The Kurzhaar is a perfect choice for those who enjoy the outdoors or are passionate about hunting. This German pointer is at home in forests, rivers, and fields. An excellent swimmer and a good hunter, the Kurzhaar makes a great companion for walks and hunting trips. This calm and good-natured dog makes a reliable friend for the whole family and a good babysitter for children.
Apartment life is not for this breed, as the German Pointer is characterized by energy, endurance, agility, speed, and a love of movement.
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Kurzhaar: breed description, photos
A slim and lean German Laika is found not only in Germany, it is very popular throughout the world. In Russia, the breed became most famous and popular at the end of the 20th century.
Weighing 27–32 kilograms, the Kurzhaar stands 62–66 centimeters at the withers. Females are slightly smaller than males, standing 58–64 centimeters tall. has well-developed muscles, strong bones, and graceful and easy movements. Breed standards include:
- The head is long and dry, proportional to the body, in the shape of a blunt blade.
- Slightly convex, moderately broad skull with a slightly convex, moderately broad forehead.
- Long muzzle with small dark brown eyes.
- The ears are set high and of medium length, hang down smoothly and are rounded at the bottom.
- Thick, tight-fitting lips with a brown edging.
Strong and robust jaws with a scissor bite and white, strong teeth.- The muscular neck, harmoniously combined with the body, has a strong and beautiful line of the withers.
- Quite firm back with clearly defined muscles.
- Moderately tucked up belly.
- Forelegs are well set under the body, dry, straight and muscular.
- The hind legs are dry and muscular, slightly set back from the rear line of the ischial tuberosities.
- The feet are arched and round with tightly closed toes and strong, pigmented nails.
- The tail is set high, straight or slightly sabre-shaped, medium-length, and thick at the base. Two-thirds or half of its length may be docked.
Strong and robust jaws with a scissor bite and white, strong teeth.The Kurzhaar has short, wiry hair that can be found in the following colours:
- brown-piebald;
- black;
- sandy yellow;
- white, with brown spots on the head;
- brown;
- light brown with speckles, and completely brown on the head.
Character of the shorthaired pointer
Breed owners highly value the German Pointer's tireless work ethic, athletic build, speed, strength, and endurance. Very energetic The pet behaves like a wild animal regardless of the weather and locationIf there's no outlet for its energy, it may begin to damage household items and furniture in the apartment. Therefore, it's essential to take the Kurzhaar on walks, encouraging it to run and play actively.
A good guard dog will never bite without reason, but it is a great barker. This is especially important to consider if the pet will be used for hunting. From a young age, it should be taught when it is and is not allowed to bark.
The German Shepherd wants to be the leader of the pack, so you need to show your leadership right away. Only people with a strong character can educateOtherwise, you may end up with an uncontrollable pet.
The breed doesn't tolerate loneliness and thrives on companionship. It's best not to leave small children alone with a Kurzhaar, as the restless dog can easily knock them over.
Kurzhaar - hunter (photo)
Hardy and strong, German Laikas have a keen sense of smell, a keen sense of smell, and are always ready to hunt. They can hunt any game and under any conditions. Especially The breed is well oriented and feels at home in open spacesBut the pet can easily adapt to any conditions and change its hunting style depending on the type of prey.
The dog's long claws allow it to run quickly even in the mountains, and the webbed feet The wool, which has water-repellent properties, swims long and quicklyThis is why German Laikas are often used for hunting waterfowl.
The hunting stance is in the Kurzhaar's DNA. Upon sighting prey, they fix their gaze on it, raise a paw, lower their head, and straighten their tail. In this pose, the pet will await the owner's command, which indicates when to shoot the target. A two-month-old puppy will assume this stance upon seeing a simple feather.
German Laika training
The breed has a developed intelligence and is easy to train. But training and You need to start training your pet as early as possible, otherwise you may end up with an uncontrollable animal whose character will be difficult to correct.
The main principle of training this breed is from easy to difficult. Training must be comprehensiveOtherwise, your restless pet will forget what happened in the previous lesson. This means that each lesson should build on previous training sessions.
You need to train your dog every day. It's best to do this in the morning and evening, regardless of the conditions or environment. Training can be done at any free time, both outdoors and indoors. Commands should be given calmly, clearly, and briefly. Deception and physical punishment should not be used to achieve results. The puppy should be rewarded with treats.
To prevent your pet from getting tired, lessons shouldn't be too long. Once your German Shorthaired Pointer can correctly follow all commands, you can begin training him in hunting etiquette. In this case, the owner will be the one to teach him. it will only be necessary to reveal and strengthen the dog's already genetically inherent hunting qualitiesFrom an early age, a puppy should be prohibited from hunting pets; otherwise, problems will arise at home and on walks.
Features of keeping a Kurzhaar
A small pet in an apartment or house needs to be allocated a place away from doors that open onto the street and drafts. There must be toys in his corner. made of rope or rubber.
To prevent your puppy from becoming overly active in the house and becoming aggressive, take him for walks at least twice a day. During these walks, he should be able to run and play actively. It's best combine walking with exercise, throwing an object and asking the pet to retrieve it. A hunting breed will recognize a stick or rubber toy as prey and happily bring it to its owner.
The short, water-repellent coat requires little grooming. Brushing is only necessary to ensure the pet remains obedient and on point. German pointers shed intensively., so the coat should be brushed frequently during this period. The Kurzhaar's coat is hypoallergenic and does not stick to fabrics or carpets.
You can bathe this breed no more than once a month or as needed, otherwise the dog's coat will lose its protective oils and shine. Only special shampoos should be used for washing.Don't take your dog for a walk after bathing, especially in cold weather. It could catch a cold and get sick.
When walking in a park or forest, there is a risk that your pet may pick up ticks. As a preventative measure Every month, the German pointer should be treated with a special antiparasitic agent, which should be recommended by a veterinarian.
Particular attention should be paid to the German Pointer's ears. They should be clean and dry. Dirty ears can be cleaned with a damp cotton pad or cotton swab.
The pet's eyes should also be clean and shiny. A little sore eyes are treated with a cotton pad soaked in weak tea leavesIf the eyes are watering and very sour, the dog should be taken to a specialist.
Once a month to the Kurzhaar using a special nail clipper, trim the clawsDogs that go on long walks may not need this procedure, as their claws wear down on the asphalt.
To ensure that the owner does not have problems with caring for the pet, it is necessary to accustom it to hygiene procedures from puppyhood.
German Shorthaired Pointer Nutrition
The diet of a hunting dog is slightly different from that of pets of other breeds. The basis of the German Pointer's diet should be Meat cut into small pieces, to which cooked grains, except pearl barley, are added. It is essential to feed this breed vegetables and fruits, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements.
For adult dogs, two meals a day are recommended. Puppies up to three months old are fed five times a day, and by six months of age, three times a day.
A young German Shorthaired Pointer who is no longer receiving mother's milk requires dairy products such as kefir, milk, and low-fat cottage cheese. In addition, their diet may include:
- cheese;
- raw yolk;
- boiled and minced lean beef or chicken meat.
From six months of age, the puppy is no longer given milk, but cottage cheese and kefir are left in the diet.
The following natural foods should not be fed to the German Shorthaired Pointer:
- tubular bones;
- potatoes;
- sweets;
- bakery products;
- salty, fatty, smoked and spicy foods that spoil the hunter's sense of smell.
tubular bones;If the dog's diet will consist of dry food, then the choice It is recommended to choose high-quality premium or super-premium class foods., specially designed for active dogs. Since the body's needs vary at different stages of life, food is selected according to the pet's age.
Feed your dog strictly according to the instructions on the food packaging. Increasing the amount on your own is not recommended, as Overfeeding can lead to various diseases and obesityUntil three months of age, puppies are fed kibble soaked in kefir or water. From five months of age, Kurzhaars are fed puppy food with hard kibble, which helps their teeth develop by chewing.
High-quality dry foods already contain all the nutrients your dog needs, so there's no need to add any other products or supplements.
Choosing a puppy
At just one month of age, a puppy is ready to be separated from its mother and move into a new family. It is at this age that the breed adapts more easily to new living conditions. Designed for hunting the dog must have a pedigreeOtherwise, there's no guarantee of her abilities. Therefore, the first thing to consider is the parents' achievements.
When choosing a puppy, special attention should be paid to its posture, build, and development of the musculoskeletal system. If you are choosing a dog for the first time, then it is best to seek help from a specialist in this field who will examine the puppies and make the right choice.
If you love active recreation, then the German Pointer With proper upbringing, he will become your devoted friend and partner., and a wonderful nanny for your children. However, if you won't have the opportunity to engage in vigorous physical activity or take your pet for frequent walks, you should think carefully before buying an energetic dog.
