hunting/gun dogs

[hobbes]

Congrats on the new dog. I just added a 6 yr old Drahthaar to my 1 yr old Griff. He's been professionally trained. Previous owner's job has changed so dog was stuck at home alone. Owner is my Pastor's hunting buddy. He has assured me the dog is a bird finding hunting machine. He's been here 3 wks. He's very well manered and has quickly fit in here and bonded to me. He's never hunted waterfowl just upland but his desire to retrieve appears that could be an option. I haven't hunted waterfowl in a while so probably is irrelevant.

Only problem is he's still an intact male and my female griff started her second heat a week ago. I dont intend to fix her but will have him fixed. Another Drahtharr owner did pay to use him as a stud once but I don't believe that is a good plan for me. I'll post pics of both sometime.

Anyone have any experience with the effects of neutering a 6 yr old?

 

[Floorguy]

Congratulations on the new dog. Since this is your first bird dog, do both yourself and your dog a favor and read Delmar Smith's book "Best Way to Train Your Gun Dog: The Delmar Smith Method". Also, spend the money and buy the Huntsmith series of DVD's (also from the fabled Smith family) on Puppy Development and The Silent Command system. Apply the lessons in both will make for a much happier existence for both of you. Going one step further, I'd also consider sending your dog over Ronnie Smith for training - it's money well spent.

I don't have the book but do have puppy development 1,2 and silent command 1.

 

[DJB]

I have two Drahtharr, a 2 year-old and a 3.5 year-old, they are great dogs with lots of drive. I second Delmar Smith training method, it worked great for us. They also have some good articles on their website. http://www.huntsmith.com/

I would get SmartFetch by Evan Graham for retrieving.

Here is a link to blood tracking http://wildflugel.com/blood-tracking-training/
Jill also has a lot of other info about Drahtharr and training on her website.

Congratulation, enjoy your new pup

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Took mine through HZP this past September. Contemplating a run at VGP. Dog is super easy to train.

There is ZERO human sharpness in my dog.

 

[AXEL]

I just LOVE that face, as I do my gorgeous Rotts. may be moving to the Kootenays in the not too distant future and can then have 2-3 Rotts and a DD or two.

 

[hobbes]

My Griffon, Kassie, after a pheasant hunt at 11 months old in Dec. Kassie had several points and a retrieve. She couldn't get enough. I placed minimal control on her this first season. The last three are her pointing hen pheasants at the end of the day.

 

[hobbes]

Kassie today in the back yard at 14 months

The new Drahthaar

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

Always love to see the Big Brown Dogs. I've had two, but was too young and too poor to use them to their full potential. If I can find a way to run two dogs in the duck marsh, I will have another one.

Those dogs are huge at 100 pounds!

 

[Neil B]

I don't post much, so I'm not sure if my photos will show up. But this guy is my world....
Never regret getting my own working dog. Amazing experience.
- Neil

 

[jwatts]

Here is my 16 month old GSP on a quail.

 

[JustOneMoreShot]

Our family dog/bird dog when I was in high school/college was a Brittany. She was awesome!
I recently lost my Weimaraner to old age. He was 13 and an amazing dog. Very loyal, athletic, energetic, but too big to be a lap dog even though he did not know it!
I am looking to maybe get a Vizsla some day... similar to a Weim but just a little smaller package.

 

[jwatts]

Man that last pic turned out small. Here is a better one:


And one of her with her first successful blood trail this past season:

 

[SethH]

I have a 4 yr old chessie. He does pretty well for me. A real goose retrieving machine!

 

[husky390]

I don't post much, so I'm not sure if my photos will show up. But this guy is my world....
Never regret getting my own working dog. Amazing experience.
- Neil

View attachment 23835

That's an awesome photo. Reminds me of when my chocolate lab ran down a pheasant. My brother and I had no idea she could run that fast and we were both doubled over laughing our arses off when she brought the bird in. Enjoy.

 

[Neil B]

Thanks. I tried resizing my pics but now they seem tiny.

I need to get back to training... He sure loves his work.

Neil

 

[dbaker]

Staying warm by the fire. 6 months old

 

[Schleppy]

I like the Pudelpointer for versatility. None of the versatile breeds will handle the cold water retrieves like a lab though. I hunted with my male pudelpointer for 11 years and he didnt like to get into the water when it was cold at all. He would jump off docks like a lab most of the year, but when it started to get cold he really suffered. Teeth chattering shivering, refusal to fetch etc. I've also seen the Drathars and hunted with them, theyre not for me but plenty of guys love the breed. I've researched it a lot and according to what I've seen the Drathars and the GWP are the same animal. The Drathars name just adds $$$ onto the price tag. I'm sure I'll get flamed by the Drathar crowd for saying that, but Ive had that argument already. I have also heard that theyre "mean" dogs, but i havent experienced that myself. My male pudelpointer could be territorial with the back of the truck. If he was in the back you didnt want to try to reach in and grab something. My cousin and my Parents both have female Pudelpointers and they are sweethearts.
It looks like you have done alot of homework on the animal you purchased and that speaks volumes. It's a proud day when they make that first retrieve. Good luck with her. I may still have some training books and videos I would be willing to loan you if youre intrested. NAVHDA is also great to get involved with, if they can do well at NAVHDA they will be just fine for hunting.

 

[husky390]

Thanks. I tried resizing my pics but now they seem tiny.

I need to get back to training... He sure loves his work.

Neil

View attachment 23858
View attachment 23857
View attachment 23859

He's a brute, awesome pics. What kennel did you get him from?

 

[IanF.]

My favourite pic of Zoë- a friend took the pic with a giant skookum camera

 

[AXEL]

Schleppy, does YOUR DD act aggressively to YOU when he is in the bed of your truck, I would never tolerate that and I am very firm with my Rottweilers right from day one that ANY acting out to me is NOT ON.

I think that a DD will be ideal for my hunting dog needs-wants, but, find all the other info. here on various breeds very interesting.