Jagdterrier vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison

The American English Coonhound was developed in the Southern part of the United States from the variety of English hunting dogs that came to the States with the early settlers. At one point they were known as the Virginia Hound. This breed is well known for its prowess in hunting raccoons and her endurance and speed. Of course as a hound dog he loves to howl during the hunt and at home with the family. He can be frustrated and destructive if his energy and need for a job are not satisfied.

Known as the German Hunt Terrier, the Jagdterrier hails from Germany and is a working terrier. In fact, the purpose of the Jagdterrier was for breeders to come up with an improved hunting terrier.

The dog was developed at the turn of the 20th century, so its not a particularly old breed. There were a number of breeders who broke away from the German Fox Terrier Club, dedicating themselves to creating this newer terrier.

The first Jagdterriers were created by mixing the Old English Fox Terrier with a number of Black and Tan Hunting Terriers. Other dogs used to develop the Jagdterrier were German Pinschers, Welsh Terriers and English Wirehaired Terriers.

Today he is considered a superb hunting dog.The German Hunting Terrier Club was was founded in 1926.

The American English Coonhound is an athlete with a deep chest and cute face. They have broad heads, domed skulls, dark eyes and soft, low ears. They are as fast and athletic as they look. These are highly athletic dogs with long legs and a slim but muscular body. They are so well built for their hunting role, that any deficiencies are quickly identified and bred out of the breed.

The Jagdterrier is a tenacious hunter, taking on lots of wild creatures such as boars, badgers and even cougars.

He is of medium size standing between 33 and 40cm in height and weighing 7-10kg.

He has a coat of black and tan which can also be a dark brown shade or be a charcoal color. The Deutscher Jagdterrier is a compact, well-proportioned dog with a wedge shaped head and flat skull. The ears are set high and go up before they come down to form floppy ears. The tail has always been docked at about one third of the tail. These days it is often left long, being carried raised.

Temperament:

Active, athletic and alert, the Jagdterrier is also social, intelligent, strong-willed and confident. He is a serious hunter but can make an excellent pet, especially when trained and socialized.

He is energetic so he will require owners who are prepared to include him in all their activities. They are good around children, but their hunting side makes them long to be outdoors busy with exciting activities.

The American English Coonhound knows how to relax just as much as he knows how to work. He is mellow after work and tenacious in the chase. This is not the dog for a first-time owner. They are stubborn and hard to train. They howl and bark at home as much as they do on the hunt. They need a strong pack leader, especially when living in the city or neighborhoods.

They are outgoing and friendly and very sensitive. They mature later than most other breeds their size. They are about 2 when they mature.

Your Deutscher Jagdterrier is an intelligent dog who enjoys the company of his human family, particularly when they are active and can meet his high energy needs and his desire to be busy.

They are quite wary with strangers and this makes them alert watchdogs. They are affectionate and playful with children if the children know how to respect them. Because of their hunting skills, they can be a bit of a threat around small animals in the home.

He is a quick learner and responds well to training and socialization. He will thrive on living in the countryside, but wherever you live with your Jagdterrier, give him plenty of exercise, a warm, dry bed, good food and your love and devotion, and he'll respond by being a super pet and companion.

If kept active and happy, the American English Coonhound has very few health problems. The benefit from a large gen pool but do have some health concerns including elbow and hip dysplasia, ear infections, cataracts, bloat, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy. They do have a tendency to gain weight as they age. These issues will be addressed in more detail below. DNA testing is available for the dysplasia and eye issues.

You’re not going to be taking a sick Jagdterrier to the vet often as this is generally a healthy dog breed who can reach 13, 14 or 15 years of age with good care.

He may be prone to a genetic breed disorder known as Primary Lens Luxation. Sometimes people are given prescription eye drops to constrict the pupil ad help the subluxated lens from getting worse.

This is a painful hereditary condition that leads to blindness. It affects many breeds of dog, particularly terrier-type dogs.

Feeding

your working American English Coonhound needs different food than one who is not working. So, if you hunt with your dog remember he really needs the calories to keep his energy up. However, they can get obese as they age so cut back with less activity and more years. Watch the number of treats when training.

Health issues mentioned earlier include

Elbow and Hip Dysplasia – the joint issues prevent the bones from connecting and functioning properly. Any good breeder of American English Coonhounds will do tests for both.

Eye issues range from cataracts to PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy) Again there are tests available for these conditions.

Bloat is a condition many medium to large size dogs can experience when their stomach can become inverted and intestines distended. The is a situational issue and can’t be predicted. Don’t allow your coonhound to wolf down food right before exercise and feed him more than once a day in a smaller meal.

Exercise and games

The American English Coonhound needs a lot of exercise and has an extremely strong work and prey drive.

Diet:

Your energetic Jagdterrier will do well on a high-quality dog food, of which there are some good ones on the market.

If you do buy a commercially manufactured dog food, make sure that you read the instructions on the packaging so as to adhere to portion control. You can’t afford to have your pet becoming obese as this opens up a host of problems, and it can also shorten your dog’s life-span.

If you invest in high quality kibble, try to add in some nutritious and tasty home-made food such as cooked chicken, some brown rice or pasta and some vegetables. It is always wise to add in some raw meat from time to time as this promotes good health in your dog and prevents skin allergies.

Any diet for a dog should be in keeping with his age and his energy levels. Make sure your pet has constant access to fresh, cool drinking water.

Grooming:

Brush your Jagdterrier’s hair twice a week. It will keep the coat in tip top condition, but it also does your pet the world of good. He loves it when you take time out to be with him and to give him some special time. Brushing him also allows you to check him over for ticks and fleas.

Other grooming aspects for your dog will be to check on his nails and to clip them when they get too long. Ears should also be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and dirt and teeth should be checked as well. Dental disease can lead to a host of illnesses which can be detrimental to the heart and kidneys.

Exercise:

Every dog needs different forms of exercise to remain lean and healthy. Options for exercise for your Jagdterrier can be going on walks, swimming and play time in the backyard.