Germany either you love it ... or you don't love it. The same is true for his dogs. The hunters who see are tricolor do not even think about bringing with them a dog made in Germany such as kurzhaar, drahthaar and Weimaraner; instead there are those who, while loving everything that comes from the beautiful country, do not disdain to take a look at what Europe offers.
And Europe has a lot to offer when it comes to pointing dogs. Take Germany, from which pretzels, frankfurters and three five-star dogs have come over the years. Guess who I'm talking about? His majesty the Shorthair. Kurzhaarists in Italy have been a reality for several years. It comes to say that those who have been accompanied only once to a kurzhaar cannot change direction. On the other hand they are excellent dogs, elegant yes, but also and above all functional. The first thing that probably caught the eye of the hunter who has little time to waste is his coat: the kurzhaar wears it smooth, with a certain ease, and can hunt in any environment that in no time his coat is cleaned up, and in total autonomy. Quite practical, but that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Maybe they don't tolerate the cold very well, but with the heat it's a different matter: even during the hottest days they are real hunting war machines and if by chance you come across a rainy day you don't have to do anything else. than to dry your four-legged friend well and put him to rest in a beautiful insulated kennel and you will have made him happy and healthy.
In return he will offer you all his liveliness, and all his hunting graces both in the case of feathered and furred game, his innate aptitudes for retrieving and retrieving, and his fidelity. What really fascinates when it comes to kurzhaar is the fact that it is practically impossible to find a totally unusable specimen during a hunting day. You may have a more elegant, more capable, more stylish specimen, but if you have a kurzhaar next to it, the game bag is guaranteed: they have hunting in their blood.
The drahthaar: for connoisseurs. The spread of drahthaar in Italy is not even comparable to that of kurzhaar and if this is the case there will be a reason.
No, we are not referring to his qualities as a good hunter, not to be questioned, but to the bad reputation he enjoyed until a few years ago. In fact, the rumor had spread that the drahthaar was a difficult dog both to train and to lead, which was badly adapted to hot climates, biting and in some cases dangerous. The truth? The drahthaar he is a dog of character: before training him you have to educate him and once he is educated the satisfactions will not be long in coming. The positive note is this: if you have decided to choose a drahthaar as an adventure companion, you are certainly doing it in a conscious way. It is likely that he first informed you, evaluated and finally decided; nothing better to get to know your faithful hunting friend. This will help you to manage your friend's great potential in an excellent way, which must be understood in the first place.
Weimaraner: few but good. Weimaraner who? If you are thinking it, do not worry, you are not the only one, since this wonderful pointing dog is very little known in Italy, especially if you compare it with the two compatriots mentioned above.
In Italy the weimaraner it is rather used for something other than hunting: there are countless of them sitting in sofas, lying on carpets, letting themselves be pampered by children. It is a beautiful dog, with a shiny and soft fur, elegant, of those that lovers of the patina absolutely want. Appearance is one of the less intelligent ways to choose a pet, but so be it, beauty has made the Weimaraner a fashionable dog. And here is the surprise: its hunting vocation is so strong that in some cases it is the dog that has spurred the owner bringing him closer to the hunting world. All this bodes well for this breed which deserves to return to its original vocation, hunting.
Pointing dogs: in Italian or German mode?
It is not believed but the breeds we have talked about have an Italian variant and a German variant. When an animal reaches a more or less distant land, it happens that the breeders of the place of adoption modify the breed according to their needs. This is what also happened in Italy. Here is in what terms.
Italian Kurzhaar vs German Kurzhaar. In its Italian variant the dog the dog is essentially standing still, has good openings and a gait that conforms well to its role, possesses a firm expression but above all solid. The German specimen, on the other hand, is versatile and is not trained to be exclusively a pointing dog, but shines in many more areas.
Italian Drahthaar vs German Drahthaar. In Italy the Drahthaar is a dog mainly bred to the firm and to the search; it must have style but above all speed. The German thread drahthaar, on the other hand, is athletic and once again abandons specificity to embrace a considerable range of hunting disciplines. He can be a great pointing dog but also an adept waterworker and able to keep track of excellently.
Weimaraner an identity to build. In Italy, the Weimaraner has yet to gain experience. The specimen in its long-haired variety, still little known and little subject to passing fashions, deserves to be noted: therefore it has all the credentials to become a great hunting dog.