Overview
The Deutsch Stichelhaar is a medium-to-large German pointing dog, closely resembling the German Wirehaired Pointer. It is sturdy without being heavy and is built for all-round work in the field.
It has never been as popular as other German pointers and is rarely found outside its homeland, where it remains mainly a hunter's dog.
History
In the early 19th century Germany had several rough-haired pointer types, with little effort to standardise them. Old German shepherd blood was introduced at some stage, which gave the breed its rough coat and its name, as stichelhaarig means rough-haired.
The breed nearly disappeared by the middle of the century but was rescued by the efforts of a single breeder. In the second half of the century serious work was done to fix the type, and by the end of the century it was accepted as a regional breed.
Appearance
A robust, well-built dog standing roughly 58 to 70 cm, with males taller than females. The main difference from the German Wirehaired Pointer is the head, which is heavier and broader, a legacy of its shepherd ancestors. It has hanging ears and particularly long eyebrows that can give a stern look.
The stiff, harsh coat is about 3.5 cm long. It is solid brown, brown roan or light roan, sometimes with a white chest patch or brown patches in the roan.
Temperament
A serious working dog, it is reserved with strangers and watchful. It is known to be sharp towards predators, which suits its role as an all-round hunting companion.
With its own family it is loyal and attentive, but it needs clear, experienced handling.
Care and exercise
This is a hunting dog that needs a lot of daily exercise and real work such as tracking, retrieving or field training. It is best suited to an active, experienced owner with outdoor space.
The harsh coat needs only occasional brushing and removal of dead hair.
