German Hunting Terrier
Also known as Jagdterrier, Deutscher Jagdterrier, Jagd
- Height at the withers
- 33 to 40 cm
- Weight
- 7.5 to 10 kg
- Life expectancy
- 13 to 15 years
- Daily activity
- 120 minutes
- Origin
- Germany
- FCI group
- 3 · Terriers
Who is it for?
Ideal for
- a sporty owner: running, hiking, canicross
Less suited to
- an apartment: it needs space
- a first dog: it needs an experienced owner
- a sedentary life: plan on 120 minutes of activity a day
- long absences: it struggles when left alone
Overview
A small, compact and muscular black and tan terrier, the German Hunting Terrier was created purely for work: digging out foxes and badgers, finding and flushing wild boar on driven hunts, tracking and retrieving. Brave, tenacious and tireless, it is no lapdog and suits only experienced owners, ideally hunters.
History and origins
After World War I, German hunters including Rudolf Friess, Walter Zangenberg and Carl-Erich Grünewald left the Fox Terrier club to create a black and tan terrier bred solely for its hunting ability. Starting from black and tan terriers given to them by a zoo director, Lutz Heck, and from crosses with the old English wirehaired terrier and the Welsh Terrier, they set the type, and the German breed club was founded in 1926. Recognized by the FCI (standard no. 103), the Jagdterrier is very widespread among French hunters, with nearly 600 registrations with the French Kennel Club (LOF) in 2025.
Health
Life expectancy is 13 to 15 years, and the breed is very hardy. The most common health problems in the breed:
- Primary lens luxation
- Hunting injuries (bites in the den, wounds from wild boar)
- Patellar luxation
- Cataracts
Choose a breeder who has the parents health-screened for this breed, and ask to see the results.
Coat and care
Short, wiry coat. Low shedding, low coat care. Coat colors: black and tan, dark brown and tan, black-gray grizzle and tan, small white markings allowed on the chest and toes.
All ratings
Rated from 1 to 5, comparable across breeds. Green marks a strength for most households, orange something to plan for.
Lifestyle
- Energy
- Boundless, 5 out of 5
- Apartment
- Difficult, 2 out of 5
- Home alone
- Poorly, 2 out of 5
Family and sociability
- With children
- Fair, 3 out of 5
- With other dogs
- Caution, 2 out of 5
- With cats
- Avoid, 1 out of 5
- With strangers
- Reserved, 2 out of 5
Training and temperament
- Ease of training
- Hard, 2 out of 5
- For a first-time owner
- Not advised, 1 out of 5
- Guarding instinct
- Moderate, 3 out of 5
- Prey drive
- Very strong, 5 out of 5
- Tendency to roam
- High, 4 out of 5
Care and neighbors
- Coat care
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Shedding
- Low, 2 out of 5
- Drooling
- Never, 1 out of 5
- Barking
- Frequent, 4 out of 5
Climate and health
- Heat tolerance
- Average, 3 out of 5
- Cold tolerance
- Good, 4 out of 5
- Hardiness
- Excellent, 5 out of 5
In our lists
German Hunting Terrier FAQ
How big does the German Hunting Terrier get?
The German Hunting Terrier stands 33 to 40 cm at the withers and weighs 7.5 to 10 kg. It is a small dog.
Does the German Hunting Terrier shed a lot?
It sheds little and its coat needs little care.
Can the German Hunting Terrier live in an apartment?
It is difficult: it needs space and activity, and a home with a yard suits it better. Mind the neighbors: it barks readily.
How much exercise does the German Hunting Terrier need each day?
Allow about 120 minutes of activity a day: its energy is boundless. Add games and training exercises to keep its mind busy too.
Is the German Hunting Terrier good with children?
Fairly well, preferably with children old enough to respect its limits. Never leave a young child alone with a dog, whatever the breed.
How long does the German Hunting Terrier live?
Life expectancy is 13 to 15 years, and the breed is very hardy. The main health problems to watch for are primary lens luxation and hunting injuries.
