train, obedient by nature, and capable of learning to perform many impressive tricks and tasks. When properly socialized from a young age, the German Spaniel gets along well with children and other pets, known for its gentle approach to small children. This breed is alert and aware of its surroundings, serving as an effective watch dog by announcing the arrival of guests and unwanted visitors. The German Spaniel is obedient, loyal, loving, and affectionate, making an excellent hunting dog, family pet, and companion alike.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages to owning a German Spaniel. These energetic and athletic dogs require large amounts of daily exercise and room to run and play outdoors. Anyone wishing to purchase this breed lacking the adequate amount of time and space to dedicate to the dog is strongly advised against doing so. A German Spaniel not receiving the proper amount of exercise and space will often act out by destroying property, chewing, barking, whining, and ignoring basic training such as housebreaking.
The German Spaniel has a strong instinct to hunt and will occasionally indulge in a good chase. When on the run, these dogs are surprisingly quick, and most pose a threat to other animals, neighborhood pets, and small woodland creatures. The German Spaniel must be leashed or properly secured at all times when outdoors.
This breed’s long and silky coat requires almost constant attention such as brushing, bathing, and grooming in order to prevent tangling and maintain its attractive appearance.
As previously mentioned, the German Spaniel remains rather rare outside of its native Germany and can prove quite difficult to obtain. Individuals seeking to purchase this breed often encounter such challenges as inability to locate a breeder, high prices, and being placed on long waiting lists.
Common Health Concerns
While the German Spaniel is typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, they do suffer from a few health problems, including: degenerative disk disease and other spinal conditions, hearing loss – often leading to deafness in one or both ears, chronic ear infection, entropian – folding inward of the eye lid, ectropian – folding outward of the eye lid, and bloat.
Now that you know all about the breed, do you think you are ready to own a German Spaniel? Remember, purchasing a pet is a big decision and should be discussed thoroughly and seriously with your entire family.
Sources:
http://www.heydogs.com/d/deutscher-wachtelhund.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/german_spaniel
