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Der Deutsch
Kurzhaar Reprinted with permission
In a world of modern technology, words like "tradition" often seem to be out of place. But hunting is a sport where tradition runs deep. There will always be those who prefer to hunt with a bow, insist on tying their own fishing flies, or who carry a hawk instead of a gun. It is in this spirit that those who love the hunting dog called the Deutsch Kurzhaar work hard to preserve the traditions associated with the breed as well as the integrity of its breeders. The history of the Deutsch Kurzhaar (German Shorthair) and its development as a breed probably began with dogs that were used to hunt feathered game with nets or in combination with falconry. The particular dogs that made up the Kurzhaar were mostly from Spain, France and Flanders. They were admired for their usefulness in the hunting fields because they would point their game, rather than flush it. The Germans sought out the most desirable of these dogs and used them to develop a gundog that would serve his master with courage and desire in the field. The Kurzhaar was to be the all-purpose hunting dog. He was to possess the perfect balance that would allow him to excel at pointing and retrieving of feathered and furred game and the determination and senses to track down and bring back game that was wounded or crippled. He would be able to hunt waterfowl in the morning then easily switch gears to pheasant, partridge and quail in the afternoon and provide a hare for the stew pot as well. All of this in a dog that should show true loyalty and companionship at home and is always a joy to his master. The Germans were true disciples of the often-heard adage that "form follows function". If only the most excellent performers in the field were used for breeding stock, then the Kurzhaar would find his true form. It was based on this principle that the Deutsch Kurzhaar Verband (DKV) over 100 years ago developed the breeding and testing regulations for the Deutsch Kurzhaar that are still in use today. The popularity of the Kurzhaar has spread beyond the borders of his home country in Germany. He has found his place in many homes across the world and in many different hunting fields even while still maintaining his integrity as a true versatile gundog. Many of his new home countries chose to adopt the German breeding standards in order to keep him true to his original purpose, even while adapting him to new and unique types of game not found in Germany. So what is a Kurzhaar really? Is he any different
from a German Shorthaired Pointer? The English translation for "Deutsch Kurzhaar"
is German Shorthair. In many English speaking countries he is known as
the German Shorthaired Pointer. So the difference isn’t as simple as a
name. The basic difference is in the registry used to register the dog.
A Kurzhaar must be registered with the DKV in Germany no matter what
country he lives in. If a dog is registered with the DKV, then the
German rules and standards for breeding apply. There are many other dog
registries around the world that recognize the Kurzhaar as a breed,
usually as the German Shorthaired Pointer. However, these registries
have chosen to adopt their own breed standards and either have different
breeding requirements or no requirements at all. Because this allows the
possibility of dogs being bred that have not proven themselves in the
field or that may pass on genetic defects or faults, these registries
are not recognized by the DKV. What are all these breeding requirements about? Well, it begins at birth. Each litter of Kurzhaar puppies is examined by a Breed Warden shortly after birth for any congenital defects or problems and they are given an official tattoo in their right ears that indicates their DKV registration number. If the puppies are born outside of Germany, an official appointed and approved by the Breed Warden who acts on his behalf does the tattooing. One thing that sets the Kurzhaar apart from many other breeds is that just because he has his registration number now, doesn’t mean that he is eligible to be bred in the DKV. He has to prove himself yet in order to gain that privilege. Every Kurzhaar that is bred in the DKV has passed a certain level of field tests proving his ability as a versatile hunter. In addition, he has been examined for the quality of his form, and has at least a "good" conformation rating as determined by a panel of judges. He also does not have any serious bite, eye or any other genetic problems. And finally, he has been tested to make sure that he does not have hip dysplasia. All of these requirements help to ensure that the Kurzhaar remains a wonderful versatile dog while minimizing genetic problems that can wreck havoc on a breed if perpetuated by careless breeding practices. So what are the field and conformation tests all
about? Here is a short synopsis. When the pup is about a year old he is evaluated at his first test, the Derby. This is essentially a test of the pup’s natural abilities with evaluation of nose, search, pointing, and cooperation. Desire to work and obedience is also noted. Puppies are given "prizes" based on their scores in the Derby with a Prize 1 being the highest and a Prize 3 being the lowest. A puppy that does not pass does not receive a Prize. This same Prize system is used in all DK tests. In the Fall of that same year, the slightly more
mature pup is evaluated in the Solms test. This test is much more
comprehensive than the Derby. Fieldwork, water work, rabbit drag, manner
of retrieving, cooperation, obedience, desire of work and manner of
hunting are all evaluated in the Solms. Fieldwork includes scoring of
nose, search, pointing, and work on winged game birds including
retrieving and searching. Water work includes a blind retrieve from
dense cover and a search behind a duck from cover. If a dog is unable to test in the Solms due to injury or other circumstances, he can be evaluated in an AZP (older dog breeding test). The AZP is run exactly as the Solms is, only the judging criteria is more strict, since the dog is expected to be more mature and further along in his training. All Kurzhaars must pass at least a Solms/AZP test in order to be considered "fit for breeding". In addition to these field tests, a dog must also
be examined by a conformation judge at a Zuchtschau or "breed
show". Dogs are judged on their conformation and other areas such
as their bites and eyes are evaluated. Any faults that are present are
noted at this time. The dogs are then given a rating of "V"
for excellent, "SG" for very good, or "G" for good.
A dog that is given a rating of less than "G" is not
considered fit for breeding. Any severe conformation fault or problem
with a bite (e.g. under/overbite), or eyes (e.g. ectropion, entropion)
may reduce the conformation rating given to a dog or even make him unfit
for breeding. There are many more tests that a Kurzhaar may be evaluated for that are too numerable to go into detail about. There are various conformation titles, many more kinds of field tests, and specialty tests that evaluate things like tracking or retrieving skills. There are even some titles that are a combination of all the above. These other tests are not required for breeding eligibility, but instead help to determine which dogs are "the best". One of the most prestigious titles that a Kurzhaar may gain is the "KS" or "Kurzhaar Sieger" which means "Kurzhaar Champion". This title is gained at the Kleeman test, held every other year and only in Germany. The Kleeman combines both a Zuchtschau and a field test. What makes the KS title so difficult to obtain is that it in order to qualify to participate in the Kleeman, a dog must gain a Prize 1 in all of the required field tests from puppy-hood to finished utility dog, as well as several of the specialty retrieving and tracking tests. Gaining a KS title is truly a difficult journey that takes several years to accomplish. Perhaps the most difficult of all the field tests is the VGP or Utility Dog test. This is a test that is not exclusive to Kurzhaars, but is given by the umbrella organization of all versatile dog clubs in Germany called the JGHV (Jagdgebrauchshundverband). This is the supreme test of versatility and evaluates a dog in 28 different categories of hunting work. Excellence in retrieving, pointing, tracking and water work as well as obedience, a good temperament and work ethic are just a few of the things required of a VGP dog. A VGP title is not required for breeding, but because it is the most comprehensive measure of versatility in the field, many Kurzhaar breeders strongly prefer a VGP title on their breeding stock. It is easy to get caught up in all the tests and
titles that a Kurzhaar may possess. However, the true appeal of owning a
Kurzhaar is not the letters behind his name. As most hunters know, only
a limited amount of time can be spent searching the fields and ponds for
game. The rest of a dog’s life is spent at home at his master’s
feet. The Kurzhaar is a wonderful companion at home and prefers the
company of people. They want most of all to please their masters,
whether they are finding him game or sitting by his chair. A Kurzhaar
owner is often scarcely able to decide which gives him more pleasure;
the sight of a beautiful dog quivering on a staunchly pointed bird, or
the obvious joy the dog shows when playing a game of fetch in the yard
with the children. The Kurzhaar is steadily making his mark here in
the US. Kurzhaar owners not only enjoy hunting him across the United
States on a variety of game, but also participation in various AKC,
NAVHDA, and Shoot-to-Retrieve events. In fact, the DK may be one of the
best kept secrets in the gundog world and has proven that he can excel
right along with the best of the specialists and versatiles already
enjoyed by so many American hunters. So, where does one go to find out more about this versatile breed? A good start would be to contact the Kurzhaar club nearest you. If you are in the United States, the club is called the North American Deutsch Kurzhaar Club or the NADKC. The NADKC web site at www.nadkc.org contains all the information needed to get you started. You can find information on joining the club, which is a great way to find out more about the Kurzhaar in America and in Germany, or you can find information on litters and breeders here in the States or nearest to you. You can find out more about the tests and breeding requirements, as well as links to web pages and contacts in your region and a list of FAQ’s about the Deutsch Kurzhaar. If you are adventurous, or speak a little German, you can visit the DKV web site in Germany at www.deutsch-kurzhaar.de Some of the search engines such as Google have features that offer pretty accurate, if not sometimes amusing, translations of sites in different languages that may aid you in your browsing. Last but not least, you can contact myself, the NADKC Director of Promotions directly at combes2@fullnet.net. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. Gayla B. Combes, DVM
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