German Spaniel

From hunting literature, it can be proved that hunting dogs resembling the present day Wachtelhund have existed for centuries and have been used for flushing game. The term « Wachtelhund » also has historic origins.

Breeding of the German Spaniel, according to a stud book, began at the turn of the century.

The progenitor of the breed was « Lord Augusta 1834 L », who came from Staufenberg (Upper Bavaria). Pure breeding began with a few suitable bitches. At first only brown dogs (sometimes with white markings), and white-brown dogs were bred, the latter occasionally with small tan (red) markings on head and legs, the so-called « Brand ». Through the bitch, « Baby auf der Schanze 1838 L », the brown roan colour occurred in the breed.

Rudolf Friess (R.F.), who influenced the breeding of the German Spaniel for decades, introduced the separate colour breeding for browns and roans. By carefully planned matings within both colour strains he succeded to establish the important precondition - in spite of the small gene pool - to keep away from the damages through inbreeding.

The separation of the colour strains seemed also sensible in view of the somewhat different dispositions of the dogs.

The browns as short distance hunters, easier to make them hunt the game towards the guns, the brown roan colour as long distance hunters, specially willing to follow a trail.

The difference in disposition can nowadays no longer be regarded as a valid distinction between the two strains, as in the meantime, for various reasons, numerous matings between the two strains had taken place. Generally, however, the separation still counts today as a preservation of an unrelated reservoir of blood within the breed.

The German Spaniel was and is still bred exclusively by hunters for hunters as a flushing and versatile hunting dog.