Deutscher Wachtelhund

Also known as: German quail, German spaniel

The Deutscher Wachtelhund descends from an old German quail dog type used to hunt birds through dense forest well before modern spaniel breeds existed. Males weigh around 30 kilograms, with a medium build, and the long, wavy, waterproof coat with feathering lets it work in water and thick cover alike. The breed is used almost exclusively for hunting in Germany, rarely seen abroad and almost unknown in the show ring. Its nose is rated among the best of the German hunting breeds, which is why it's often used to trail blood scent. Temperament runs driven and energetic, and it tends to grow restless at home without enough exercise. It bonds closely with its family. Life expectancy runs 12 to 14 years.

Browse dog food sized right for this breed

Deutscher Wachtelhund: how old in human years?

45–54 cmHeight
18–30 kgWeight
12–14 yrsLife expectancy

Irish Water Spaniel

FCI group: Retrievers, Flushing Dogs, Water Dogs
FCI section: Section 2: Flushing Dogs
FCI: 104
Country of origin: Germany

Energy level

5/5
Trainability

4/5
Family friendly

4/5
Grooming need

4/5

At a glance

Height

Males 48–54 cm

Females 45–52 cm

Weight

Males 18–30 kg

Females 18–30 kg

Life expectancy

12–14 yrs

Coat

long, dense, wavy, weatherproof coat with feathering (long)

Temperament & Family Life

Deutscher Wachtelhund's average temperament and family-life score for this breed is moderate.

Family friendly 4/5
Good with children 3/5
Good with other dogs 3/5
Friendly with strangers 2/5
Intelligence 4/5
Trainability 4/5

Exercise, Energy & Space

Deutscher Wachtelhund's energy and exercise needs are high.

Energy level 5/5
Exercise need 5/5
Apartment friendly 1/5
Prey drive 5/5
Hunting instinct 5/5

Guarding & Alertness

Deutscher Wachtelhund's guarding and alertness traits are moderate.

Guarding instinct 2/5
Watchfulness 3/5
Barking level 3/5

Grooming & Care

Deutscher Wachtelhund's grooming needs are moderate.

Shedding 3/5
Drooling 2/5
Grooming need 4/5

Living with the Deutscher Wachtelhund

Let it off into a meadow for the first time and it won't run in a straight line: it will start quartering the bushes, nose to the ground, tail going like a metronome. The Deutscher Wachtelhund is a hunting dog that searches, flushes and tracks game, and its nose is always working, even when all you wanted was a walk to the shop. It has energy to spare and needs a great deal of exercise: not a loop of the block, but hours in fields, woods or by the water.

It is clever and keen to learn, especially when the task involves its nose: tracking, finding hidden objects or retrieving appeal to it far more than any trick. Its hunting drive is very strong, though, so a reliable recall is the fruit of long work, and until you have one, a long line is your best friend. A flat is too small for it; it is happiest in a house with a garden and an owner who has time to spend outdoors.

With its own family it is devoted and affectionate, it generally gets on with children, and it meets strangers with reserve and announces them with a bark. It is usually easygoing with other dogs, but the cat next door may look a little too much like quarry. A typical day: a long morning hike, an hour of deep sleep, a scent-work session in the evening and another contented sprawl at your feet. Without enough to do, it will find its own entertainment, and you won't like it.

Grooming and coat

The Deutscher Wachtelhund wears a long, dense, wavy coat with feathering on the ears, legs and tail, built for pushing through brambles and wading into cold water. It shrugs off the weather well, but it also collects burrs, thorns and dry twigs. After every walk in the woods, run your hands over the ears, armpits and trousers, and comb the whole coat through a couple of times a week so the feathering doesn't felt into hard knots. It sheds a moderate amount, so keep the brush near the door.

Those long, feathered ears deserve extra attention after mud and water: check that they are clean and dry inside and that no grass seeds have worked their way in. Trim the hair between the paw pads so it doesn't hold mud and balls of snow. The lips may leave the odd damp mark on your trousers, but no more than that. Frequent baths aren't needed; dried mud mostly falls out when you comb.

How to do it:

By age:

Health and possible conditions

We don't have reliable health information specific to this breed, so we don't list conditions here. Keep up regular vet check-ups, and if you are getting a puppy, ask the breeder about the parents' health testing.

This is general information, not veterinary advice. For your own dog's health, tests and treatment, see a vet.

Food for large breeds — cheapest per kg

This list is chosen by the breed's weight (30 kg) rather than the breed itself: shops label food by dog size, so every breed of the same size gets the same list. Prices are updated daily.

≈ 320 g of dry food a day, from €17,53 a month For a neutered, normally active 24 kg dog. Calculate for your dog