Jagdterrier vs Dingo - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Dingo dog was in all probability, introduced to Australia thousands of years ago. He isn’t your usual domesticated dog and in fact it is a feral dog native to Australia.There are stories that suggest that while they may have once been pets, they were abandoned so that they reverted back to their wild state.

They became pests for Australian farmers, going for their livestock, and huge fences were erected. The different climates in Australia have meant different kinds of Dingo developing, so while the desert ones are like the desert sands - golden yellow to red the alpine ones are rarer and are cream colored.

These wild canines were also introduced to Southeast Asia some 3,500 years ago, however the dog’s exact origin is debatable. There are any number of groups of people who could have brought the dingo to Australia, and among some of these are Indian mariners or maritime hunters.

The dog has been found in many parts of mainland Australia but never became established in Tasmania.There has also been an effort to remove the Dingo from farming areas. It is interesting to note that the first Dingo, referred to as the Australian dog, was registered at the London Zoo in 1828.

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.

An interesting fact with these fascinating feral dogs, is that like humans, they’ve got rotating wrists. This characteristic of theirs allows them to use their paws much like the human hand to catch their prey. A domesticated Dingo can therefore learn how to open doors.

The Dingo is a medium sized dog standing at roughly 52 – 60cm in height, measuring up to 1.2 meters in length and weighing roughly between 23 to 32kg.

He has long canine teeth, a long muzzle, upright ears and a long, thick tail. The coat is essentially one color, sandy, white, cream, tan or black and sometimes there are white markings on the chest, the paws and around the muzzle.

The fur is typically shortish and thick — though the hair's thickness and length will depend on the climate of the area. The Dingo is a moderate shedder and a good brushing of the coat twice a week will keep the thick coat shiny and healthy.

Temperament:

These wild canines are social animals, and in the wild they live in packs. There are some that opt to live on their own.

They’e territorial, but they are able to share their living space with humans. They’re generally shy around humans, but a Dingo that is trained and socialized can get along well with children and pets in the home.

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.

Dingoes have been domesticated successfully. Some people swear by them as making a fantastic pet. However, they’re wild dogs and can be unpredictable.

There are others who have tried to keep the Dingo as a pet but who have discarded them when they proved to be a danger in the home.

Dingoes can be trained but they’re high energy dogs and require a lot of exercise. How do you feel about owning a Dingo as a pet? Many people feel that its not fair to bring an essentially wild animal into your home. They feel that there are plenty of rescue dogs dying for a home without human beings searching in the wilds for an unusual pet, and regretting it later on.

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.

The Dingo is a long-lived dog and you can expect your Dingo to live till anything between 15 and 20 years.

When it comes to health issues, they are robust and resilient, having less medical problems to contend with than your regular dog.

However if you see that your Dingo is not his usual robust, energetic self, get him to the vet as soon as you can.

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.

Caring for your Dingo will be different to caring for your usual pet dog. You have to remember the Dingo is an ancient, wild species with some unique characteristics. Having a Dingo as a pet and companion may not be an easy task, and it is why many people selfishly dump their Dingoes – they didn’t quite live up to what they had in mind.

Training:

Your Dingo, just like any other dog you’d have, will require training and socialization, and the earlier the better. No training will simply mean you having an unruly pet in the home.

Diet:

Your Dingo can be fed just like you would with your other dogs. You can feed him quality dog kibble as his main diet, but you can also add in cooked rice, vegetables and chicken. Your Dingo is essentially a wild dog, so you will definitely want to include some raw meat into his diet from time to time as well.

Ensure that there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water available.

Excercise:

A Dingo is used to running free so he will require plenty of outdoor exercise. He can also be put on a leash and taken for a walk. He’ll love joining you in your activities such as running alongside you as you jog or cycle. He can adapt to life in the city if he is well exercised but he isn’t suited to a small home or garden.

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.