Hunting has opened new horizons for German photographer and art director Patrick Goretzky. While on the field and wandering through the forest, his interest in nature, in ecosystems, and how they relate to new technologies, constantly grows. And training his little hunting companion, wire-haired dachshund Theo, has taught him how trust, love and consistent work can bring incredible results.
How did Theo become a member of your family? Why did you choose this particular breed?
I decided to get a hunting dog about three years ago. It was an easy decision because I wanted a dog that wouldn’t be too big and would be a great companion for blood tracking and driven hunts.
It wasn’t easy to find the right dog breeder. In the end, through a recommendation from another hunter, a friend of mine, I found what I was looking for near Berlin. We began this journey by visiting Theo’s mum Uschi and the dog breeder with whom we got along really well. The breeder wanted to be sure that the puppy would get proper hunting education and training. Without a firm promise I would not have gotten the puppy. Luckily, we came to agreement on everything, and I was promised one puppy from the upcoming X litter.
When we finally got to meet the new-born puppies, I took a wild-boar-coloured one in my hands first. But then a black-red puppy was handed to me, and the decision came within seconds… This is how Theo, who is now 1.5 years old, became a member of our family. His full name is actually Xerxes-Theo von Fürstenwalde.
How would you describe Theo’s character?
Theo is extremely vivid, affectionate, and cuddly! He is friendly and likes all kinds of humans.
His oddities are also adorable. For example, he makes funny noises and facial impressions. Out at the training session he seems to be focused and grasps his responsibilities quickly. Hopefully, he won’t lose these qualities as he grows up.
Is it true that dachshunds are quite hard to train because this breed relies mostly on its hunter instincts?
It has been said that dachshunds are particularly hard to train and control, that it is not an easy choice if it is your first dog. Yet I would say, with rules, games and play time you can gain your dog’s obedience, trust, and love. Moreover, consistency is often underrated. For some it might sound harsh when in reality it is not at all. The resulting obedience is a must in daily life and if we want to take Theo hunting of course. Sometimes you even have to protect your dog from his own instincts, and this can only be achieved through consistent work.
I think we are doing just great together. The feedback I get from friends, colleagues at work, other dog owners, and hunters is always positive. It was a long journey to get to this point in Theo’s training, and there is still a way to go.
What does it take to train a dog for hunting? How long does it actually last and what training stages do you need to complete?
It definitely takes a lot of time, patience and most importantly you need to find the right place to train your dog. It gets easier when you’re in a group where you can not only train your dog properly but also see other dog owners with the same purpose.
We went to the dog breeding club “Deutscher Teckelclub 1888 e.V.” (DTK 1888 e.V.) where there are regional groups where you can train a dog, do the exams, and take part in the dog shows.
The first challenge for Theo was to pass the so-called Breed test which consists of several parts – gun sensitivity and scentloud [spurlaut] tracking (the ability of the dachshund to track live game by scent) being the most important. Only after completing these tests, can the dog advance further with training.
During the Gun sensitivity test, the dog must move at least 30 meters away from the owner in a free search. Meanwhile there are two shotgun shots fired. The dog mustn’t show any kind of fearful reaction, such as running away or hiding.
For the scentloud exam, the dog must track the scent trail of a rabbit. The rabbit trail has to be worked out on the field and the dog’s performance is rated on the following disciplines: nose work, loudness, trail passion, and trail security.
I have to note, there are many other kinds of exams to participate in as dachshunds are known and used for work underground (i.e., for burrows by predators such as foxes and badgers), scentloud tracking, search and blood-tracking and driven hunts.
To be able to train with your dog, you have to find real rabbits in the field. Because they are small, it is very difficult to spot them with ordinary binoculars.
I used the Pulsar Axion XQ38 LRF and Helion 2 XP50 PRO scopes to prepare for Theo’s scentloud tracking exam.
How did you use the Pulsar devices for your dog training?
To be able to train with your dog, you have to find real rabbits in the field. Because they are small, it is very difficult to spot them with normal binoculars. It takes a long time and most of the time you won’t spot the rabbit early enough. Also, the dog should not see the rabbit and just keep working with its nose.
With Pulsar’s thermal device I was able to spot rabbits from a distance. When we were approaching one, I would cover Theo’s eyes and let the prey get away. This is when you need to act very quickly at the spot where the rabbit is hiding. It is where the dog’s nose work begins!
I also used the Pulsar thermal imaging device for the work on the wild boar fence. With the help of the imager, I could observe my dog on the field easily from a safe distance without being a potential distraction to the animal.
When will Theo’s first hunt be?
Theo is already hunting!
After passing the main hunting dog exams, we are officially allowed to do blood-tracking, search, and burrow work. I don’t know when Theo will have his first driven hunt, maybe we’ll do this on a smaller scale this winter, but we have to train a bit more for that. I want to make sure Theo is 100 percent ready for this work. Also, you have to keep in mind that a driven hunt with wild boars is extremely exhausting for such a small dog, like Theo.
What is your personal hunting story?
I got involved with hunting relatively late. My former girlfriend’s father was the first person to take me out on a hunt. Also, I have many hunter friends from whom I learn a lot.
There might not be any exceptional stories to tell, but in the years, I’ve been hunting, my intertest in nature, our ecosystem, ballistics, and new technologies have constantly grown; however, it is not only the newest technology that gets my attention. I love my old Mauser M98 from 1956s, and my Sauer & Sohn BBF 54. I guess it’s called ‘old school’ and I love it so much!
Dachshund: the great tracker on and under the ground
Breed particularities:
- Due to their stiff body hair, eyebrows, and beards, they are called the “rugged workmen” of the trio of dachshunds: long-haired, “wire-haired, and “short-haired”.
- Long, low, muscular frame is covered in a short, hard outer coat and a soft undercoat.
- Comes in a wide range of colours, including one-color (black and tan, dark grey and different tones of red) as well as bicolored and speckled or brindle Dachshund.
- Long head is erect and alert with low-hanging ears and happy oval eyes.
- Lives up to 16 years.
Signature traits:
- Intelligence, independence, and vigorousness are the main words to describe the wire-haired dachshund breed.
- These great trackers are persistent, bold, and clever.
- They get along well with lovers of the outdoors, active personalities, families with older children. A dachshund can easily live in an apartment but will be happiest with a decent-sized garden or outdoor space.
Take a note:
- A wire-haired dachshund requires a lot of attention because it can get bored easily.
- Due to its hunter instincts, this breed can sometimes act aggressively towards strangers, cars, and even other animals.
- The independent thinking of this breed can clash with human authority. Consistent training and patience are required to ensure that the dog knows who’s boss.
- Common health issues include diabetes and heart problems. Due to its long spine and short rib cage, back problems are quite common.
- Dachshunds can gain weight quickly, causing back problems and other issues.
Famous dachshund owners:
- Clint Eastwood, American actor, film director, composer, and producer.
- John F Kennedy, American politician, the 35th president of the United States.
- Marlon Brando, American actor and film director.
- David Bowie, English singer, songwriter and actor.
- Adele, English singer and songwriter.
- Kirsten Dunst, American actress.
- Kim Cattrall, English-born Canadian-American actress.
- Jack Black, American actor, comedian, musician, and songwriter.
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