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

DD and GWP are the same critter. It has been my breed of choice for 30 years. I am in the market at this time but prefer to get the pup around February. All my dogs in the past have been NAVHDA tested. I would suggest that you check the websites of NAVHDA and VDD to get your feet wet. When I hear of what I believe to be a good breeding, I can let you know. A friend of mine is very active in NAVHDA and will be attending several NAVHDA tests this fall. He will be bird dogging a good litter on my behalf.

It is my understanding, that while the DD and GWP are essentially the same critter, that the testing and breeding of the DD calls for "sharpness". This is basically strong desire and hunting of fur, which translates to dead housecats if you have any around.

May be something to consider, whether as a plus or minus is up to you.

http://vdd-gna.org/. Go to litterslisting and then find VDD Canada listing box at the bottom of the listing. Currently it appears Manitoba is the closest to you.

My DDs do ducks, geese, upland pointing as well as frequently going along on my elk and antelope hunts. They are good blood trackers. My last guy killed and returned a coyote to hand.

They are good versitile hunting dogs and excellent companions.

The wirehair may have came from the dd, but that does not make it the same dog. I have only seen a few wirehairs, they were smaller and lighter in color than what I think a dd should look like. The dd has stayed the course to be a versital hunting dog, the wirehair is more of just a bird dog from the ones I have seen. I have only seen 4 or 5. WP's, I have several hundred dd's.

It's a buyer beware market either way,but I think you have a better chance getting a do it all dog with a dd.

If you are looking at wp, make sure the line has been hunted and tested and mom and dad looks and acts like you want. You should do that for any hunting dog.

A dd that won't kill a cat,coon, rabit or yote,or track deer or boar is just a bird dog.

You can find good wirehairs. You may notice that the guys who have wp's all say they are the same as dd's and never the other way around. Why is that. The VDD spring test in the south are a joke, It's just to hot down here to give the dog's a fair test. It's still the best system going.

JD

JD

Another BIG thing to consider, coat quality.

Ask yourself, why are the GWP BREEDER'S are using DD to improve their show & hunting stock? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

The only DD that are allowed to breed to a GWP are the one's that "FAILED" the hunt test or were not "WORTHY" for future breeding.

Get the real thing, a Deutsch Drahthaar, you deserved a VERSATILE hunting dog since life is short. Once you get a Deutsch Drahthaar, you will be hooked.
WWW.VDD-GNA.ORG

Have any questions, please feel more then welcome to ask.

About me, had 2 GWP, Elhew pointer, and a brittany, I now have 3 Drahthaar Drahthaar and will never look back.