The Drahthaars.

[gottafish]

Does anyone own one of these dogs? I would like an opinion on the breed. I wont beable to get a dog for about 6 months so I have been looking into different breeds and this one seams to be right up my allie. I have always had labs and never a pointer. With all these chucker posts I am thinking of makeing the jump to a dual purpouse dog. One that can retreve and point out some quail and chuckers.

[Quackhead]

I personally love the german shorthair pointers. I have 2. They are incredibly smart and they also retrieve well. My older dog is so into playing fetch that he will bring you a blade of grass to throw. They are very energetic and tend to have seperation anxiety while they are young. But they are great to watch work.

[quackersnacker]

Some day I'll have a GWP. I've spoken with lots of owners and breeders and made up my mind that they are the versatile dog that I need. As soon as my money and household planets line up then I'll bring one home.

[Bait Bucket]

Most folks already know how I feel about these dogs.

[Maverick Maxcat]

Drahthaars are comonly called German Wirehaired Pointers. They have all the drive and go of the shorthairs, but have a longer coat with insulating fur underneath. They do much better in the snow, cold, and water. It is easy to shave them down for the early season for the heat. I grew up with shorthairs, and know several people who still run them.

The wirehair is totally different mentally. They are very people oriented, and treat their owners as a "partner". The shorthairs tend to hunt for themselves. If you can keep up, or break them to hunt for you, great. Otherwise it's a constant battle! There are exceptions to every generality, of course, but I've never heard of a wirehair owner going back to shorthairs.

[traks44]

Bait bucket that is a fine looking gun, I am jealous!

[garyk]

Draht's truly are the 'versatile hunting dog'. Mine have done everything from Sauvie Island geese, to Cascade grouse, Summer Lake ducks, Columbia basin pheasants to John Day chuckar.

Plus they make very good family dogs. They do need close companionship though, and do poorly if kept kenneled.

Lots of drive and stamina, which means in the off-season you absolutely have to take them for runs (helps keep you in shape too).

Better hips and less cancer and congenital defects than a lot of breeds...and they age gracefully, pretty much going hard up until age 11 or 12, and then a final two years of retirement.

[Maverick Maxcat]

Both of ours do fine in a kennel, 400 yds from the house. We do take them on a run most days. They have all the energy they need, and then some, but will settle down in camp at night, or when you're eating lunch on the hill, etc. Shorthairs don't seem to have an "off" switch, anywhere, anytime.

[Rustyoar]

German Wirehairs?

They are awesome


http://www.ifish.net/forum/showflat.php?...true#Post880315

[Headhunter]

Not to highjack your thread....You might also consider the Braque Francais. Looks like a smaller GSP (40-45 lbs). The temperament is way mellower than a GSP and hunts much closer than a GSP. Its personality is very much like a Vizsla in that it wants to please its master and be part of the family. Great with kids, loves to hunt, and mellow as far as bird dog standards go. You need a soft hand in training. Here is an article about the breed.

http://www.gundogmag.com/gundog_breeds/braque_082004/

I don't have one yet...I have been doing lots of research, talked to many breeders, and am getting close to getting one.

[gottafish]

"Drahthaars are comonly called German Wirehaired Pointers." No, They are not even close. Very different breeding and are recognized as a seperate breed

[Limbhanger]

Gottafish, they are the same dog, Drahthaar is the old German name. I think you could probably look up one of the versatile hunting dog sites or go to the German Wirehaired Club of America website and they might go into it with a better explantion.

[Bait Bucket]

Yep! Same dog, different pedigree.

[doublel]

Drahthaars are registered with the VDD(Verein Deutsch-Drathaar E.v.) The German equivelant of the AKC.

I have had a Drathaar and he was a great dog. I lost him to a poisening 4 years ago and still have not gotten over it. As Maverick pointed out they are great upland and Waterfowl, with the double coat giving the drathhaar an advantage over the GSP in the cold and water. They are great family dogs and companians. I have also had 5 GSP;s and currently have a Black and white GSP whose sire was registered in Germany. Black and white is OK in Germany. This GSP is a great hunter and friend. He hunts closer than my traditional GSP's, that may be because of his german breeding as they are very strong on cultivating hunting skills. The reason I went back to the GSP is because of the short hair. No bur's to pick and my wife liked the coats on the GSP better because the Drathaar had an oily goat that left marks on the walls.

Choosing between the Drathaar, GWP, GSP would be tuff. They are all great dogs and whichever you get you will love them.

[baltz526]

ok i'm confused. a drahthaar is a german registered wirehaired pointer and an akc registered one is a german wirehair pointer. clear this up please. when the old retired dog with multipal tumors finally gives in. i plan on looking for a german wirehaired pointer, to take up his space.

[gottafish]

Check this out I guess this is the differance http://www.drahthaar.com/articles/different.html

[Limbhanger]

The AKC acknowleges the breed as German Wirehaired Pointer.
It is a Drathaar in Germany. Drathaar translated is Wirehair.
Check out the German Wirehair Club of America, I am sure you can find all the info regarding this topic.

[Limbhanger]

Gottafish, we posted at the same time so I went to the German Wirehaired Pointer Club of America website and I found it under frequently asked questions. They say they are the same dog??? Check it out.

[jimh]

GWPs can vary too. Much more mellow than many GSPs, but not all. That is, GSPs that weren't outcrossed in the last few generations to pointers have similar traits to the GWPs. (I'm sure that will ruffle some feathers...)

The safest temperament check is to hunt/be around the parents. Otherwise, you are guessing. They'll probably still be great dogs...just different.

[gottafish]

Yep I see that, AKC considers them the same.

[baltz526]

the german wirehair pointers has been americanized, the drahthaars are a strictly breed german breed wire hair pointer. they both began in the german breeding program, we americans just are a lot less restrictive in breeding. same dog bred for different reason, creates a new breed. makes sense now.

[gottafish]

Ok, Now How bad do GWP shed? Also GSP? this was allways a problem withthe labs I have had as that hollow hair was a pain to get out of the carpet.

[gottafish]

Once again due to a family illness It will be several months before I am ready for a pup. I really wanted one of fish&chips yellow labs he has for sale in the classifids but great breeding and a heck of a deal. But With all this time I think I want something different for a change. any other suggestion's?

[Bait Bucket]

gotafish, I'll add one more thing. The VDD dogs do not have to meet the same phisical standards as the AKC dogs. It isn't uncommon to find VDD dogs much larger than the AKC dogs. Some hunters prefer the larger dog. You'll never find a black AKC GWP. They are killed at birth. VDD dogs can be any color. It's all about what you want.

[gottafish]

I just want a great hunting/house dog for duck and upland that dosen't shed a bunch. I am open to many breeds but something has drawn me to these dogs for some time. I don't know why? wierd thing is I have never hunted over one but I love the look of the breed. My screen saver is this And I have never seen the dog in person but he's perdy. plus I have never had a pointer, something I have always wanted. labs are great dogs but I need a change.

[Rustyoar]

The shedding question is complicated, some dogs are much "Furryier" that others, mine is very slick with feathers on her legs, and her face, but no coat jungle. I have seen some that look like Griffons that look very messy, I can't imagne what they would look like in some brambles. But to anwser your question mine does not shed, I can run a curry comb through her and get very little, anytime of the year. She is in the house 90% of the time and have no issues. Be ready for a high energy dog that needs lots of love and attention, they are not kennel dog they are either stop or go and no in between. You will need lots of room.

[garyk]

Here's a versatile hunter for ya...a Draht of mine in the flesh, er, fur:

[Old Soldier]

I hunted in Germany for 15-16 years and had several German friends that had wirehair pointers. They are very capa ble dogs that did everything pointing phesants, jumping hare, retreving ducks and even used on wild pigs. They are a great dog right up there with the best of any breed.

[Keeper]

Check out all of the adorable puppy pictures:

http://www.vdd-gna.org/litters.php

You guys are killing me with dog talk; we have a cranky senior kitty and an 18lb super kitty with loads of claws. When I babysit my parents GSP (12yrs, half blind and pretty deaf) all heck breaks loose

10 years of owning dogs and now I have cats