Jagdterrier

The Jagdterrier — the German Hunting Terrier — was bred between the wars for one purpose: a hard, fearless working terrier that would go to ground on anything.

History

It was created in Germany in the 1920s by hunters who wanted a working terrier free of show breeding, using Fox Terrier stock crossed with Welsh and old English terrier lines. Selection was for working ability alone, and German breed clubs still require working tests.

Temperament

The breed is known for being intensely driven, courageous and tenacious — qualities that make it superb underground and demanding above it. It is affectionate with its handler and frequently intolerant of other dogs.

Care and training

It needs a real outlet for its drive; this is a working dog, not a companion terrier, and it is unsuited to a household that cannot supply hunting or serious equivalent work. Training must be consistent from the start. Both coats need little grooming.

Health

Generally robust, with primary lens luxation among the known inherited tendencies. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.