Good Day All:

To make a long story shorter, I am once-again looking at bringing home another hunting dog/family pet/best buddy.

I am looking at the DD and have done a little reading on the breed. I understand the rigorous field trials the dogs go through before being allowed to breed. Having read the ancestry of the dog, it appears to be the same as the GWP. So, what is the difference between the dogs?

I am not looking for a show dog. This dog will be expected to hunt bird game and track downed big game.

Can anyone recommend a breeder in Alberta?

Your thoughts and opinions are appreciated.

Kind regards,

Carpediem

Get the DD.

I owned and bred GWPs for 30 years and decided that I would switch to DD ten years ago. Let me say before I give you my opinions that there are VERY GOOD DOGS to be found in both registries. But, the secret of breeding good dogs is the people.

I have no intention of starting a pissing match, but if you would like to know why I dropped one of the more successful GWP breeding programs and concentrate on DD now, PM me.
And, if you decide you want a GWP, I'd be glad to refer you to some very good folks.

Its the good judgement of knowledgeable people that make good dogs no matter where you go.

I don't think there is a DD breeder in Alberta. I'd google the Canadian DD breeders association and get in touch with the the Canadain chapter of the the DD cult. IIRC, most of the Canadian breeders are in the east. We got ours from Nova Scotia and found the members of the breeders association very helpful. Shipping wasn't too bad.

After having one DD, we'd find it hard to get another breed of pointer. I don't thnk a good DD is going to be any better than a good dog of another breed. However, I think the breeding program, with their medical and field test requirements, make getting a good hunter more likely without knowing all the details about a litter(i.e. If effect, the standards they enforce do much of the reserach for you.).

All the best,
Dean

If you haven't already, go to http://vdd-gna.org to locate a breeder.

I have an excellent GWP from a Montana breeder.....if you'd like his info PM me.

The comment "get the DD" without thorough explanation isn't worth the one second it took to read it.

Good Day<

I would only buy from a breeder that is registered with the NAVHDA (http://www.navhda.org/) or JGV-USA ( http://vdd-gna.org). I'll tell you why.
They only breed dogs that pass their very rigorous test. If the dog fails the test the breeder is not allowed to breed with him. If you want a hunting dog look into these websites. You will not be disappointed.

gsarria,
I appreciate your enthusiasm, but NAVHDA has no breeding requirements other than what the breeders themselves deem important. The VDD does have minimum breeding requirements, but most breeding stock goes far beyond the minimums. Any buyer should do their homework and visit kennels, hunt with dogs, etc.

jonP,

You are right about NAVHDA not having any breeding requirement. But I still think it is better to buy puppies that have passed these tests. This would be just a filter and of course that the buyer needs to do their homework.

You can't go wrong with either. I'm a GWP guy and stickin' with it.

quote:

Originally posted by gsarria:
Good Day<

I would only buy from a breeder that is registered with the NAVHDA (http://www.navhda.org/) or JGV-USA ( http://vdd-gna.org). I'll tell you why.
They only breed dogs that pass their very rigorous test. If the dog fails the test the breeder is not allowed to breed with him. If you want a hunting dog look into these websites. You will not be disappointed.

gsarria
new member
Posted Nov 06, 2011 1:23 PM Hide Post
jonP,

You are right about NAVHDA not having any breeding requirement. But I still think it is better to buy puppies that have passed these tests. This would be just a filter and of course that you the buyer need to do their homework.

Well which is it? You say that they have requirements and then you say they don't. Dogmatic (no pun intended ) posts from the uninformed just burn my ass.

Go to a reputable breeder with a solid track record for either GWP or DD and you won't be disappointed.

I am also interested, but what is the difference?

Also, how does the wire hair handle cockle burrs etc?

quote:

Also, how does the wire hair handle cockle burrs etc?

It depends on the type of coat your dog has. GWPs generally have a longer softer coat than the original version of the breed, the Deutsch-Drahthaar (DD). You have to remember that 4 different breeds went into the DD when the breed started. One of these breeds, the Griffon, has a much longer coat. This type of coat does pick up burrs and seeds and can get tangled. Overall, the DD has a shorter, harder coat. Many lines require little grooming and burrs and seeds can be easily brushed out or even wiped off with your hand. The only exception may be the facial furnishings...if a dog has a lot of beard/eyebrows, you do need a wire brush to clean them up. But after a few weeks of hunting, usually facial hair has been reduced by the brush and cover.

Proper coats should lie flat, be harsh and dense and have a thick fine undercoat. Here's a pic of an excellent coat...showing the undercoat being removed in early spring. You can't see skin through this dog's coat...and burrs just sit up on top and can be picked off.

Norton,

I said " You are right about NAVHDA not having any breeding requirement. I am not really sure what's the part you are missing or what your point is. I hope I'm not being too dogmatic for you.

Thanks Jon.

JonP,
What brush is in that picture?

Thats a Furminator and over my 40 years with wirehaired breeds, I have found nothing better for removing dead undercoat. It doesn't do as good a job on the heavier dead outercoat...you may have to use a stripping blade or your fingers if your dog has a heavy outer coat. Run them in the cover enough and it comes out on its own.