Kurzhaar & Drahthaar: Two woodcock hunting geniuses compared, more similar than you think. Hunting techniques and training all to be put into practice.
Comparing two dogs is always complicated above all due to the fact that the four-legged friend is able to give greater or lesser emotions in hunting based on the owner who is next to him: it is therefore not infrequent to compare hunters; yet, when it comes to Kurzhaar, Drahthaar, woods and woodcocks, confrontation is inevitable. It is certain that those who have experienced woodcock hunting in the woods accompanied by kurzhaar hardly forget the experience and would hardly want to change dogs.
It is rustic but elegant, strong and elastic, with a great flair and a balanced character. To say that the kurzhaar is intelligent is an understatement and from the first glance it is clear that it was born for life in the open air. Excellent companion animal, the short hair not infrequently it is also used by civil protection for its sensitivity and for its flair: a native of Germany, its closest relatives are Prussian specimens and English pointers. The meeting was a real success: the physical structure improved considerably, but also the character became more balanced and pleasant. It is precisely because of his character strength that the training of the kurzhaar must be carried out immediately, consistent and firm. Otherwise the dog will be an excellent companion dog but will have nothing to do with a hunting dog for the queen of the woods.
Il Drahthaar is an incredible all-around pointing dog, born in Germany at the end of the nineteenth century. The idea was to create a totally German dog from the crossing of two breeds that already existed, the Langhaar and the Kurzhaar, obviously keeping only the merits of the two. The Kurzhaar gave great character to the breed and in the early twenties of the twentieth century the Drahthaar took shape thanks to the meeting of some of the most elegant, strong and capable breeds already known: the Pudel-Pointer, Stichelhaar, Grifone Korthal, and Kurzhaar. Versatile and gifted with exceptional trainability, the Drahthaar can prove to be stronger than necessary in their reactions with other dogs, but with humans, it's a different kettle of fish. To train him it takes character and perseverance, yes, but nothing impossible. This exceptional dog created at the table is an excellent hunter: he moves on all terrains, proves to be capable in the firm, and is an ace in following the tracks and in defending his hunter. Certainly it cannot be defined as a stylistically fascinating dog, not like the Irish Setter at least, yet it is endowed with its elegance and performs its task perfectly: it is an excellent auxiliary for everyday hunting. Showiness leaves it to other races.
Not only is it the dog that many hunters would like to have next to, but it is not infrequently used by the civil guard for its operations: it is agile, resistant and strong, tenacious and gifted with a great sense of smell and its size is medium, not too large. not too small; finally the hair is the icing on the cake, rustic and able to protect the dog in different situations. Not everyone also knows that the Drahthaar is an excellent swimmer: it retrieves game without hesitation in the water even going against the current in the icy water as if nothing had happened.
Returning to our Kurzhaar it is good to remember that those who intend to have him next to you during the woodcock hunting, must train him from a very young age: only in this way will he be able to establish a relationship of respect and trust with the owner. It is not uncommon, in fact, that given the strong character, the dog is even able to overwhelm its master, proving useless during the hunting activity. After all, he learns really quickly: he does it in the training phase and in the field, learning from man but also from the wild and from the location in which it is located. So a handler with a little steady wrist will have no problem training this spectacular dog. The important thing is that the Kurzhaar is immediately put in contact with woodcock doc, only in this way will it be ready for hunting.
The training that is recommended more than others when it comes to Kurzhaar is the German one, which is not out of place even in the case of Drahthaar: the technique is characterized by constancy and firmness.
The trainer must be meticulous and never forget that training your dog is not a game. Once you have assimilated the simplest commands, teach your Kurzhaar but also the Drahthaar the retrieve by repeating the “lesson” several times, until the dog is sure of what he is doing. Only later will it be possible to work on the firm and on the search. However, it is worth remembering that both races demonstrate an amazing learning ability, so correct information is needed right from the start.
Places on the field Kurzhaar and Drahthaar will exhibit teaching and instinct.
The Drahthaar, whose name indicates precisely its hard coat, immediately proves to be excellent. Its fur is an excellent cover that allows it to go through even the most spiky woods. Thanks to its dense and bristly hair, almost iron, it is also an excellent hunter of ducks even during the coldest months. Strangely, the capabilities of this breed are only now being discovered, even in Italy, while the Kurzhaar has been appreciated and used for decades. What is important to remember is that there is no better breed than the other, rather there is a hunter more suited to the Drahthaar and one more suited to the Kurzhaar: it all lies in finding the dog that's right for you. Having said that, the equipment that the hunter must bring with him when he tries his hand in the art of hunting the queen of the woods deserves at least a mention: the rifle must be light to benefit the distance along the inaccessible mountain paths and the caliber that best suits to woodcock it goes from 12 to 20 with short barrel and minimum choke.
In this way you will be able to solve the problem of leaves that annoy the shot, which is much better to be as close as possible. We conclude by remembering that the ideal is that the barrel is between 60 and 66 cm. Side-by-side and over-under are really smart choices.