History

Breed History

After the World War I, some hunters separated from the Fox Terrier Club in order to build up a breed that was to be based exclusively on hunting performance. So the experienced hunting cynologists Rudolf Frieß, Walter Zangenberg, and Carl-Erich Grünewald decided to breed a black and red hunting dog for work underground. Their efforts were aided by Zoo director Lutz Heck, who gave Walter Zangenberg four black and red terriers, which came from pure bred fox terrier strains.

These dogs were used to establish the breeding of the German hunting terrier. Dr. Herbert Lackner joined the founders of the breed. Together, after years of effort, they succeeded in consolidating the appearance of this breed by skillfully crossbreeding the fox terriers with the Old English Rough-haired Urterrier and the Welsh Terrier.

Great importance was attached to breeding a versatile dog, hard, noisy and water-loving dog with a pronounced hunting instinct and the best dressing ability. In 1926, the German Hunting Terrier Club was founded.

Breeders of the German Hunting Terrier still attach great importance to the hunting usefulness, strength of character, courage and grit of this versatile hunting dog.

Breed Description

The chest circumference is 10 to 12 cm larger than the height at the withers. Body slightly longer than the height at the withers. Approx. 55 - 60 % of the height at the withers. Courageous and hard, eager to work and persevering, vital and spirited, reliable, sociable and manageable, neither shy nor aggressive.