HISTORY:
The Jagdterrier (German Jagdterrier, Deutscher Jagd-terrier, German Hunt Terrier) is a comparatively young breed, having been developed only since the turn of the 20th century. The breed was developed in Germany as a functional hunting dog, and is used there on a wide variety of game, including wild boar, badger, fox and weasel. Imports into the United States and Canada have also been used by sportsmen as tree dogs, primarily for raccoon and squirrel.
The Jagdterrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1993 .
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The Jagdterrier is first and foremost a hunting and sporting dog. Jagdterriers possess a spirit of liveliness and speed at work, yet are regal at rest. "Alert' "ath-letic" and "active" describes the ambience of the Jagd-terrier. A bit of fire is always evident in its expression.
Physically, individuals should exhibit a square (though not broad) build, standing squarely and true over the feet. A deep and narrow chest allows the dog to more easily enter dens, and is preferred, while an excessively wide chest lessens this ability. Leg length is in proportion to the rest of the body, avoiding both stubbiness or leggi-ness. The tail is set fairly high and straight, and is gaily carried. The tail posture, while the dog is working, will be wayward and is not important. Though cropped, the remaining tail must be long enough to serve as a handle, should the hunter need to pull the terrier from a den. The coat may be either harsh or smooth, the important factor for coats of working terriers being that the coat must be thick and ample for turning briars and fangs.
All deviations from the standard that would affect the working ability of an earth dog are penalized in direct relation to their deviation.
Scars, the result of honorable wounds, are not con-sidered faults and are not to be penalized.
CHARACTERISTICS:
This terrier breed is a clever hunter, unrelenting, tough, robust and unafraid of the most formidable wild game; and very intent in the pursuit of such game. The breed is highly intelligent and affable with its master and other hunters. Considering its determination to work, and its combustible energy, the breed should not be selected strictly as a pet, though they are totally people friendly.
Dash, gameness and pluck are all descriptive of a properly bred Jagdterrier. The Jagdterrier, bred solely by hunters over its existence, has maintained the fearless characteristics of early day den terriers.
HEAD AND SKULL:
The skull is flat and wider between the ears than the Fox Terrier's, tapering between the eyes. The stop is slight. The length of the muzzle, from the stop to the tip of the nose, is shorter than the distance from the occiput to the stop. The powerful muzzle has pronounced cheeks; there must be nothing of the Greyhound in the muzzle. The strong lower jaw has a well-chiseled chin.
TEETH:
A full complement of strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite.
Serious faults: Absence of premolars. Overshot bite. Undershot bite.
EYES:
The small, dark eyes are deep-set and have a determined expression. The eyelids are close-fitting.
NOSE:
The nose is black, unless the dog's main color is brown, when a brown nose is acceptable.
Serious faults: Light-colored nose. Spotted nose.
EARS: The v-shaped ears are not too small. They are set on high and carried lightly against the side of the head. The ears must be of adequate thickness to with-stand work in briars and thickets.
Serious faults: Erect, tulip or rose ears. Thin, easily torn ears.
NECK: The strong, rather-archad neck is not excessively long. It broadens at the point of insertion into the shoulders.
FOREQUARTERS: The shoulders are long and sloping.
FORELEGS: The straight forelegs are well-muscled. The bone is strong rather than fine. The pasterns are slightly slanted and flexible.
Serious fault: Steep shoulders.
BODY:
The deep and narrow chest, to have room for heart and lungs, must have depth and well-arched ribs. The straight back is strong but not short. The loins and croup are strongly muscled.
Serious faults: Short back and wide chest, which encumbers passage through narrow, winding den tunnels.
HINDQUARTERS: The muscular hindquarters are well-angulated. The bone is strong.
HIND-LEGS: The thighs are long. The hocks are well let down.
Serious fault: Lack of angulation.
FEET: The well-knit feet are oval in shape. The front feet are frequently larger and wider than the hind feet. Cat-type feet are not acceptable.
TAIL: The tail is usually docked, leaving about 5/8 of the origi-nal length. (It is better to take off too little than too much.) The tail must serve as a handle for hunters to pull the terriers from the dens.
The tail is normally carried gaily in the manner of a foxhound, but also reflects a terrier's mobility, and can be in any posture while the terrier works.
COAT: Both smooth and harsh coats, or any texture in between, are acceptable, but the coat must be thick and abundant to turn briars, dampness and cold.
Serious faults: Fine, silky-soft or short coat unsuita-ble for the rigors of a working terrier. Woolly hair. Open coat. Lack of hair on the belly.
COLOR: The main body color may be black, black and gray, or dark brown; with brown, red, yellow or lighter colored markings found on the eyebrows, chest, legs and anus. Both light and dark colored masks are acceptable.
A small amount of white on the chest and toes is acceptable.
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT: Because they are den dogs, Jagdterriers must not be too large to enter a varmint burrow nor too small to defend themselves in a confrontation with their quarry.
Height, measured at the withers, must not be less than thirteen (13) inches nor greater than sixteen (16) inches.
The ideal working weight should not be under sixteen (16) pounds nor over twenty-two (22) pounds; the bitch being generally lighter than the dog.
GAIT: Terriers were often required to run with the hounds, being there to bolt the quarry should it go to ground. Thus, their gait is more gallop than trot. This requirement remains for the Jagdterrier. They should have galloping power and the tendency to a smooth gallop at fair speed when at liberty.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Extreme viciousness or shyness. Poor hunting desire or ability.