17-19 lbs
13-16"
Germany
The Jagdterrier (pronounced YAHK-terrier) is a hunting and sporting dog and takes his job seriously. Almost entirely used as a hunting dog in his homeland, the Jagdterrier is a rare breed outside of Germany. He is clever and will keep his owner on their toes. To keep him happy, the Jagdterrier does require a significant amount of exercise each day. Families should not pick him as a family companion unless they are extremely active or willing to train for dog sports such as agility, barn hunts or rally. He is a one person or one family dog; therefore it can be difficult to re-home him when he is older.
The Jagdterrier is a relatively new breed from Germany, dating back to the 1920s. After World War I ended, a small group of game managers and hunters left the Fox Terrier Club and began cultivating a new breed that would be a tenacious hunting dog. This group of managers and hunters included Carl Erich Grunewald, Rudolf Frieb and Walter Zangenberg. They began by breeding the Old English Fox Terrier with the Black and Tan Hunting Terrier. Walter Zangenberg was gifted four hunting dogs that descended from Fox Terriers by Lutz Hagenberg. The Jagdterriers of today can all be traced back to these four dogs, making black and tan the primary color of the Jagdterrier. Once the general look of the Jagdterrier was set, Herbert Lackner joined the group of enthusiasts and began carefully breeding in the English Wirehaired Terrier and the Welsh Terrier. By using these terrier breeds, the group was able to finally set a specific look for the Jagdterrier. Despite being small in stature, he is a fierce hunter and will take on large prey such as bobcats, wild boar and cougars. He is also known for hunting fox and badger. The Jagdterrier is a courageous hunter capable of taking down a wide variety of prey. The Jagdterrier was imported into the United States and Canada by hunting enthusiasts. He is used to hunt wild boar and fox but has also been used as tree dogs for squirrel and raccoon. There are still only a small amount of Jagdterriers in the United States and Canada. He was recognized by the United Kennel Club (UKC) in 1993 but it wasn’t until 2014 before the American Kennel Club allowed him to be registered in their Foundation Stock Service.
He is a small dog that is full of energy. All Jagterriers are black and tan; however, the shade of tan can vary from rust colored to a creamy tan. His body is black and the tan markings are on his muzzle, feet, eyebrows and underneath. He can have dark brown or chocolate coloring but it is not desirable. His eyes, eye rims, nose and lips are black. There should not be any white markings and his nose should not be brown. The Jagdterrier has a dense wire-haired coat that is not overly smooth or glassy. His coat needs to be dense enough and wiry to protect him when he is hunting in the underbrush or in ground holes. His overall look is that of a well-muscled, graceful terrier but he does not have typical terrier physical traits such as a high, straight carriage of the tail or straight legs.
The Jagdterrier is generally a low maintenance dog. He does require weekly grooming using a comb and in some instances, a slicker brush to keep him looking well cared for. Since he is a terrier, he will require hand plucking when his coat begins to shed, generally once or twice a year. Many terrier owners will have their terriers professionally plucked when needed. Plucking him is a tedious job that can take a long time when properly done. The Jagdterrier is not a hypoallergenic dog and he has a mild smell. Bathing is only required when he gets into a dirty situation. When he comes in from hunting and has not gotten muddy, he can be wiped down with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or debris that has collected on his coat. His ears should be checked weekly and cleaned as needed. Cut his nails when needed, usually every few weeks. Set up a dental plan to ensure his teeth and gums stay healthy.
The Jagdterrier is all terrier in a small package. He is fearless and bold, able to face down wild boar and bobcat. Most Jagdterriers do not get along with other dogs and should be watched closely when interacting with dogs of all sizes. He is all business and prefers to be working rather than sitting at home with nothing to do. Do not expect the Jagdterrier to do well as a family pet because of his high energy level and high prey job. He does like children and sees them as great playmates. He does require a lot of exercise and social interaction with people to keep him happy. Expect him to need at least an hour of high intensity exercise per day. Be sure to keep him contained behind a sturdy fence or he will be out terrorizing the neighborhood. The Jagdterrier also would do great in dog sports such as barn hunts, lure coursing, agility or rally.
Written by Darlene Stott
Published: 10/16/2017, edited: 08/18/2021
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