All,

We have had Gordon Setters for quite a while. We always have had wonderful luck other than short lives. We have been intrigued with Wirehairs and are considering one. We have always had purchased dogs and rescues in our gGordons. We've had 3 Purchased from Breeders and 2 that we've rescued trying to do good. THe demeanor of all the Gordons we've had has made them excellent members of the family and house.

We recently took on a rescue VDD dog that we really wanted to integrate into our home. Long story short it didn't work out. The dog was incessant in term of activity level. Despite having a 3 Acre run that he spent at least 4 hrs a day exploring with at least another hour of ball retrieving.

Question is this a fluke, common with this breed, or unusual. My suspicion is that it's common as everyone says that you have to provide hours of exercise. Thoughts comments?

I think it all depends on your situation. I live on a rural property, and my GWPs do fine as house dogs. I think they get enough outdoor time that it isn't an issue. In, say, an apartment I'm not so sure.
They are God's own hunting dogs, and delightful members of our family.

The seven month old pup I just picked up last week has been a pure joy to have around. Yes she is active when she's outside. She will bring back a ball forever. She runs like a rocket. She follows me everywhere, sleeps on the floor by the bed, Oh, and she is a true clown. She has been a welcome member of the family, loves the kids, even the grandson and granddaughter that are 10 months and 11 months. She will purposely lay down by where they are playing on the floor so they can pat her, pull her hair, etc. DW

hairbol,

how old was the DD?

What kind of training did the DD received?

Was it a kennel or indoor dog?

My 18 month old GWP female is a ball of energy....just recently I noticed she is finally settling down enough to at least lay down and chill out for a few minutes when she's out of her pen. She'll retrieve a tennis ball until your arm falls off. She's a 24/7 outdoor dog.....can't imagine her in the house with that frenetic drive. But then again, that's what we want come bird season....no?

Incredibly smart, and very obedient despite my being a middling trainer at best.

Hairbol, I have a DD and she knew how to turn it off in the house or car the day I picked her up from the breeder. She is a high energy dog but that fits my life style. She is 5 now. Although sometimes she'll get a wild hair and rip thru the house when it's bed time; after the 2nd or 3rd lap, she'll stop and is ready for bed. It's actually kind of funny.

Know little about it's prior owner for 6 years, other than it is suspected that he dumped the dog, which is how it got into rescue. Dog was 6 and I was out running and playing for 1/2 before work, my wife did at lunch for 30min to 1 hour and then I again in the evening for 1hr+

Did you manage record the tattoo number?

if so, please post it.

No, Was unaware of a tattoo associated with VDD dogs.

My Wirehair Pup mentioned above has been around long enough now to know her activity needs. She requires at least 1/2 hour of hard play. She requires about an hour of moderate exercise even if it's just playing grab ass with the other two dogs. My son's Viszla and my cross between a lab and shorthair. She prowls the house a couple of times a night. It's irritating but not bad. She is a thief, any food item left within reach is history. Thats a training item we are working on. She is still good with the grandkids both old and young. I have had her out in the fields a couple of times and she has pointed and held both times once on quail once on pheasants. She is still a clown and a joy to have around. I do have a bigger than usual back yard but not acrerage. Great little dog.

dwheels,
mine will prowl the house at night too. She'll bring things up and drop off next to or on the bed, shoes, socks, retrieving dummies,stuffed animals, a loaf of bread and the list goes on. So I try to shut her in the bedroom with me. She is kind of funny about the shoe and sock thing. When I get home to shower after PT I feed her and immediately after eating she grabs shoes or socks to carry to the bedroom. I'll purposely put my socks on the shoes just to watch her grab both socks and carry them to the bedroom. I've learned to ether put up my shoes or be prepared to look for them in every bedroom. Man I miss her. This deployment cant end soon enough.

Hairbol,

perhap's you had a A.K.C GWP instead of a VDD?

In case you didn't know,
all VDD are tattoo-ed to the same number as the pedigree/ahnentafel number. The tattoo are located in a very obvious location.

If your thinking about a VDD, talk to the breeder's as there are many lines to choose from. WWW.VDD-GNA.ORG

Hi Tops, aren't they great. She will come into the bedroom when she is prowling the house and instead of just laying down by the bed, she kind of "bumps into it" when she is laying back down. It shakes the bed just like, "Come on, wake up". She will usually bring me the ball or a stuffed animal toy to play with. Here is one to chuckle at, My grandaughter has a pet chicken.When she lets the bird out, the bird goes to the garden and Harley goes on point. She will point that bird for hours and not try to kill it. Beautiful hard points. DW

I have raised GWP for the last 22 years and they can be made a great house dog, Hunting buddy, and couch lizard, if you turn your back my female will not leave you along if you appear to have a empty hand or lap and will bring a ball to play with any time you look like your going out side and then there is the male who thinks he's getting over on everyone because if you turn back he in the gun room sleeping on the leather couch where he has been told so many times to stay off I have lost count so lots of luck.

dwheels here is one for you. I was staying with a lady friend and of course had Ursula with me. The second night I was snoring too loud for my friend and she went to another room to sleep and woke up to shoes piled in the bed next to her head I told her to shut the door.... She must be good with the quirky dog, we're getting married, LOL
and then there's the time she killed a ground hog and carried it into my office....
Man I miss her leave cant come soon enough...

I just got back from walking. 2 miles, my wife and I with both dogs. The Wirehair, (Harley heels quite well. There are times when she wants to pull a little but not hard. She is a lot happier when she walks even as opposed to hard play with the ball or her rope. I have been making her sit, hiding the rope, and sending her to find it. She does pretty good. I need to take her to the lake, see if she will swim on her own. DW