French Spaniel vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison

French Spaniel vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed ComparisonFrench Spaniel is originated from France but Deutsch Drahthaar is originated from Germany. Both French Spaniel and Deutsch Drahthaar are having almost same height. French Spaniel may weigh 10 kg / 22 pounds lesser than Deutsch Drahthaar. Both French Spaniel and Deutsch Drahthaar has almost same life span. French Spaniel may have more litter size than Deutsch Drahthaar. Both French Spaniel and Deutsch Drahthaar requires Moderate maintenance.

History

french spaniel - historyDeveloped in France and then in Canada, the French Spaniel is a descendent of 14th century hunting dogs. Originally the breed was very popular with the French royalty and nobility at the Court of Versailles, in the Middle Ages. A French Spaniel named Babe was owned by Catherine I of Russia.

Spaniels were mentioned in Gaston III of Foix-Beams’ The Master of the Game, or Livre de Chasse, in 14th Century France. Most believed that Spaniels had been developed during the 11th century Crusades. By 1650 the French Spaniel was differentiated from the King Charles Spaniel and determined to be its own type of spaniel.

In 1805, they were featured in the Sporting Magazine, hunting mallards. The French Spaniel was crossed with English Setters in the !850’s to develop the French Brittany (Spaniel). But by the end of the 19th century, hunting dogs from other countries were outpacing the French Spaniel so much that it was driven to the brink of extinction. Fortunately, a priest named Father Fournier saved the breed by taking all remaining Spaniels to his kennels at St. Hillarie and developing the lines we see in the breed today. This was followed by the founding of the French Spaniel Club in 1921. The various lines of the Spaniels included the French Spaniel of today, the Brittany of today, the Blue Picardy and the Picardy.

The French Spaniel however has been rare outside of its native country and Canada, where it was imported in the 1970’s to French speaking Quebec. Quebec Canadians fell in love with the breed for hunting grouse and woodcock. In order to ensure that the breed would be continued in line with its French standards, the Club de l’Epagneul Francais du Canada began in 1978. By 1985 the Canadian Kennel Club recognized the French Spaniel. Soon after they were recognized by the United Kennel Club, the Federation Cynoloqique Internationale, the UK Kennel Club and the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, but not the AKC (American Kennel Club). They are also registered with organizations such as the American Canine Association, the Dog Registry of America and the America’s Pet Registry. They have been included in the AKC Foundation Stock Service as the first step toward AKC recognition.

deutsch drahthaar - historyHailing from Germany in the 20th century, the Deutsch Drahthaar, also known as the German wirehaired Pointer, has always been a hunting dog. He was developed to take part in hunting in field or water.

Breeders of this dog were successful in developing a skilled and versatile hunting dog that took its traits from the best coarse haired dogs.

It was in 1902 that the German breed club for the Deutsch-Drahthaar was founded.

Description

french spaniel puppy - descriptionThe French Spaniel is a very tall dog and as such is one of the spaniel breeds two tallest. They are taller than the English Springer Spaniel, have a deep chest and a muscular build. Their legs are very strong, and they have a thick tail that is never docked. It is long, slightly curved and hangs low. He is an elegant dog with dark amber eyes, long feathery ears, and a nose the color of the coat. If the coat is brown the nose is brown. If the coat is black and white the nose is black. Most French Spaniels are white with brown or dark liver or white with black.

deutsch drahthaar puppy - descriptionThe Deutsch-Drahthaar is a medium sized well muscled sporting dog standing at 61 to 68 cm and weighing 27-32kg.

He is very distinguishable with his wiry water-resistant coat which comes in different colors such as liver, grey or black patches with a speckled or ticked background.

He has strong, straight legs with rounded paws which are webbed for strong swimming abilities. He has dark eyes with floppy, high set ears and a long tail. Many people still want the dog to have that distinctive look and they opt to have the tail docked.

Temperament:

The Deutsch-Drahthaar is a fantastic hunting companion, loving nothing more than to be working at running across fields and plunging into water to retrieve prey.

Its the kind of dog that will fit well into family life but he will require exercise. Failing to give him exercise and attention will make him bored, frustrated and destructive.

He is a friendly, gentle dog yet he becomes protective when he feels his family is threatened. Training and socialization turn him into an excellent pet as he is a strong-willed dog that will take advantage of an owner who isn’t firm with him.

Characteristics

Children friendliness

french spaniel dog - characteristicsYes, they are very good with children.

Special talents

They are great in filed trials as they can flush, point and retrieve.

Adaptability

The breed is very adaptable and can live in the city or in the country.

Learning ability

The breed is very intelligent and trainable.

deutsch drahthaar dog - characteristicsThe German Wirehaired Pointer is an active, energetic dog who is happiest when performing a task or getting some exercise in. He is also a social dog, who loves spending time with his human family. It is important for him to get noticed by his human family, and he is a dog that gets on well with children in the home as well as pets.

Never just put your Pointer in the back yard and expect him to entertain himself. He wants to be included in all your activities, whether you’re walking, jogging or cycling.

A happy Deutsch Drahthaar will make sure that he gives you your full quota of love, loyalty, protection and companionship.

Health Problems

french spaniel puppies - health problemsThe French Spaniel is a healthy breed that adapts well to all types of conditions, especially wet ones. There are some potentially serious health issues that the breed may be susceptible to:

Acral Mutilation and Analgesia

This is a very serious inherited disorder. It is one of many Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathies (HSN) disorders. This is an agonizing infliction that causes the dogs to have no pain in certain extremities and therefore the ability to self-mutilate their feet, pads, claws and digits. They lick and bite their feet often amputating footpads, claws, and digits without feeling any pain. This leads to infection and most dogs end up being euthanized. The disorder shows up by 3-4 months of age.

Ear Infections

Make sure the dog’s ears are cleaned regularly to remove wax and prevent infections.

Epilepsy

This disease causes seizures but can be treated with medication.

Hip dysplasia

Can cause lameness and arthritis.

deutsch drahthaar puppies - health problemsWhen you start doing research on these German wirehairs, you see that they are far more prone to hip- and elbow dysplasia than the short-haired breed.

Also, von Willebrand’s blood-clotting disease is something that you should know about. Your German wirehair is a healthy, robust dog and is highly unlikely to get sick, but you need to be aware of these common dog ailments so that you can help him and know what to watch for.

This Von Willebrand’s disease for instance is a blood disease brought about by a deficiency of von Willebrand Factor (vWF). A lack of this vWF impairs platelet stickiness and clumping and can lead to excessive bleeding after an injury.

You may notice bleeding from the gums, bruising of skin, prolonged bleeding after an injury as well as blood in the urine for instance. Get your pet to the vet who will perform a physical exam on your dog.

Caring The Pet

Feed the puppy

french spaniel dogs - caringA high quality dry food made for puppies and if possible for Spaniels. Feed two to three times a day about one fourth of a cup each time

Feed the adult

A high quality adult dry food made for Spaniels if possible. Feed twice a day about one half to three fourths of a cup at each meal.

Points for Good Health

Excellent vision, stamina and speed.

Games and Exercises

These dog love to run and play. They are smart and learn easily. They like to chase balls, swim, play hide and seek, Find It, and go hiking. They can excel at learning tricks, agility, rally and obedience trials.

Grooming:

deutsch drahthaar dogs - caringYour Deutsch Drahthaar does shed, and because of his wiry coat, he won’t only require a brush twice a week, but also stripping by a professional doggy parlor.

There are several other grooming processes that are essential for your dog. The first is to check that his nails don’t get too long. This often happens when he spends all his time on soft grass. Running on a hard surface trims them down naturally.

Also, because he has floppy ears, they will need to be checked and cleaned regularly so he doesn’t get an ear infection. His teeth will also need to be brushed twice a week as tartar and plaque build-up can cause problems with the teeth but also with other areas of the body.

If in doubt about how to groom your pet the right way, speak to your vet or a dog expert.

Diet:

There is so much conflicting information on caring for dogs, even from so-called dog experts. While there are some excellent dog food manufacturers around, some experts will say that you should be feeding your dog based on what his digestive system was designed to eat and steer clear of these.

If you do feed your German wirehaired Pointer with manufactured dog food, make sure it is the very best one, because after all, nutrition plays a vital role in your pet’s health.

Try to include some cooked vegetables, brown rice and some chicken into his diet. These can be mixed into his kibble. It is expensive, but try to include some raw meat into your dog’s diet from time to time. Ensure a constant supply of cool, fresh water.

No more Puppies!

If your Deutsch Drahthaar isn’t going to be used for breeding, make sure that your have him or her neutered or spayed as this is advisable to promote good health. Not doing it can cause health issues later on.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Gun dog
Origin:
France
Germany
Height Male:
56 - 63 cm
22 - 25 inches
61 - 68 cm
24 - 27 inches
Height Female:
54 - 60 cm
21 - 24 inches
57 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
Weight Male:
10 - 22 kg
22 - 49 pounds
27 - 32 kg
59 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
8 - 20 kg
17 - 45 pounds
27 - 32 kg
59 - 71 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 10
4 - 6
Size:
Medium dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Epagneul Français French Setter Canadian Setter
Vorstehhund, German Wirehaired Pointer, Deutscher Drahthaariger
Colors Available:
White with brown markings
grey, black - ticked or speckled, Liver and white
Coat:
Straight, or slightly wavy and of medium length.
Medium length and wiry
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Courageous, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loyal, Playful, Social
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. French Spaniel vs East Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  2. French Spaniel vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  3. French Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. French Spaniel vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  5. French Spaniel vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  6. French Spaniel vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  7. French Spaniel vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  8. French Spaniel vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  9. French Spaniel vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  10. French Spaniel vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  11. French Spaniel vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  12. French Spaniel vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  13. French Spaniel vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  14. French Spaniel vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison
  15. Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  16. Lagotto Romagnolo vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  17. Shikoku vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  18. Slovakian Hound vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  19. Small Munsterlander vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  20. Sussex Spaniel vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  21. Kooikerhondje vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  22. Welsh Springer Spaniel vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  23. West Siberian Laika vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  24. Wetterhoun vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  25. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  26. English Springer Spaniel vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  27. English Setter vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  28. French Brittany vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  29. Pudelpointer vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  30. Picardy Spaniel vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  31. Pont-Audemer Spaniel vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  32. Irish Water Spaniel vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  33. Deutsch Drahthaar vs American Cocker Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  34. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Brittany - Breed Comparison
  35. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Boykin Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  36. Deutsch Drahthaar vs American Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  37. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Braque d'Auvergne - Breed Comparison
  38. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Barbet - Breed Comparison
  39. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Ariege Pointer - Breed Comparison
  40. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Blue Picardy Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  41. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Canadian Pointer - Breed Comparison
  42. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Braque du Bourbonnais - Breed Comparison
  43. Deutsch Drahthaar vs Cesky Fousek - Breed Comparison
  44. Clumber Spaniel vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  45. Stabyhoun vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  46. Styrian Coarse Haired Hound vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  47. Vizsla vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  48. Large Munsterlander vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  49. Tyrolean Hound vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison
  50. Cockalier vs Deutsch Drahthaar - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds