German Wirehaired Pointers are amazing versatile dogs and can do it all. Very smart and tough and the longer hair allows them to handle colder temperatures a little better than some other dogs. This is for bird dogs at least and just my opinion.
I’ve always had labs because they make great pets as well. My buddy had a Llewelyn Setter that was a great hunting dog, great with kids, and super mellow at home. First dog that made me consider making a switch.
Grew up with labs, and my last dog Jake was 1/2 lab 1/2 chessie. Natural hunter, nose like a bloodhound. Used him for upland and waterfowl, but he also went after deer if given a chance. Would not tolerate other dominant males but loved the ladies. He did multiple 1 mile blind retrieves on wounded pheasants and even a giant goose. Just let him go n wait, 20 min later comes back with a bird. Perfect dog with my newborn too. Tough old boy survived dog fights, getting run over, rattlesnake bite, skunks, porcupine, and multiple injuries. Will always miss him and remember the hunts we had together.
Okay I will play!! Lol so I have always been a lab person. As stated great dog, great hunters, great family members.
but I just bought a mutt ... high dollar mutt!! Half lab field champion and half poodle field champion (did you know poodles were originally hunting dogs) but these dogs are breed to be hunters.
4 months olds and so far the smartest dog I have ever owned!! Blows my mind!
Tough decision. Loved my English Setters. Same with my Blue Ticks and my Black and Tans. And how do I leave out that wonderful Border Collie that while never getting a Grizz, sure kept them out of camp.
A dog that is good at what it does. I don't have a "favorite." I've had and hunted with dogs my entire life. Both hounds and birds.
For birds I've had labs, springers, and english pointers. I liked them all. All good dogs. Next one will be a GSP, always wanted to try one, never have.
Hounds I've run walkers, blueticks, english, and black and tans. No preference there either.
If it lives and breathes within a half mile these Black Mouth's will find its scent, tree it, and kill it if they can...they are absolute machines. Great for small game, predators, and tracking.
Although they have a bad habit of thinking their 65# rumps are more than cable of taking a deer down solo and run at them full-bore if I'm not paying attention...
I’ve really enjoyed my draht Ida for the last 2 years. I’ve done a duck hunt on Friday, filled my limit of pheasants on Saturday and tracked a buck on Sunday. I’ve really enjoyed the versatility. Very driven breed and my only somewhat complaint is that she literally needs to be touching someone at all times when we’re in the house! That, and her fur drive is intense and gets into more coon fights than I’d care to count.
My wife and I picked up our WPG the week we found out we were going to be parents. We hadn’t been planning on that, so projects to our recently acquired 135+year old farm house took precedence over dog training for a bit. I still hope to turn her into an all around hunter and think she’ll do alright, she’s still a pup and shows the interest. In any case, I’m not worried about her living up to her full hunting potential, she’s a great family dog.
I've had Goldens and Labs but when I got my first Large Munsterlander I was amazed. Not only point and retreive but are great blood trackers for wounded game of any kind, their focus on hunting and their sense of smell surpasses all other bird dogs I've hunted over.