Deutch Drahthaar

Tbear,
I just bought a DD and there was/is no pressure to test him. The breeder has had an Armbruster champion but is just interested in helping me get to where I want to get with the pup. I went to watch a natural ability test (VJP) and liked what I saw and am planning on participating next year. What I like about the test is that is helps me set a training goal and I've already met some new friends to train with.
It's all about what you want to do. As to the DD being harder to train, I don't know where that comes from. They have loads of natural ability and a ton of prey drive right out of the box, but my pup just wants to please me. He is a great family dog and has even gotten used to our cats (still likes to chase.)
I'm glad you are looking into the breed and if you are interested in talking to a breeder as far from you as western PA, just PM me and I'll give you his contact info.
 
Ok, here are my thoughts as a whole....
I think especially for a first time pointer trainer that going at least through a puppy type test is a good thing, for your dog,for your breeder and most importantly for you. It gives you specific deadlines as far as training goes and joining a group really helps you in your training. You'll get more training done if you know you have a test coming up...its human nature.
As far as DD or other breeds, if your looking at a DD then i am going to assume that you are wanting a versatile pointer.
Personally i am a huge DD fan and i own one. Having said that i personally believe that if i had a dog from proven bloodlines from a NAVDHA based kennel then i would be getting a great dog if it was a GWP, or a PP or a griffon or any number of other breeds, although those would be at the top of my list.
I actually had a very hard time between getting a DD, a NAVDHA GWP or a PP. They will all do the job
If i was going to go in another direction i would look for a pudelpointer from a Pudelpointer Alliance breeder or a GWP from a NAVDHA breeder....

Good luck and have fun, pick a good breeder and you'll get a good dog regardless of the breed.
 
Guys thanks for all the help. Let me do some more pondering I wont be purchasing a pup till spring just want to get by ducks in a row and do the right reserch before I purchase. Find the right breeder and get 1st pick. I realy apreacate all the advice and will probably PM some of you with more questions. Thanks:thumbsup:
 
Tbear said:
Guys thanks for all the help. Let me do some more pondering I wont be purchasing a pup till spring just want to get by ducks in a row and do the right reserch before I purchase. Find the right breeder and get 1st pick. I realy apreacate all the advice and will probably PM some of you with more questions. Thanks:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

pick a litter first, then 1st pick isn't that important.
 
Tbear, opinions vary of course but you may want to talk to a variety of dog breed and standard people before making your decision.

I like DD's but of those I have seen a few too many have been REALLY aggressive towards other dogs. They can take a heavy hand to get through that, just not something I am interested in. Researching breeders should help with that.

Of more concern to me and some other hunters is their fur sharpness.

Yes all continental breeds can have that problem, but in DD's and DK's it is still fresh in the lines and IMO more prone to be a problem than with GWP, GSP, pudelpointer, or WPG's. Some might say it's not a problem, thats fine for them, it's really your preference. I just have known too many guys with continental dogs that are or were always messing with something with fur, to the point where it really detracted from hunting. In this part of the country a lot of areas might harbor a skunk or porcupine or coon for example. Do you want a dog that is as interested in them as birds, fighting or killing them every chance they get? Again personal preference, but I sure don't. I don't want to have to think about steering them away from fur-harboring heavy cover, don't want the hassle of wading into or pulling them out of fights, don't want to stitch them up, worry about rabies, or pay the higher vet bills......
 
tmrichardson said:
Tbear, opinions vary of course but you may want to talk to a variety of dog breed and standard people before making your decision.

I like DD's but of those I have seen a few too many have been REALLY aggressive towards other dogs. They can take a heavy hand to get through that, just not something I am interested in. Researching breeders should help with that.

Of more concern to me and some other hunters is their fur sharpness.

Yes all continental breeds can have that problem, but in DD's and DK's it is still fresh in the lines and IMO more prone to be a problem than with GWP, GSP, pudelpointer, or WPG's. Some might say it's not a problem, thats fine for them, it's really your preference. I just have known too many guys with continental dogs that are or were always messing with something with fur, to the point where it really detracted from hunting. In this part of the country a lot of areas might harbor a skunk or porcupine or coon for example. Do you want a dog that is as interested in them as birds, fighting or killing them every chance they get? Again personal preference, but I sure don't. I don't want to have to think about steering them away from fur-harboring heavy cover, don't want the hassle of wading into or pulling them out of fights, don't want to stitch them up, worry about rabies, or pay the higher vet bills......
Click to expand...

i tend to agree with your observations regarding DD's....they tend to dominate anything and everything in their path, although there are exceptions, as always.
 
tmrichardson said:
Tbear, opinions vary of course but you may want to talk to a variety of dog breed and standard people before making your decision.

I like DD's but of those I have seen a few too many have been REALLY aggressive towards other dogs. They can take a heavy hand to get through that, just not something I am interested in. Researching breeders should help with that.

Of more concern to me and some other hunters is their fur sharpness.

Yes all continental breeds can have that problem, but in DD's and DK's it is still fresh in the lines and IMO more prone to be a problem than with GWP, GSP, pudelpointer, or WPG's. Some might say it's not a problem, thats fine for them, it's really your preference. I just have known too many guys with continental dogs that are or were always messing with something with fur, to the point where it really detracted from hunting. In this part of the country a lot of areas might harbor a skunk or porcupine or coon for example. Do you want a dog that is as interested in them as birds, fighting or killing them every chance they get? Again personal preference, but I sure don't. I don't want to have to think about steering them away from fur-harboring heavy cover, don't want the hassle of wading into or pulling them out of fights, don't want to stitch them up, worry about rabies, or pay the higher vet bills......
Click to expand...
If you add there head down hunting stile. you well under stand why the www.wesslpointer.com was started.
 
As the bird population dwindles, I for one am going to forget all that bothersome trash breaking fall- do- rall, embrace the european tradition, buy a drilling, and a funny little french beanie, ( I have Britts), and take all game from prairie voles and cotton rats, to skunks, porcupines, and whitetails over what I am sure will be my delighted canine companions. Don't fret the style though they'll do it with a high head staunch point. The ocassional farmers chicken, pulled down steer, worried sheep, and mauled stranger, man or dog, just adds to the fun factor! Those setters and english pointers of my youth are looking better and better.
 
wesslpointer said:
If you add there head down hunting stile. you well under stand why the www.wesslpointer.com was started.
Click to expand...

The so called low head hunting style is bunk.
They put their heads down to track running birds, which gamebirds do often, but DDs use alot of air scent when hunting.
Good DDs put birds in the bag, Bill Shattuck killed more Sharpies than any human alive and did it with DDs.

SCAN0058.jpg



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Drahthaar Backed By Pointer


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Reciprocating and Backing


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Tbear said:
Guys thanks for all the help. Let me do some more pondering I wont be purchasing a pup till spring just want to get by ducks in a row and do the right reserch before I purchase. Find the right breeder and get 1st pick. I realy apreacate all the advice and will probably PM some of you with more questions. Thanks:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

If you want the first pick from any reputable breeder this spring, you need to get yourself on a list pronto. Most good breeders have taken most if not all their deposits long before the pups are born.
 
Seems to me you want a dog that hunts birds, buy a bird dog! Don't get hung up on a certain breed then try to make it do what you want. If they want these things to hunt fur and breed for that quality why are you trying to make the dog do something it isn't bred to do. I don't mean to be rude, but find a different breed and find one that hunts the kind of birds you want to hunt. I buy shotguns based on how they fit when I raise them to my shoulder. I don't buy a gun cause it looks nice but I can't hit a thing with it because it doesn't fit me right. Why would I frustrate myself that way?
 
OK...here's the link to 8 or 9 stories/earlier posts I made about Young Bert, the not-right dog, with some pieces involving a young DD. some of these have been published, others are awaiting editing, but they will give you a "journal-type" idea of life with a great GWP and the early times with a very nice DD. Pictures included.

I posted these stories in my early days here at Ultimate Pheasant. Enjoy as you will. Heck, use them as cautionary tales. :D

Open the Young Bert stories in numerical sequence, they make more sense that way.

http://www.ultimatepheasanthunting.com/forum/search.php?searchid=91755&pp=25&page=2


:thumbsup:
 
Huh.

Opens for me. Maybe it is a poster-restricted screen. Lessee what I can do here, copying and pasting the listing on the screen:

Kismet 10-19-2011 11:19 AM
by Kismet 0 200 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert #10 The Passing of the bell...
Kismet 09-17-2011 06:47 PM
by OKIEGunner 4 455 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, #9
Kismet 08-26-2011 01:32 PM
by jmac 3 303 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, the not-right dog #8 CHAOS !
Kismet 08-17-2011 12:33 PM
by jmac 3 409 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert # 7
Kismet 08-08-2011 01:19 PM
by Ranger Rick 1 304 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, #6
Kismet 08-02-2011 04:45 PM
by Ranger Rick 2 298 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, #5
Kismet 07-29-2011 06:12 PM
by Upland_Canuck 4 516 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, #4
Kismet 07-22-2011 02:02 PM
by Ranger Rick 6 591 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Funny Dog video...Bob Williams and his dog
Kismet 07-21-2011 09:19 AM
by jmac 2 307 The Lounge
COWS WITH GUNS animation... :)
Kismet 07-18-2011 10:24 PM
by JMc 3 401 The Lounge
Young Bert, the not-right dog, story 3 :)
Kismet 07-07-2011 09:13 AM
by jmac 2 364 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, part 2 the early years
Kismet 07-06-2011 05:08 PM
by quail hound 4 427 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, the not-right dog. :) ( 1 2)
Kismet


Does this serve to find them? I looked under Kismet posts.
 
Tbear said:
Thinking about getting a pointing dog. Had labs my whole life. Iv put a lot of thought and time into what kind of dog I want and to me the DD fits what im looking for in my next dog but I have some questions........

Looking threw the breaders websited the mention that they would like you to do some different feild tests. During those tests your dog is suposed to track a rabbit. MY question is why a rabbit. What if I dont want my dog to have anything to do with rabbits. I understand that this breed is for Fur and Feather but I just hunt Feather. Thanks in advance for your imput.
Click to expand...


If you don't want a versatile dog I see no reason to get a versatile breed.
 
Kismet said:
Huh.

Opens for me. Maybe it is a poster-restricted screen. Lessee what I can do here, copying and pasting the listing on the screen:

Kismet 10-19-2011 11:19 AM
by Kismet 0 200 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert #10 The Passing of the bell...
Kismet 09-17-2011 06:47 PM
by OKIEGunner 4 455 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, #9
Kismet 08-26-2011 01:32 PM
by jmac 3 303 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, the not-right dog #8 CHAOS !
Kismet 08-17-2011 12:33 PM
by jmac 3 409 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert # 7
Kismet 08-08-2011 01:19 PM
by Ranger Rick 1 304 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, #6
Kismet 08-02-2011 04:45 PM
by Ranger Rick 2 298 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, #5
Kismet 07-29-2011 06:12 PM
by Upland_Canuck 4 516 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, #4
Kismet 07-22-2011 02:02 PM
by Ranger Rick 6 591 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Funny Dog video...Bob Williams and his dog
Kismet 07-21-2011 09:19 AM
by jmac 2 307 The Lounge
COWS WITH GUNS animation... :)
Kismet 07-18-2011 10:24 PM
by JMc 3 401 The Lounge
Young Bert, the not-right dog, story 3 :)
Kismet 07-07-2011 09:13 AM
by jmac 2 364 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, part 2 the early years
Kismet 07-06-2011 05:08 PM
by quail hound 4 427 Pheasant Hunting Forum
Young Bert, the not-right dog. :) ( 1 2)
Kismet


Does this serve to find them? I looked under Kismet posts.
Click to expand...

Not really. Are you just trying to post a list of all your posts?

If that's the case I can just click on your username and select "find all posts by Kismet".

If you want us to go to a specific thread, then go to the thread, then once the thread is up on your screen, copy and paste the link in the body of your new post here.

If that makes any sense?
 
Last edited:
Naw...just linking some GWP and DD anecdotal stories. My early days here I posted a bunch. This is starting to feel like work, nevermind.

:)
 
KisMet - Looking forward to reading your stories, I read one quick and really enjoyed it.

Others - This thread is 2 years old. Wilhelm revived it with his post. Hopefully they guy has a pup by now. Also, you can find the young bert stories simply by searching for "Young Bert"
 
I've been messing with wirehairs and Dratts for over 20 years. many people on here have given you very sound advice. There are exceptional specimens of both breeds and are duds as well....as is with any breed. my very first dog was a DD. My latest two are AKC wirehairs...I only went as far as the puppy test with the D.D. crew and from there I went all NAVHDA....I've prized dogs in all aspects of their testing system and even passed at the Invitational. I've run them through the Master Hunter testing in AKC as well. Wirehairs or DD's CAN do it all....just depends on what your looking for....the prey drive varies in each individual dog as it does with other breeds...although certain breeding will have it more than others..especially DD lines. I was not into the blood tracking and all that stuff....although it does come in handy and I have several friends that recover lost deer every year with their dogs. my younger wirehair regularly points fur....rabbits...coyotes...whatever....SKUNKS:eek: It doesn't bother me all that much as long as he points them.....my older one NEVER does....if you want a multi-tasked dog that can do waterfowl and upland well...they may be what your looking for....most have great personalities and are a lot of fun to have around....I can't imagine our house without them...good luck on your choice....I do have a buddy in PA with a select breeding coming up if your interested I can put you in touch with him..he is a professional dog trainer.
 
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