Wetterhoun

Wetterhoun

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The coarse, thick, curly hair of the Wetterhoun covers the entire body except the head and legs, which has shorter hair. The coat is oily and must not be woolly. Coat colors include: liver & white, black & white, solid liver or solid black. The body is somewhat square in appearance.

Friesland is a county in the northwestern corner of the Netherlands. The Frisian people have their own culture and language, and have developed two of the native Dutch hunting dogs. The Wetterhoun is one of these distinctive Frisian breeds. The breed’s history goes back to the 1600s, or earlier, although their exact origin is unknown. It is surely related to the generic water dogs of Europe, but the tail curled over the back suggests a possible cross to dogs of Nordic type.

Originally, the Wetterhoun (literal translation from the Frisian is water dog) was used to find and kill otters in the lake district of his homeland. For this chore he needed to be tough and fearless. There is litde present-day need for an otter dog, but the Wetterhoun is also an excellent close-working flushing dog.

He works like many of our modern land spaniels, searching for game and indicating its presence. After the shot, he retrieves well from land or water. Breeders say that while hunting in heavy cover the Wetterhoun “goes like a tank.” They love the water and happily swim even in freezing weather. When thwarted in hunting, a pet may turn to stalking moles and mice.

The breed is quite distinctive as a gun dog in both appearance and character. He has a rather wide and powerful body with a strong head and a tightly spiraled tail. The coat must never be woolly, the curls correctly being large bundles of hair with an almost greasy, waterproof texture. An admirer says, “It is a go-getter and goes up to the fish-otter without any fear at all, just like it approaches the polecat and the wildcat as if they didn’t bite at all. The Musks even fear the Wetterhoun. …”

The Dutch say these dogs are much like the Frisian people, obstinate but, once their hearts are won, loveable and loyal. His standard calls for him to be of stubborn character and reserved with strangers. The Dutch Wetterhoun Club describes the breed: “A cautious Frysk with a heart of gold.” While quiet in the home, loving with their people and excellent with children, they do need plenty of daily exercise for their energies. Their reticent nature also makes them natural watchdogs. With their masters, they learn quickly and take well to training, as they love their work.

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