Raising and training the drathaar

• Drathaar

Raising a dog is about developing correct behavior.
This is the basis for successful training. Training is a set of activities aimed at training specific teams. It is necessary to start raising a puppy from the very first days of his appearance in the house. If you work with your pets from a very early age, then you are on the right track. The Drathaar is a large hunting dog breed with a harmonious build. A dog with excellent working qualities that can withstand any bad weather and physical activity.

1. Country of origin : Germany
2. Height at withers : male: 61-68; female: 57-64 cm
3. Weight : 23-32 kg
4. Lifespan : 12-14 years
5. Use : Hunting, Companion Dog
6. Other names : German Wirehaired Pointer

When to start training a dog

As soon as a Drathaar puppy appears in your home, immediately begin to build a relationship with him. From the first day it is necessary to provide him with everything he needs: bowls for water and food, collar, leash, bed, suitable food, toys and of course treats. You need to give him a lot of attention so that he feels safe and begins to trust you. From a very early age, the Drahthaar puppy must be introduced to commands. In addition, in the first months it is necessary to study commands both at home and on the street. First, the puppy must remember its name. We wrote how to choose a suitable nickname in one of our articles. The name should be short, easy to remember and the dog should be called only by it. When the pet has already mastered its name and finally begins to respond, then we move on to commands. By the 3rd month he should master the following commands: “Ugh!”, “Come to me!”, “Place!”, “Nearby!” and “Fetch!” (optional). Then you can move on to the rest, of course, if you need them.

How to raise a drathaar puppy

If you train your pet correctly, then over time you will get an obedient dog that will follow all commands and delight you every day. Experts believe that several factors may influence the drathaar's susceptibility to following various commands:

• pet's temperament - the speed of the pet's reaction to stimuli, both positive and negative;
• character - how exactly the dog resists various unpleasant influences;
• obedience - the dog’s ability to accept human leadership;
• vigilance - the speed with which the dog notices potential danger, both in relation to itself and in relation to the owner;
• aggressiveness - the pet’s ability to react hostilely to potential danger;
• curiosity - interest that is developed when a dog feels, hears and sees something;
• sociability - the ability to interact with people;
• possessiveness is the interest shown by animals in certain objects, for example toys.

How quickly your dog will learn commands depends on which traits predominate in the character of the Drahthaar puppy. By paying attention to the character traits of your animal, you can find an approach to it and adjust its behavior in certain situations.

• Eagerness will get you nowhere . You should not try to teach a drathaar puppy all commands at the same time; you need to learn the commands one by one. You need to have patience and act methodically. You should not scold your pet at the moment when he makes mistakes, and when he succeeds in something, then the pet should be encouraged.
• Don't hit . It is prohibited to use physical punishment against a pet. You should limit yourself to variable intonation, but avoid shouting. After the Drahthaar puppy is three months old, it is allowed to use a light spank as punishment while saying the phrase “Ew”. It is necessary to punish immediately when the animal commits an offense, and not after it, since the animal simply will not understand what exactly it was punished for.
• Subsequence . The main goal is to ensure that the pet follows the command the first time. Commands should be pronounced clearly and in an even voice so that the dog understands and obeys you. All family members should be involved in raising the dog, but they must act together. It is forbidden to allow situations in which you scold the puppy, and another family member praises him or simply does not pay attention.
• Pamper . Remember to reward your Drahthaar puppy with a variety of treats and praise when he has done what is asked of him.

Character of the drathaar

This dog breed is recommended for hunters. The animal is hardworking and can spend hours next to its owner searching for game in swamps and forests. The dog has high endurance and is driven by hunting instincts. It is difficult to keep a drathaar in an apartment; the inability to realize himself has a negative impact on his psyche. If the owner is not a hunter, it is better for him to choose another breed of dog.

The dog has a developed guard instinct and treats strangers with distrust. According to the description and reviews of the owners, the dog is quite loyal to children and will happily play tag and active games with them. When it is impossible to take her out for a walk, you should leave the pet for a couple of hours with the children so that the dog can burn off energy by playing.

Distinctive character traits:

• responsibility;
• intelligence;
• hard work;
• diligence;
• senses the owner's emotions.

By its nature, this breed is distinguished by leadership qualities and will try to dominate. These attempts must be stopped from puppyhood. Despite all its positive qualities and kindness, the drathaar is capable of psychologically crushing its owner.

Basic commands

You will use some commands more often, others less often. But they will still come in handy to easily interact with the drathaar and even keep him safe in various situations.

• Aport. One of the most difficult teams. Many people perceive it as very easy and simple, but with many dogs you will have to work hard. This skill is used for other exercises: searching, searching, selecting an item and many others. Usually they are all used in service. When working out a command, “Aport” and “Give” are used, and a gesture is also used.
• Give. On the command “Give” the dog must give up the object.
• Lie. A connecting command that needs to be learned for other commands. In addition, it will not interfere at home or on the street.
• To me. You will need to use this command quite often. So start with it immediately after your drathaar puppy has learned his name. Never call the dog to punish, and do not scold if it comes on its own, even after mischievousness before it. This behavior on your part may alienate the animal.
• Place. A puppy or an adult dog must clearly know where his place is located. He can sleep anywhere, if you allow it, of course, but he must know this command. You can use it outside the home, marking the place with a leash or your favorite toy.
• Near. It is possible to teach your pet the “Near” command at any age, be it an adult dog or a small puppy. When you move to a new home, you should immediately think about training your puppy.
• Sit. One of the very first commands that a drathaar puppy should learn.
• Stand. The command is useful in everyday life, for example, for combing a dog.
• . The prohibiting command is one of the most mandatory and taming it begins from the first day the puppy appears in the house. Requiring the command “Fu!”, “No!”, “No!” - immediately stop the unwanted action.

Pros and cons of the breed

Drathaar is a find and happiness for an active hunter. The breed carries all the advantages that were originally intended:

• Versatile.
• Adapted to natural conditions in a wide range.
• Exceptionally efficient.
• Passionate, strong and determined.

The list of advantages can be expanded, provided that the dog owner is a hunter with a fair amount of regular practice, and is willing to invest time and money in a quality assistant. A mobile and reliable drathaar is not created for a quiet life, although it does not mind lying on the owner’s sofa. He will be completely satisfied with himself and his owner, only under the condition of constant use.

If this condition is not met, the drat has disadvantages:

• Excessively active and mobile.
• Curious, persistent.
• Requires constant monitoring.
• Not distinguished by delicacy.

It is worth considering that training a drat is not the easiest, and comprehensive hunting training is an expensive and rare service. There is competition and quality variation in the breed. High level dogs are expensive. Imported blood is valued; as a rule, it pays for itself.

Raising a dog

Education is the process of shaping the behavior of a drathaar acceptable to the owner, when this behavior is not regulated by commands. During upbringing, a dog develops relationships with its owner, family members, passers-by, behavior in the house, on the street, and relationships with other dogs. The training process begins immediately when the dog first appears in the house and continues throughout the dog’s life. Regardless of the dog's breed, it must be trained. Just as people do not like ill-mannered people, dogs should also know what is allowed and what is not allowed. Raising a dog is a rather complex process, which is not limited to learning just a few commands. The main goal of education is that the dog should become pleasant to talk to. In addition, it must be manageable at some points, otherwise it will be very difficult for the dog owner. In the broadest sense of the word, dog training is about teaching the dog commands such as “Bad” and “No”. But besides this, the dog must know what is good and what is bad, even in those moments when the owner is not around. Some believe that the drathaara only understands commands, but cannot generalize. Only those who, as a rule, never had dogs, and studied them only in laboratory conditions, in which dogs were not able to show their full potential, are convinced of this, as well as those who, due to their personal qualities, were unable to establish a relationship with pet. In real life, the drathaara is a pack animal and therefore, like any other pack animal, needs to communicate with members of its family. In this situation, the dog’s family members are people. It is quite stupid to think that if a dog caresses you, this means that his skin is itching. In order for a dog’s nervous system to function normally, it needs affection, love, communication, and praise. In addition, so-called “inhibiting factors” are required, because if the dog is allowed everything, then this will not lead to anything good. When raising a Drahthaar puppy, you should pay attention to the genetic characteristics of the breed. A family is a pack in which there must be a leader, in this case the leader is a person. The leader punishes, plays, feeds, caresses, praises and scolds. All other members of the owner's family are ranked by rank. At that moment, while the puppy is small, all other family members are senior to him. However, in the process of growing up, around the age of one year, the dog begins to look for its place in the hierarchical pyramid. Naturally, she will try to take the step that is as high as possible. She can do this with the help of force, in the case of large dogs, or with the help of cunning, as small dogs do. The more ill-mannered the dog is, the more difficult this process will be. If the owner from the first days shows his pet that the one who has the power is right, then he will turn out to be a frail neurotic or an evil beast with whom you will hardly communicate with joy. A drathaar puppy must understand that he must obey people, since they love him, feed him, and raise him. Understand that prohibitions are not the whim of the owner, but a way to protect everyone from trouble. The main influence on the dog should be the voice. From the first days of being in your home, the puppy must realize that you love him, and if you raise your voice, then this means that he is doing something wrong. One of the best incentives for a pet is considered to be a treat, which should be given out for good behavior and listening to commands.

Care and maintenance

If you are the owner of a private house, the drathaar will be simply happy, because he will often have the opportunity to be in the fresh air, rushing through fields and forests. In this case, it is better to keep the dog in an enclosure by building it a spacious, warm booth.

Photo: https://sobaki-pesiki.ru/dratxaar-opisanie-porody.html In winter, on frosty days, it is better to take your four-legged friend indoors, wool will not protect him at high sub-zero temperatures.

Just a few years ago it seemed impossible to keep a dog of this breed in an apartment, but the owners proved the opposite. Drathaar can live in the city, but a necessary condition for such maintenance is a large number of walks with good physical activity.

Walks

The drathaar's happiness and health depend on walks. It is recommended to walk the dog for a long time; the walking program should be rich.

Little physical activity makes the pet disobedient.

He may start being mischievous and ruining things. Disobedience also manifests itself in barking for no reason and refusal to carry out the owner’s commands.

Hygiene

Drathaar does not require special care; you don’t have to dance around it with brushes and soap every day.

It is enough to brush your dog's coarse fur once a week. You will have to do this more often only during the molting period, so as not to collect dead hairs throughout the house.

You need to buy a brush for coarse hair; it will do the job better.

A little more attention will have to be paid to the dog's mustache and beard, as they often become smeared during meals. The animal will have to be washed or wiped with wet wipes. If the procedure is ignored, the pet will very quickly take on a neglected appearance. The hair on a dog's face can be shortened, this will eliminate the need to wash the animal after eating. But after this procedure, your four-legged friend will certainly lose his charisma.

Coarse-haired cops are usually bathed a couple of times a year. A hunting dog will take “baths” more often, because during the hunt it will have to plunge into water.

Caring for your eyes and ears is standard: you should examine them weekly and wash them with special lotions. Excessive contamination of the ears can serve as a signal that there are mites in the pet’s ears. In this case, it is necessary to visit the veterinarian.

Photo: https://sobaki-pesiki.ru/dratxaar-opisanie-porody.html

A weekly procedure will be brushing your teeth. But your pet’s nails need to be trimmed as needed, usually once a month. Active dogs wear down their claws themselves while walking.

An animal that has returned from a hunt needs to be given careful attention.

Twigs and thorns will have to be removed from its fur. The paws must be inspected for splinters, because in the heat of the chase the dog can step on branches and drive a piece of wood into the paw, or get injured.

Feeding

Domestic breeders have recently increasingly given preference to dry food. This feeding does not create any difficulties and is an alternative for inexperienced owners who do not know how to properly balance feeding.

Food for drathaars should be of good quality and contain a large amount of protein.

But there are always those who remain committed to natural feeding. Such owners should know that the pet’s diet should consist of lean meat, offal, cereals (buckwheat, rice), fermented milk products, vegetables (carrots, beets, zucchini), cottage cheese, eggs.

Food should not contain seasonings or large amounts of salt.

Food from the human table should be excluded from your pet’s diet. It is not recommended to mix the two types of feeding.

With a natural diet, the dog must be given vitamin supplements.