German Spaniel (Wachtelhund)
A tough German hunting spaniel bred to search thick cover and track game with its voice.
At a glance
- Size
- Medium
- Height at the withers
- Males 48–54 cm · Females 45–52 cm
- Weight
- Males 20–30 kg · Females 18–25 kg
- Life expectancy
- 12–14 years
- Exercise
- 90–150 min a day
- Grooming
- Once a week
- Coat
- Wavy, medium, long
- Colours
- Brown, Roan, Red, White, Piebald
- Bred for
- Hunting by scent, Flushing game, Retrieving, Water work
- Country of origin
- Germany
- FCI
- Group 8, no. 104 · Retrievers, flushing & water dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 2/5 – Low |
| Open to strangers | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 4/5 – High |
| Needs mental stimulation | 5/5 – Very high |
| Easy to train | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Prey drive | 5/5 – Very high |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 4/5 – High |
| Shedding | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Grooming effort | 2/5 – Low |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- are an active hunter
- want a robust dog for forest and water work
- have experience with hunting breeds
Think twice if you …
- want a family pet without a hunting role
- keep cats or small pets
- need a quiet dog
Care
Temperament
Friendly, loyal and very driven when working. It is independent in the field and has a strong hunting instinct.
Exercise
Needs at least one and a half hours of hard exercise daily, ideally hunting. Tracking, field work and long outings in the woods suit it.
Grooming
Brush the wavy coat weekly and check ears and feet after work in the field. It sheds moderately.
Training
Learns well but is built to work independently, so obedience takes patience. Experienced, consistent handling is important.
Health
Hip dysplasia and ear infections are the main reported concerns in this hardy working breed. Ask the breeder for hip and elbow scores.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The German Spaniel, or Deutscher Wachtelhund, was developed in Germany around 1900 from older German flushing dogs. Hunters wanted a dog that would search dense forest and undergrowth independently, give tongue on a fresh trail, track wounded game and retrieve on land and in water.
It is first and foremost a working hunting dog, and in Germany puppies are usually placed with active hunters. It has strong drive, a loud voice on scent and a lot of stamina. With its family it is friendly and loyal, but it is rarely content as a pure companion without regular hunting or similar work.
Did you know?
Wachtel means quail in German, though the breed is mainly used on larger game and for tracking.