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What's the
Difference Between a Deutsch
Kurzhaar (DK) and a German
Shorthaired Pointer (GSP)?
The
short answer is that the Deutsch
Kurzhaar is registered with a
different registration body than the
GSP. In reality, however, the
Kurzhaar is truly a separate breed
from the American derivative, the
German Shorthaired Pointer. The
Kurzhaar is bred according to a
strict set of breed standards, which
require testing in ability,
conformation, and temperament before
being allowed to breed. The GSP, on
the other hand, as registered by the
AKC, FDSB, NAVHDA and GSPCA, have only one
requirement necessary before
breeding—that both parents be
registered members of the GSP breed.
The GSP's development in the US
is in the hands of individual
breeders, who have a variety of
interests. Some are hunters, some
are field trialers, some are only
bench show fanciers. Some breeders
round out their interests, and seek
a dog that fulfills all of it's
intentions,—hunting and
conformation, but these are in the
minority. Because of the diversity
of these interests, the GSP and the
DK breeds have diverged considerably
over the years, even though they
originally descended from the same
stock. To help ensure that the
versatility and original functions
of the breed were not lost here in
the US, the North American Deutsch
Kurzhaar Club (NADKC) was formed
with the help of the parent club
(the DKV) in Germany).
What is the
NADKC?
The
NADKC is a breed organization
dedicated to the development,
breeding and continuous improvement
of the versatile hunting Kurzhaar.
Its organizational objectives are
achieved by means of stringent
breeding regulations, practical
field tests, and high standards of
conduct. The
DKV has many members
divided into individual clubs in
many countries, including Canada,
and the United States.
The
NADKC was formed in May of 1993, by
eighteen dedicated sporting
enthusiasts from all areas of the
United States and Canada. Affiliated
with the DKV and the JGHV, the NADKC,
whose purpose is to promote and
improve the Deutsch Kurzhaar (German
Shorthair) in accordance with the
principles originated by the DKV,
and provides cooperative, trainable
Deutsch Kurzhaars for the
foot-hunter, developed through
breeding programs as set forth by
the DKV. In order to qualify for the
privilege to be bred, dogs must be
evaluated in temperament,
conformation, and be successful in
hunting tests. All breeding
regulations set by the DKV in
Germany must be followed.
NADKC Testing
Program
The
NADKC adheres to all DKV and
Jagdgebrauchshundverband (JGHV) test
Regulations from Germany. To
evaluate hunting ability, the NADKC
sponsors Spring and Fall Breed
Tests, Fall Utility Tests, and
Conformation evaluations. For the
purpose of breeding hunting dogs
that are valued highly for
versatility, the breed tests
evaluate inherited ability, rather
than establishing the superiority of
one dog over another.
Testing
of the dogs' inherited natural
ability begins with the
Spring Breed
Test (Derby) when the dog is
approximately one year old. The
Derby includes and evaluation of the
inherited abilities, such as nose
sensitivity, pointing instinct,
search pattern, and natural
cooperation. The
Fall Breed Test (Solms)
includes a second evaluation of
nose, pointing, search, and
cooperation, along with an
evaluation of the dog's working
attitude, and the dog's retrieving
ability and obedience, in water and
in the field. The dog is evaluated
at the Solms at approximately 1 1/2
years of age.
The
Utility
Test (VGP) is for completely trained
versatile dogs and their handlers.
This test is a comprehensive
evaluation of the dog's performance
in twenty-nine categories. Obedience
is emphasized in the Utility Test,
however, natural ability also is
evaluated. Handlers of Deutsch
Kurzhaars are encouraged to strive
toward the successful completion of
the Utility Test.
All
certified judges at NADKC sanctioned
events have successfully trained and
handled a dog through all tests, and
have served as an apprentice judge
in a minimum of two Derbies, two
Solms’, and two VGP’s. Three (3)
judges make up the judging committee
at each test, and scores are decided
by the committee as a whole, rather
than on one judge's interpretation
of the dogs' performances.
Breeding Program
All dogs
used in the NADKC
breeding program
must meet certain standards in
natural hunting ability,
temperament, and conformation. The
DKV breed standard represents the
practical aspects of conformation.
Conformation is rated at a
zuchtschau, or breed
conformation show.
Any disqualification in one or more
of these categories will eliminate a
dog from breeding. This practice
ensures that only the best dogs are
used for reproduction.
All
puppies whelped in the NADKC are
registered with the DKV in Germany,
receive official DKV pedigrees and
registration numbers, and are
tattooed with that registration
number in their right ear before
they leave the breeder's kennel.
Breeders' kennels also must be
registered with the DKV. In
addition, NADKC has a progressive
hip dysplasia program, where each DK
must be screened and evaluated free
of hip dysplasia prior to receiving
approval for breeding. Deutsch
Kurzhaars have been selectively bred
for versatile hunting for well over
a century. Generations of testing
inherited natural abilities, such as
nose, search, pointing, tracking,
cooperation, water-love, retrieving,
and temperament have been used to
develop the breeding stock from
which all Deutsch Kurzhaars are
whelped, helping to ensure a more
consistent type of dog—in both
conformation and in abilities will
be produced.
BENEFITS OF NADKC
MEMBERSHIP
Members
receive a quarterly magazine,
Inside DK which
contains interesting and useful dog
training articles, meeting and event
announcements, field test results,
membership reports, news from
Germany, current research, litter
announcements, etc..
Members also
benefit from:
Contact with other members,
who are hunters, experienced dog
breeders, and trainers who are
willing to share their knowledge
about training a versatile dog.
Access to quality training and
test regulation books, breed
books, and yearbooks at a reduced
cost
copies of by-laws
A membership roster
An NADKC decal
Voting privileges
Access to the German breed
club's Magazine in the German
language
An opportunity to increase
your knowledge about hunting with
and training versatile dogs at an
accelerated rate.
An invitation to the NADKC
annual meeting with guest
speakers, seminars, etc.
For a printable
membership application, visit
http://www.nadkc.org/pages/apply.htm
To
receive one by mail, or if you need
other information, please,
contact
me and I will make sure you get
one. . .
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