Gun Dog Breeders: Fitness Tips for Keeping Drahthaars in Shape for Hunting Season

For the purposes of hunting, Drahthaars simply can’t be beat. It’s ranked as the top sporting dog breed among Europeans and with good reason — they’re sharp as a tack and quick to retrieve and they mature into adept hunters rather quickly.

So what do gun dog breeders suggest owners do to keep these talented gun dogs fit for hunting season? Well, there are many excellent ways to keep up a Drahthaar's fitness for the first hunt to the last hunt of the year.

Obviously you’re not always sending your gun dog to retrieve game, but tossing out a toy, newspaper, or old shoe will keep it on its toes. A Drahthaar responds well to repetition and, as they say, practice makes perfect.

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According to the Dog Breed Info Center, the Drahthaar delights in working for his owner, so practicing retrieves in the water. Your dog will love it. Because this type of dog has so much energy, they encourage a lot of daily exercise.

Don’t feel like you have to stay on flat land while exercising your Drahthaar — hiking is a great activity for them, according to Terrific Pets. They say the climbing and effort that must be applied to complete a hike is perfect for this breed because they have so much energy. The steady and increase exertion will also keep them trained and fitness-ready for any sort of terrain during hunting season, especially since these dogs are often employed to hunt upland gamebirds.

According to breeders Deutsch Drahthaar vom Moorehaus, "By nature, gun dogs are intelligent, active breeds that require plenty of attention, extensive training, and abundant exercise. Rare is the gun dog that is born steady to wing and shot or lacks for energy. If you're not serious about training and hunting your dog, do yourself and the pup a favor and hunt with a friend or hire a guide with dogs for that once-a-year hunt."

Since the Drahthaar is such a demanding sporting breed, several breeders advise that the purchase of one should be well thought out.

“In some respects, the Deutsch Drahthaar may not be for everyone because as a breed these are high-powered and very spirited gun dogs," Jack Wilson, breeder and owner of vom Wiredhaus Kennels, told Gun Dog Magazine.

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