Though not unique to the DKV (Deutsch Kurzhaar Verbands), one of the things that make it special is the duality of any and all “breeding dogs.” The DKV requires that all dogs are not only up to the standard in hunting conformation, but also health, bite, shoulders, hips, etc. If they don’t check every box, they’re eliminated from the breeding pool. More than any other function, adherence to the standard creates consistency. Every breed club across the world puts out good litters and dogs, but no other breed club matches the consistency of dogs that adhere to the breed standard within the field and conformation ring.
Many breed clubs have “dual champions” that meet the conformation and hunting standards of the breed but for each one of those there’s 20 dogs that only meet one of the standards and 40 that meet neither and are still bred, possibly passing on a few or many traits that are outside the breed standard or even unfavorable for ANY dog.
Meeting the standard in the conformation ring isn’t just so a dog “looks pretty” either, how they’re put together can either aid or hinder a dogs ability, durability, and longevity as our trusted hunting companions. This leads into the topic of “function follows form” using dogs and breeding dogs for certain qualities, to perform a certain function, has over generations created certain forms. These forms have developed to perform the tasks they are used for. Function follows form in that a dog meant to be shaped and size in a manner that it can perform the tasks the dog is to be used for without hindrance from the dogs own body not being built for a certain task; you wouldn’t expect a chihuahua to be able to serve as a livestock protection dog.
The notable areas of emphasis in the makings of a Deutsch Kurzhaar are its size: long legs, full chests, and a large muzzle; it’s teeth being in the proper order, shape and number; and the angulation of the legs. Each of these play an important role in the lives and the fields a DK will lead. Maintaining size is so important, though breaking through the upper end of the standard can also be negative. These dogs are truly meant to be versatile hunters, from blood tracking, to pointing and retrieving birds, even being used as boar dogs. While it is obvious why size is important for use as a boar dog, the others it may be overlooked. When it comes time to retrieve downed game the long legs, large muzzle, and over all larger size of the DK allows it to handle a wide variety of game from quail to fox and swans with ease. Teeth come in to play at the same time, properly placed and sized canines allow a dog to hold game in its mouth comfortably and not feel a need to fidget, set down, or feel overwhelmed by what the dog has been asked to carry. All these aside, angulation is without a doubt the most important. Proper angulation allows a dog to move freely and comfortably with its complete range of motion. It allows a dog to run, jump, and even stop properly with less chance of injury. More importantly, improper angulation leads to undue wear and tear on joints and limbs, wearing down a dogs body and taking them out of the game before their time.
This is not to say these things are not achievable without the oversight of the DKV. When you look beyond the walls of your own kennel, you know that if a dog has been bred within the DKV system, you can guarantee it meets the standard. Finding a much higher consistency of quality across all breeders, across the country, across the world.
