Ive been looking real hard at getting a pup. Ive pretty much made up my mind I want a GWP or a GSP. He's the question. Every real breeder wants me to compete the dog in http://www.navhda.org/ events and they kind of hold it over you like they wont sell you a puppy unless you do this. Ive never had this treatment before in the lab market and I admite this is my first pointing breed but Why such a push to do this? Im not saying I wouldn't do it but to me its kind of wierd haveing someone you just paid $800.00 for a pup tell you what your going to do with it. But It only seams to be with these three breeds GWP,GSP And DD Any insight as to why its so important?

While I don't push the issue of NAVHDA I do suggest it. It is too far for me to go to a NAVHDA event and kind of hard to push it if I don't go myself. It is a standard to which if enough pups from one breeding Score/place, the breeder can win an award. Another, my dog is better than yours. This is just my opinion and therefore do not buy from these breeders myself. I raise hunting GWP dogs and good ones at that. I don't need to drive several hundred miles to a test to prove it. It is proven in the feilds and waterways as well as repeat buyers. Get what you want, if the breeder wants to hard ass you, that is his loss, find one that will work with you to find what you want.
GOOD LUCK
WYOWIRES

I tend to agree with the above. I've been looking at a lot of GSP breeders lately.....hoping to have a pup by this time next year. I've found some that require NAVHDA tests or those that are similar and also require the kennel's name in the papers. Personally, I don't want to test my dogs. I want my dogs to hunt. With that said, I do train my dogs hard and I want them to be the best in the field (exaggerated a bit to make my point). I don't mind having the kennel's name in the papers...whatever...but I honestly believe some of the breedersthat require testing are either a) looking for the award and a way to attach that award to their lines or b) deterring the "casual" hunter from buying a top notch dog with proven bloodlines and breeding the dog(s) with inferior bloodlines in order to exploit the lines for personal gain and not that of the breed itself.

I could entertain this thought if I was a breeder, but I am not. In fact, a breeder like this would most likely classify me as a "casual" hunter. I refer to a "casual" hunter as those who don't put the effort into training their dogs but expect them to be pre-molded and be perfect right out of the box. I don't fit this category at all. I'd love to buy some of these "proven" GSP's, train them hard, hunt them, and make a great pet.

All in all, there are plenty of good GSP breeders out there that don't require testing. Do your research and I'm sure you'll find one you like.

BTW....have you found any good links to GSP breeders?

Ive found a few breeders but im looking for some pups on the ground now. Im not going to put another deposit on a dog until I can get it lots of these dogs are sold before they hit the dirt. I want a GSP Ive made up my mind. Now I just gotta find me one

Most breeders I know only recommend that they are trialed here. As stated above they want to see a win and in return it helps them to be able to sell their pups with a name of proven status. If you had a win and they can use it for advertising then the price of pups goes up and or they get to say this or that one won and can sell the pups easier. Also they simply just like to know how the pup is doing. Good Luck to you.

You could also look at as a potential good indicator of the quality of the pup you are getting. If the breeder is insisting his pup(s) get tested, I would think he believes he's putting out good quality pups and believes they hold the potential of improving the overall bloodlines.

I looked at DD's when I bought my pup and the only request I got was that IF I was going to test him in the VDD, not to make a decision regarding snipping him until the results of the tests are known. Otherwise, do as I will. The two breeders that I spoke to were George Boyd of Dan Son Kennels in Nova Scotia and Ken Dinn of Willowrock Kennels in New Foundland. Both very good breeders.

Good luck,

Sounds like they just want to be a name w/ bragging rightsand improve sales with very little work. Otherwise they would run their own dogs and make their own name.