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German wirehaired pointer info

6.5K views 24 replies 15 participants last post by  22899  
#1 · (Edited)
I'm looking to get a german wirehair to have a dog to hunt ducks and upland birds such as grouse. I've had labs and been in the lab word for a good while with some dogs thats been nice in the MH game and some all age trials. If I'm looking for a new lab I could find one of those but I'm just not familiar with the pointing world so I could use some help on which way to start. I would like one that could run the retriever hunt test game or at least has the ability to do that but also be a nice pointer. Am I just looking for a unicorn? Also prices, whats fair for a nice pup or started dog? I've had puppies out of a line breeding on Esprits Out Of The Woods, Grady and also HRCH and just good duck dogs so I'd like a good gauge on what out there. . I appreciate ya'll help.
 
#2 ·
I'm looking to get a german wirehair to have a dog to hunt ducks and upland birds such as grouse. I've had labs and been in the lab word for a good while with some dogs thats been nice in the MH game and some all age trials. If I'm looking for a new lab I could find one of those but I'm just not familiar with the pointing world so I could use some help on which way to start. I would like one that could run the retriever hunt test game or at least has the ability to do that but also be a nice pointer. Am I just looking for a unicorn? Also prices, whats fair for a nice pup or started dog? I've had puppies out of a line breeding on Esprits Out Of The Woods, Grady and also HRCH and just good duck dogs so I'd like a good gauge on what out there. I appreciate ya'll help.
If you’re looking for one that can do everything a lab does as good as a lab, I think you are looking for a unicorn.
 
#6 ·
I have a training buddy that has one. The toughest thing for him is the dog runs bird dog lines on marks. He usually gets the marks. But he rarely runs straight lines and can get himself lost, his unreal nose helps him. He runs short simple blinds. He’s much better at pointing than he is at retriever games.
 
#7 ·
You could get a wirehair for your pointing dog and a labrador for your waterfowl/hunt test dog. LOL!!!

If you are set on a pointer that could maybe run hunt tests at the upper levels... get a well bred Drathaar (same as GWP, but different! most would say better, I think) .... or a well bred pointing lab. There are tons of pointing lab breeders out there to research.
 
#8 · (Edited)
The guy who is director of performance events for AKC had
2 really nice GWP's that he boarded at the kennel we owned.
National champions. Contact him: Doug Lundgren
 
#11 ·
I watched the first GWP/Drahthaar obtain his HRCH title this past June. He has since passed several more finished tests and ran the fall grand a few weeks ago going out in the third. He runs a good test that rivals the best performing labs.

HRCH HARKER VOM GUNNING HAMMOCK

His owner would be a good one to talk to
 
#13 ·
I watched the first GWP/Drahthaar obtain his HRCH title this past June. He has since passed several more finished tests and ran the fall grand a few weeks ago going out in the third. He runs a good test that rivals the best performing labs.

HRCH HARKER VOM GUNNING HAMMOCK

His owner would be a good one to talk to
Thanks for all the replies, I talked to the owner of this dog this morning and he is actually local to me, I just didn't know about these "off brand dogs":D. I believe this is the caliber of dog that I'm looking for. I'm not trying to stand on the mat at an open trial with him just have an nice hunting dog that can do a test if I wanted to go that direction. He is going to let me know about future breedings he may do and see how nice of a female comes thru for that.
 
#14 ·
Welp...being biased, I'd say it depends on what wirehaired breed you're looking for as to whether or not you're in the market for a unicorn.

They are all great gamefinders - and varmint off-ers - though as discussed elsewhere, some don't countenance 'em much on fur or even (waterfowl) feathers.
Image

But plug a GWP (or another wirehair of my choice, or a third less-known such breed, the pudelpointer) into "Lardy Lite" as your program - meaning tailoring it to fit a retrieving gundog, not a retriever per se - and you're off and running - and handling - and not saddled up on a unicorn, either.

MG

PS I see above you're looking into a female HPR/versatile-continental breed - wholly endorse that idea over getting a male to team up with you on waterfowl - and being trained to handle for that matter.
 
#15 · (Edited)
I noticed that I didn't mention but I am in fact going to go with a male just for the fact that I believe they will be "harder" than a female in tough conditions or training. I say that and I have had and do have some nice female labs. I've always looked for nice females more than just the male for puppies.
 
#16 ·
Be prepared for a very different experience. They do much better in the house then kennel. They don't deal with stress like a lab and will shut down with too much pressure. Smart and loyal to the extreme but can be spiteful to the extreme if you tick them off. Don't care for hot weather too much. I had labs for40 years and have a 11 year old GWP laying next to me as I type. My last lab passed two years ago, as luck would have it he had a clandestine liaison with the daughters GWP and I have a GWP/LAB male that is truly the best of both worlds. I don't condone nor encourage designer dogs but this worked out very,very well.
 
#18 ·
Courtney also has the popular podcast The Birddog Babe.
J., some, most, almost everybody might say the breed at The Birddog Babe's side is a unicorn on the marsh -


but having known a few of 'em on terra cognito and seen their "dog-paddling acceleration" in our southern climes when wet, I reckon they could be a cross between a bloodhound and Chessie (or at least a Chessie owner like Chef Niles Bora) at getting it done ducking.

MG
 
#19 ·
I wanted to update my post. After I posted this I started doing more research and came across a 2 year old imported Deutsch-Drahthaar, which I didn't know anything about except it was a wirehair pointer and gave her a try. I'm really enjoying her. She does well on liberated birds, wild birds are coming shortly after deer rifle season ends, and she is a hunting machine on ducks. She may not cover ground as fast as an English pointer or run as hard as a nice lab into the hard cover but she can really do it all pretty well, and she is goofy looking and makes good pics:D
Image

Image
 
#21 ·
A friend got a Deutsch-Drahthaar. Loved the dog and it's work ethic. However, he said it was very sharp and they would often find a dead squirrel or neighborhood cat lying on the porch.
 
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#23 · (Edited)
Maybe a different road to consider. I have hunted behind a couple of these dogs. Impressive.!
They hold thier own in the retriever hunt testing program too.

Julie Knutson! Nicest lady you will ever meet..

another:

Kevin and Barb Eskam. Again, really easy people to talk to. Highly successful with pointing labs in competition.Make sure you watch videos of their “pointing labs” on their page..

A friend of mines Drahthaar at work rock solid point!
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A picture I took of a friends really nice Drathar. Dog was rock steady, and had an uncanny bird finding ability. He tried to get involved in HRC testing programs , especially the Upland title, but he lost interest due to Hrc upland tests are for” flushing” breeds. Pointers can run the tests, but once they make the bird and point, they are then required to when commanded, to flush the bird , and to be steady through the shot.
He didn’t want his pointer breaking point to flush bird.. so he lost interest. Great dog to hunt behind though..

Even a semi talented Labrador can do respectable upland work, even the non pointing types! My Flinch! This was her first day of sit to flush training. First bird. Thank Cherylon for the sit….. :)

As Flinch got older, she started what some call a “flash point” She would hold it just for a short period, then flush bird, and sit to flush.

 
#24 · (Edited)
An interesting article Drahthaar vs Wire hair.


My friends dog was a registered Deutsch Drahthaar. It wasn’t a particularly strong swimmer and struggled in beginning levels of AKC and HRC HT
But take it to a western Kansas wheat stubble field in late December, and that dog was a bird finding machine, and really fun to hunt behind.. Hunted close, very obedient. Great hunting dog…