Getting my first hunting dog

[Northern Exposure]

Next winter I am looking into getting my first hunting puppy. I am thinking either a German Shorthaired Pointer or a Wirehaired Griffon. It will be a family pet as well as a grouse hunting dog. I have 3 young kids (ages 2,3, and 6) so I am leaning toward the Griffon because from what I have read they are a little less rough and more mello, but being new to the hunting dogs I am not sure if that is true. Could anyone help point out the differences in these 2 breeds, good or bad? Also does anyone know of any good books on training a pointer to hunt upland birds? I will spend this year reading and getting ready so when I get one I am not so lost. I have never had a dog myself but have hunted over them before and love to watch them work.

[WallyNut]

One of the best resources on pointing dogs is the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association. http://www.navhda.org/. They have chapters throughout the US.

[JJ Scully]

I wouldn't say that a WPG is more mellow than a GSP. My shorthair is asleep on the couch right next to me as he spends most nights. You will probably find more differnce between different GSP's than you will between the WPG and a GSP. I would be sure to meet the parents of any litter that I was interested in. You can find dogs of either breed that will be wild or tame. I also have 2 brittanys from field trial blood lines they can be very mellow around the house but are wild when we are out in the field.
One other thing to consider when choosing a breed would be that there are alot more options in litters of Shorthairs. You are more likely to find more of the kind of dog that you want easier and usually for a lot lower price.
As for a training info, my advice would be to skip the books. Look for the Perfect Start / Perfect Finish DVD set from Perfection Kennels. It is alot easier to understand the training when you can see what is going on.
For more infomation on either of the two breeds or any other gun dog check out http://gundogforum.com/forum/ I post as 2britts over there and everyone has been very helpful. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me and I will do what I can to help.

JJ Scully

Daddy's Tangerine Dream (http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/genview.php?id=1238)


Oh Dee Oh My (http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/genview.php?id=1239)

(http://www.perfectpedigrees.com)

[Juls]

Just a helpful tip when choosing a pup.

After you find a good breeder that you want to go with, tell them what you are looking for in your dog and have THEM choose your puppy for you. They can tell what traits to look for better than you will be able to, since you have never owned a dog before.

This way you have the best chance of finding the right dog for you and your family.

As pups they are ALL so cute, but figuring out what type of personality it will have when it's older is tough at that age. The breeder's experience will guide you to the right dog.

Good luck finding your new best friend! Dogs rule! :rock-on: Keep us posted....:)

Juls

[spampy]

Great advise givin above...You did say new pup in winter...

I will add this getting a pup for X-mas. If its 10 below and 2 foot of snow your pup wont think much of the outdoors. It will add a few days to poddie training. How do you feel about #1 & #2 on your door step? Now that its March he is finally okay with the outside world. For time if we approached the door,Buddie would skurry off and hide...:banghead: Our GSP is the most mellow dog I have owned as far as pointers go. Great with kids and has drive to scent. Enjoy!

[Mike Kansas]

Take a look at a Vizsla...they are great hunting dogs and they absolutly love people and are great with kids. We are on our third one and have always been very pleased.

Good Luck, Mike Kansas

[Richard B]

I am going to throw one more dog into the mix for you, The American Water Spaniel. They are flushers, not pointers. They work extremely close to you, 10 to 20 yards. They are also great retrievers. I have had one for 6 years now and could not be happier. He does SUPER on upland birds and decent on waterfowl. (I have not duck hunted with him in 2 seasons). When he was a pup he was always into everything, like any pup. He has been great around kids, other people, and the other pets around the house. My son was 6 when I got him and would pull his tail and ears. Never an issue, when he got sick and tired of it he would go into his kennel. Using the kennel we had him trained in less than a week, only one accident ever.

[knelson]

Have you looked into French Brittanys? If not, you should. Excellent family dogs, very smart, outstanding hunters.

[Noah Cantell]

Watching the litter play makes a diff. You can tell the nature of the pup, aggressive, smarter, laid back, etc.

Still, two of my best dogs ever, where the last of the litter and where I never saw the parents or the rest of the litter.

[frogmaster]

When you get to pick from a litter and want a mellow dog do this... When the litter is "Awake and Playful" sit back and watch (don't interact at this observation period) for the traits you want.

Secondly when there is a toss up between 2 or more pups and you really want laid back -vs- hyper pup do this... Turn them on to their back and lightly hold there chest area lightly:

If they just lay there (MILD) -vs- whines, struggles, gnaws at your wrist with mouth and twists to get out (HYPER).

2 Labs & 1 GSP here.

Good Luck :)

[GWC]

I've had several and they were all very special (pets first & hunters second). The first was an English setter. Three short hairs & a weimer. They all had their strong points. All were/are good with kids (mainly my grand kids). The weimer has probably the best nose, is the closest working dog & is the easiest to handle in the field. All of these dogs enjoy being with people. They enjoy attention, long walks & play time. Ours love playing frisbee in the back yard. The weimer loves it when the kids hide her toys.

I work with a pointer rescue group in the Kansas City area. I see a lot of pointing dogs. They take a lot of work, training & patience. Two of our dogs are rescue short hairs. They are part of our family when we're at home. When were hunting, they work hard & are good field dogs.

Best of luck with your new dog. I'm sure that regardless of breed you choose you'll have a lot of fun & memories. Remember, the dog is as good as it's owner. Time, training & patience make a good hunter (dog & owner). The breed is secondary.

[muskyhunter47]

heres one more dog to look at Large Munsterlander
go to large munsterlander of north america these are great dogs and the only thing is if you want one you have to get on a breeders list one thing i like is there not over bred there bred for hunters by hunters

[Suzuki]

Since you are considering a pointer and a Griffon you may also want to consider a Pudel Pointer. I have a 10 week old one so I cant really speak to their mannerisms yet but suppose to be a good all around dog.
So far she is a typical puppy but already knows 'come' and 'sit'. Seems smart, driven and fun. Endless energy. They are exremely hard to find but you never know.

[Spud]

My first dog was a female German Short-haired Pointer, I do a lot of pheasant hunting. She liked to range further out and didn't seem to care about me. If the birds held tight, she would point them out and wait for me. I had three young girls at the time and she was ok with them. But wasn't really a caring dog to the girls. As she got older, she got meaner. My second dog is a female German Wired-hair pointer, this dog was very caring with my now older girls. When I sit outside, she has to lean up against me. Out hunting, she stays within range and wants to know where I'm at. Will point out the birds and hold the point until I flush the bird. Both breeds are good dogs, but for me the wired-hair is a more caring dog. Not sure about a Griffon.

[Suzuki]

Since you are considering a pointer and a Griffon you may also want to consider a Pudel Pointer. I have a 10 week old one so I cant really speak to their mannerisms yet but suppose to be a good all around dog.
So far she is a typical puppy but already knows 'come' and 'sit'. Seems smart, driven and fun. Endless energy. They are exremely hard to find but you never know.

Almost one month later I can say for a fact she is a lover. Really cares for people yet driven to do her own thing. Fingers crossed but this may be one special dog.

[LLewellin]

My 1 1/2 year old Llewellin setter this last weekend. This was only her second trip in the field hunting and she made my entire fall in one day. We bagged our six roosters (limit was six) and she pointed 5 of the six and retrieved 4 of the six. We had a wonderful day in the field. She got some special treatment with a ride in the front seat and a small ice cream cone for the long ride home.

She is a lover and cuddler and loves to please.

[walleye1114]

hey just gpt a GSP about a month ago he is 5 month old now, wife had the same concerns you have about a crazy hypper dog, but he is a laid back pup as long as you give him daily excerise, when we go out to the field he turn on and is ready to work. great with the family (3 kids here) and the pup is loving and always wants to be with people and very affectionnet, he always wants to please me and a VERY quick learner, Go with the GSP very great dog and campaion, his dad came out of Willowcreek kennels in MN

[High Ball]

Greetings! I guess I am the new kid on the block but not to knowing about several breeds of dogs, I raised Labs, German Sheperds and now for the last decade or so, we have been raising the German Shorthair Pointer. Out studs & dames (females) are out of national field trial champions.

In my opinion, they are the most versatile of the hunting breeds, however breeding can effect the "hyper mode" of some and getting to see the stud dog and the mother (*****) of the litter will give you a birds eye view of what your pup will be like. Also be mindful that there are exceptions to every rule when it comes to the puppy's in a litter.

If the breeder is a friend of yours, yes you can let him or her pick your puppy after givng them the facts. Other wise it would be best to take someone along that knows how and what to look for in the type of puppya puppy...........The most important thing, is NOT to just pick a color...........this will not make you a bird dog ok.

You are looking for a pup that is bold, not affraid of you and will come to you, if not pass on the puppy. One with a high head and tail is good, one that wants to be the leader etc. and not cow down to others. A puppy that is acive and not just sits and watches things.