Thanks Alaska.

Alaska,

One more question. More out of having me expectations set correctly than from a concern of anytype on my part; but how much training do you recommend on a weekly basis. One of the things I thought was great about the DD and both the Canadian and American associations are the tests they put the dogs through. If I understood it correctly, you are highly encouraged, if not mandated, by the breeder to put your dog through these tests. One of the tests that I read about involved tracking down a wounded big game animal. I realize your pup is only 15 weeks, but any info you can give me would be appreciated.

Finally, I am in Quebec, Canada. The closest breeders I could find are in Nova Scotia and Penn. Would your breeder have any reccomendations on colleagues in the east?

Thanks again,

Dan

Mustad,

If you are interested in a DD, I suggest you go to vdd-gna.org. My breeder is vom Birkenhain out of New York. I liked the style of dog that Andrei was producing. There is some variation among breeders as far as size, water ability, etc. Since I live in Alaska, a dog with more subtance was important to me, as well as temperment. There is a vdd Canada like on the breeders section. YOu might also pm vonotto because I think he is getting a Canadian pup here in the future so he might have the skinny on Canadian breeders.

I train my pup about fijve minutes a day but get her out and expose her just walking in the woods letting her bump birds, swimming, etc for about an hour or so three or four times a week. I do not believe in mindless marks, endless obedience drills, etc. I like to keep it short and fun especially at this age. Next month I will do pigeons in remote launchers if she seems ready to teach her to hold her points. Once she gets that down, I will give her about four birds a week. Come October, she should be old enough to hunt. Then I will just hunt her until next spring when the formal stuff begins.

AM,
You did a nice job of explaining things to Mustad. It is a tough thing to do over a forum. Getting back to the original post and the difference b\tis moot point at best. After doing my research on hunting dogs in general I came to the conclusion that buying a DD or DK was the safest bet for a lifelong healthy pet and the best "Straight off the Shelf" natural ability. I went the DD route after 3 years of searching for what I wanted.(Upland and Waterfowl with blood tracking)I looked into plenty of other breeds and feel that the Germans do a stellar job when it comes tobreeding regulation. Unfortunately the WPG was left behind due to the prowess the DDand DKin the limited hunting arena in Germany, Austria, andItaly. The reason being that the 2 breeds did were breed to perform simalar tasks and the DD had a group of breedersthat took things very seriously. Now I nearly bought a WPG but was unimpressed with the prey drive in comparison to the DD.Burrsin the coat also became a factor after seeinga WPGcome out of the ruffed grouse woods. Iown a 2 year old DD and a 5 year old Britt.I have run my DD through 2 out of the three standard tests VJP, HZP, and willtest in the VGP in'06. I would also like to try the other tests just to do them because I really enjoy working with dogs. Blood tracking, retrieving reliability,and a couple other tests just help to keep your dog sharp. Any DD thathas passed the VGP is a brag hunting dogno matter what type of hunting you do.
Huntermag

Fatguy wrote :To state there are more DD's in America than German wirehairs, I call bull **** on this. There are more wirehairs. Give me a break. You are talking to someone who is in the process of importing a dog to the US. I know how the Germans feel about our breeding practices. There needs to be control according to the Germans. I need to see some stats. He who asserts must prove. You have asserted now demonstrate (put up or shut up).
I stated there are more DD's then wirehair's, I never said here in the state's..you did. You insist I prove my assertions, Who the @##$ are you? I dont have to prove anything. As to the rest of the crap you spewd, know one gives a damm. Mustad asked about WPG, after seeing them and seeing DD's I tried and steer him in the right direction. No one care's about your Imported dog orthevaccuous prater that you banter about. Get off your fat ass and get a life.Maybe if yougot outa little you'd stop typing a bunch of crap on internet boards.

Vono,
If we look at the posts, I was the only one to address the original question fully. I will tell anyone who will listen a German bred and tested dog is a better dog. There are stronger controls on the breeding/registration on the dogs. This is from my first post. I also stated the WPG has improved immensely over the last decade. This was the question, is the WPG a good breed to consider? I stated yes, if from NAVHDA tested parents. It has improved enough to be considered a good choice for NAVDA dog. This is because of NAVHDA testing and the dedicated breeders. DD's are a very sharp dog and take a bit to train. A DD wants a strong master (not like a DJT but a strong one). This is not true of the WPG. The breed is more eager to accept the master as such. Neither is bad just different and needs to be considered if one is going to train their own dog.
I realize people can have the same experience and see things differently. I never need to tell anyone to get off their fat ass and live if they disagree with me. I just realize it's hard for some to deal with disagreements. Mustad should consider a Lab or Ches if he is going to hunt waterfowl in rough conditions. These are the dogs which are bred for this purpose. They do it better. Why is your suggestion for a DD superior to mine for a pointing Lab? Both would take a while to come by (6 months to a year). Both would be an investment in time and money, both would do better at their original purposes (uplands for the DD and water for the Lab) and be a compromise in the other. I realized Mustad stopped listening after you disagreedin such a childish way to my first post. It's hard when you are right and someone has the gall to disagree with someonewho is the acme of intelligence such as yourself. You took the time from your busy schedule to answer the post and I disagreed and suggested something different than yourself. I am so sorry. I should have known you are it. To suggest aLab could do a betterjob in the marsh is so asanine as to be considered a test ofor retardation. I promise to agree with you from now on because I sit on my fatass and don't do anything.

Dr Fatguy

Dr Fatguy,
There are a handful of DD's within 5 miles of where you live and the assumption that DD's are a very sharp dog maybe a little over the top. Over the past few years I have been around literally 100 or better DD's and sharpness is not an issue. I have been told that 10-15 years ago this may have been the case. I would agree they need a strong master but not much different than many of your high powered pointing breeds. "NAVHDA Lines" is somewhat of a phallicy. True it is consideralbly better than AKC, but it dosen't hold a candle to JGHV (Germany). Imo NAVHDA dosen't have any business being a breed club. They do an excellent job informing and helping hunters train their dogs to be stellar in the field. Without health standards andsome policing of breedings it would be too easy to slip a dog with great ability in to the gene pool that may turn out later in life to have a terrible genetic problem. In turn having a negative influence on the "line" over a longer period of time. I am an advocate of NAVHDA but I could live without the "Registered Litter" part of the club. At this pointit isbeing used to set the price of the puppies in the litter versustracking line breeding on ablity.

Huntermag

Huntermag,
There are very few DD's in the area I live in now, but I have dealt with quite a few in the past. It has been 7 years (I became a Doctor) since I have done anywork with anyone who has a DD. I am speaking in generalities. I still would think a WPG would be a calmer dog than a DD. I could be wrong since I have had nothing to do with the breed for some time. I have dealt with the JGV-USA to test a DJT but he had health issues and couldn't test (the JGV is the USA chapter of the JGHV). I am familiar with the testing and hold to it. If it seemed I was giving NAVHDA too much credit for the salvation of the WPG I am sorry. I will state the NAVHDA testing and the BREEDERS saved the breed. The breeders needed a place to test the stock and NAVHDA supplied them this venue. It was thecontientious breeders who saved the WPG. This is what I am saying. I am also saying all breeds need testing to demonstrate which dogs should be used as breeding stock.

Dr Fatguy

Thanks again for the content. Special thanks to both Alaska and Vonotto for the pm's you sent me. Alaska, I spoke to Andrei for an hour and a half this morning. Great guy. As you said, it doesn't sound like he's going to be any more breeding soon. Very knowledgable and passionate about his dogs and loves his Venison which was worth 20 minutes of recipe sharing in and among itself. I also have a call into Jenny. Vonotto, I have contacted Kenny, and as you said, he's an awesome guy. I was very impressed by alot of what he said. We're going to talk by the end of the week.

This brings up another question that I could use everybody's help on. Depending on when you start talking to breeders, there is a likelihood that people are ahead of you in line to get a pup. Specifically, with regards to DD's, what is your experience in the quality of the dog between top puppy and the runt?

Thanks

Good! Im glad you've come to your senses. Now I'll agree that the Griff. has gotten better thru NAVHDA and there breeders BUT there not DD's. And a little known fact is that, MORE Griff's are marked as sharp on NAVHDA judges cards then Wirehairs. As to so called "pointing" Lab's I think there an abomination, but that's just the way I feel about that project.To answer the Question @ hand my GSP was the second from the last to get picked and he Prized 2 {197} and a prize 1{204} NAVHDA Utility @ 2yrs old. Puppy pickin is like a lottery, if you have good genetics one should be just as good as another.