Jagdterrier: Your Complete Guide

Jagdterriers are working dogs that are thought to have come from Germany. If you’re unfamiliar with the name jagdterrier, you might know this breed as a German hunt terrier instead. In fact, jagdterrier translates to German hunt terrier in German, hence the breed name.

Name aside, jagdterriers are great dogs that are known for their trainability, work ethic, and hunting skills.

While jagdterriers are typically used for hunting and work, they’ve grown in popularity as family dogs over the years. This breed makes great family dogs because of their loyalty, gentle temperament, and love for people-pleasing. Furthermore, jagdterriers are social animals that can learn to love the entire family, and yes, this includes your other pets!

Still, adopting a dog is a lot of work and responsibility, especially if you’re new to pet ownership. Therefore, it’s important to learn more about any dog breed before you commit to them. Every dog breed has a unique personality, so knowing what makes a jagdterrier unique can help you determine if they’re right for your home.

Read on to learn more below.

Quick Look at the Jagdterrier

Below is a quick glance at this special breed in terms of their physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of the Jagdterrier

Jagdterriers are a newer breed compared to some dogs from the past, but they’ve been around for about 100 years.

The breed originated in Germany after World War I when a group of Fox Terrier Club members decided to venture out and create their own dog breed. The group’s goal was to create a breed that was ideal for small game hunting, like rabbits. In fact, these dogs were bred to dig up animals from the ground as well, which made them effective for farmers.

The German Hunting Terrier was first bred in 1926. The public of Germany embraced the dog but they didn’t make it to the United States until much later.

A man named Max Thiel is responsible for bringing the breed to the United States in 1951 when he brought two female jagdterriers (Naja and Asta). Before World War II he had hunted with his first jagdterrier, so when he moved to the United States he sent for his dogs.

From there, the Jagdterrier Club of America was formed in 1956. The goal of the meeting was to help the dog be recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). Unfortunately, this did not happen and the club began to die out throughout the 1900s.

That said, the Jagdterrier has made a recent return. Today, they’re used for work in barns and around farms, but to be successful in the states, they have to be on the smaller end of jagdterriers. Now, jagdterriers are available for adoption across the United States and they’ve become easier to adopt overall.

What Do Jagdterriers Look Like?

Jagdterriers are small to medium-sized dogs that have a short coat. While their coat is short, it’s thick and provides good insulation during the winter months.

The way a jagdterrier’s coat feels can vary based on the dog’s parents and its genes. Some jagdterriers have short and coarse hair, while others might have medium-length wavy hair. Ultimately, it depends on the dog. This variation also applies to color.

While most jagdterriers are black, brown, or gray, some dogs can have hints of red in their coats. Most jagdterriers also have tan or white patches on the back of their legs.

Hair aside, they have floppy ears that begin to droop at the tip. These ears flop around while they run with their muscular, yet small, bodies.

Their legs are short, which gives them plenty of leverage to dig and snatch up prey from small holes. Jagdterriers also have long snouts that help them reach into holes or burrows. These features have made them desirable to farmers and people from a wide range of backgrounds.

What Size Is a Jagdterrier?

Jagdterriers aren’t big dogs. They weigh around 20 pounds on average and rarely stand at a height that’s over 13 inches. There is some size variation between male and female jagdterriers, so keep this in mind when adopting. Females are a few inches shorter and typically weigh a few pounds less. Ultimately, it comes down to the specific dog.

What Is a Jagdterrier’s Coat Type and Length?

Jagdterriers have a short, dense coat that’s either soft or rough. When it comes to how the hair sits, it’s usually wiry and easy to comb or groom. The type of coat comes down to the specific dog, so some may be rough whereas others are smooth. Be sure to give the little guy a belly rub if you’re unsure about their coat length.

What Is a Jagdterrier’s Temperament?

Jagdterriers have a playful, outgoing, and curious temperament. They were bred as hunting dogs, so they love to get outdoors and run around. Aside from their love for exploring the great outdoors, you’ll notice that they enjoy digging. Jagdterriers like to dig because they were bred to remove small prey from burrows.

Hunting behaviors aside, jagdterriers are calm and gentle dogs. They’re rarely aggressive and get along well with people, children, and even strangers. Jagdterriers are also loyal once you bond with them.

Are Jagdterriers Good With Kids?

Jagdterriers are good with children of all ages. They’re not the best with babies or toddlers but children over the age of 5 shouldn’t have any issues. If you’re worried about their behavior, keep an eye on them when they interact with your child and train them to avoid being rough or aggressive if you notice any issues.

Are Jagdterriers Good With Other Animals?

Jagdterriers are great with other dogs and larger animals, but it’s not a good idea to keep them around small animals unless you socialize them. Without proper socialization, they might chase or harm smaller animals because of their prey drive.

Are Jagdterriers Aggressive?

No, jagdterriers are not aggressive. They’re a calm breed that doesn’t get easily excited or aggressive with strangers, their owners, or other family members. The only time you’ll notice aggression is if they feel threatened or uncomfortable. Aggressive behavior can also be trained away if you’re worried about it.

Do Jagdterriers Bark?

Jagdterriers don’t bark a whole lot. They prefer to remain silent unless they see something and want to alert you to its presence. This applies to strangers, animals, and discomfort. Otherwise, you won’t have to worry about jagdterriers barking at random things in the house.

For this reason, you shouldn’t have to worry about them in apartments as long as you have enough space.

Are Jagdterriers Affectionate?

Jagdterriers are affectionate dogs once they get to know you. They might be standoffish with strangers but once they bond with you they’ll hang around by your side and even sleep in the same bed as you. Jagdterriers also show their affection through loyalty and respect.

Are Jagdterriers Intelligent?

Jagdterriers are one of the most intelligent breeds that you’ll come across. They’re smart enough to burrow into holes and remove pests, curious enough to explore their surroundings, and easy to train. You won’t have to worry about their intelligence, so if you want a smart dog, the jagdterrier is perfect for you.

Are Jagdterriers Energetic?

Jagdterriers are an energetic breed that loves to run, play, and go for long walks. You need to spend time exercising with them to keep them happy and failing to do so will result in some serious frustration for your jagdterrier. Aim for at least an hour or two of exercise daily for your jagdterrier.

Are Jagdterriers Easy to Train?

Jagdterriers are one of the easiest dog breeds to train. You can teach them to do all sorts of things that range in complexity from service dog work to protecting your home from small animals. They have the mental capacity to learn several commands and they’re trainable if you start from a young age.

Furthermore, socialization training comes easy as long as you start training them from their puppy years.

Are Jagdterriers Good Watchdogs?

Jagdterriers are excellent watchdogs. They were bred to hunt and protect property, so it’s common for them to alert you if something strange is going outside or if animals are approaching your crops. They can also be trained as guard dogs or any other type of watchdog that you need.

Are Jagdterriers Good Service Dogs?

Jagdterriers are excellent service dogs as long as they have the proper training. They’re smart enough to be used as physical or psychiatric service dogs, so there aren’t many limits to what they can do. What’s more, their high intelligence makes it easy to train them to complete some of the most complex tasks like reminding someone when it’s time to take their medication.

Some other tasks that jagdterriers can learn to complete include:

• Fetching help when someone is having a panic attack
• Applying pressure therapy to help someone calm down
• Treating conditions like PTSD
• Preventing or helping someone through a seizure
• Helping people navigate crowds
• Guiding blind or deaf people

These are only a few of the tasks that jagdterriers can be trained to perform. They can do just about anything as long as they have the proper training.

Additionally, jagdterriers are suitable as emotional support animals and therapy dogs because of their high intelligence. Plus, they’re small enough to be kept in apartments and won’t bark or act aggressively with neighbors.

How to Care for a Jagdterrier?

Jagdterriers are easy to care for once you get the basics down. A few vet visits a year and making sure they have all the shots they need is usually enough to keep them healthy. Throw in some exercise to keep their weight down and mind at ease to avoid the zoomies late at night.

Exercise and checkups aside, make sure you handle their grooming needs. Always brush their coat to help them avoid matting and if they look dirty give them a nice bath. Don’t overthink it and you should have no issues caring for a jagdterrier. In fact, they’re great dogs to care for if you’re a first-time pet owner if you have the time to commit to them.

Do You Need to Groom a Jagdterrier?

Jagdterriers don’t have high grooming needs. Spend a few days a week rubbing their coat and you shouldn’t have any problems with matting or ingrown hair.

Check their ears a few times a week as well if you’re worried about infections or any problems with their ears. When checking their ears, it doesn’t hurt to also brush their teeth and prioritize their dental health. Use a brush that your vet recommends and ask them about treats you can feed them to improve their dental health.

When it comes to nail trimming and their other needs, there isn’t much you need to worry about. Their nails will grind down from walking and playing, but you can take them to a groomer if you’re unhappy with their progress. You can also clip them yourself with the right tools.

Do Jagdterriers Shed?

Jagdterriers are infrequent shedders. They tend to shed more often during the fall and spring but you won’t have to worry about having hair all over your furniture. If you want to reduce their shedding, brush their hair frequently to avoid any problems. Overall, they’re not big shedders compared to some other dog breeds, especially other terriers from Germany.

What Health Problems Do Jagdterriers Have?

Jagdterriers are a relatively healthy dog breed but that doesn’t mean they can’t fall victim to hereditary health problems. One of the most notable health conditions that this dog can face is primary lens luxation. This is an eye condition that gets progressively worse and leads to blindness.

Another hereditary condition to keep an eye on is myopathy. This condition is a painful disease that impacts the jagdterrier’s muscles.

Unfortunately, myopathy is a genetic condition and it can develop later in life if you don’t know that your canine companion is at risk of this illness. Some symptoms of this condition include confusion, trouble walking, loss of motor function, and yelping when moving.

The last issue to keep an eye on is obesity. This is a rampant problem in small dogs, especially if they don’t get enough exercise. Therefore, they need regular walks, even as they grow old. Fortunately, obesity is an easy condition to treat and manage as long as you’re not careless.

How Long Do Jagdterriers Live?

Jagdterriers have an average lifespan among dog breeds. However, it’s a bit short compared to other dogs because of their size and weight. On average, jagdterriers live for around 10 to 12 years. Keeping them on a healthy diet and making sure they get plenty of exercise will help you keep them around for even longer.

Regular vet visits and screenings will also help you catch conditions before they develop, which can improve their longevity.

What Should Jagdterriers Eat?

Jagdterriers should eat a balanced diet that contains healthy fats, protein, and fiber. Ensuring that they get the necessary vitamins and minerals for optimal performance is also important. You can find kibble or a combination of kibble and wet food that works best for your dog by taking them to your vet or visiting your local pet store.

When looking for food, good sources of nutrition for these dogs include chicken, beef, broccoli, carrots, and other vegetables. Always check for food allergies before feeding them table food and only get high-quality dog food made for little dogs.

Is a Jagdterrier the Right Dog for Me?

Jagdterriers are good dogs for the whole family, especially if you like to get out in the woods and do some hunting or if you have a pest problem around the farm.

If you don’t need them to help around the house, they’re smart dogs that love to go on long walks and play with the whole family. Even if you have small children, you don’t have to worry about the jagdterrier being a problem.

The only time you should avoid a jagdterrier is if you don’t have the time to care for them. You need to walk them often because of their high energy and it’s important to train them or they might become restless. Also, avoid this breed if you have small animals because they have a prey instinct for small animals like cats, hamsters, and other types of small animals.

Overall, the jagdterrier is an easy dog to care for, even if you’re a first-time dog owner.