Home Forums Birds & Dogs Hunting Dogs new adventure,,,,

picked up my Deutsche Drahthaar puppy 2 weeks ago,,,,,,having a blast with that young lady,,,,,,

this is my first adventure with one of the "versatile breeds" but figured since I was a versatile hunter (versus a specialist in one species/method) that I might have fun with this type dog,,,,,,been thinking on it for 10 years or so, but had other dogs,,,,,then a year ago it dawned on me how old my current lab was,,,and I said "now is the time",,,,,,,

I've raised/trained beagles, deer dogs, coonhounds, lab, sled dogs, and family pets,,,,,,,but have been studying my butt off the last few years on what it takes to give one of these dogs their best shot at it,,,,,

hopefully I don't mess her up!!

anyhow - looking forward to hunting and testing with her,,,,we will see how we do

Best of luck with your new "friend."

Post a couple of pictures when you have a chance.

L.W.

Just a few suggestions. One: lay off a shock collar. She will learn readily without torture. The breed has lots of patience in it. Don't ruin a perfectly good dog with an electronic device. I know a lot of Pro trainer's of German Pointing breeds that never have put a shock collar on a dog.
Two: don't rush her. Let her grow and have fun while developing into what you expect from her. Too many people are so anxious that they can't wait to start putting pressure on a young dog. It get's tiring and boring to a pup to be constantly badgered. The obedience sector of training for a year or more is enough. It goes without saying that a dog needs to be controlled and taught the basics such as "Come" (Komanze), "heel", sit and stay, etc. You will be amazed at this breed if you have never had one. Great choice, Enjoy your new "Fraulein".

Good luck! I jumped into a similar deep pool (mine's a pudelpointer) a bit over a year ago. It's a fun journey! If there's a local NAVHDA chapter I would suggest joining. I have had a great time doing group trainings and the guys in my club have helped me out immensely!

thanks everybody

concur on "soft training" - have e-collars but only use when absolutely necessary - heck I don't even like heeling sticks (I know, I am a softy)'

roger on NAVHDA - already in the plan

I'll post up a picture when I figure it out,,,,the [img],,,,,[/img] isn't working for me for some reason,,,,,

If the use of a shock collar equates to "torture" then the handler has no idea of what they are doing and how to properly use a very effective and helpful tool. There are some things an ecollar is the very best tool available and will save a lot of time, frustration, and quite possibly ensure the health of your dog. As with any tool, improper use can lead to problems while proper use produces a better product in the same time frame.

I have owned a number of versatile breeds over the last 4 decades and the wirehairs are my favorite. I have been without a wirehair for a year and a half but that has been a factor of timing from my preferred breeders . You will be well served joining NAVHDA as that organization is a treasure trove of information and help. With the help of the local chapter I had a useful hunting dog that first fall (I prefer a pup born in Janurary or Feburary) which gives me at least an extra year of a dog's too short life span. If done regularly and correctly, a dog with even Luke warm intelligence will have the basic commands down pat in a couple of months and further insistance to the correct response will only enhance the earlier training.

Field training can start early too, once obedience is well under way. Introduction to various cover types, trips in the car, and other people, dogs, and other animals are all important forms of training. I get my dogs onto birds around 4 months or so with training becoming more intense as the pup catches on. Keep the sessions short and sweet so the dog doesn't get bored and still wants more. I'll do 4-6 or so contacts spread out over a day with each session lasting maybe 10 minute from putting the check cord on the pup to putting him back up. As the pup understands to objective, increase the time allowed and the difficulty. This will keep both of you engaged and looking forward to training.

Doing so you sgphould have a pup ready to hit the field next fall. It won't be a polished field dog but it will be able to put in some time on "real" birds at a time there are a number of young and naive birds to practice on. Just concentrate more on proper bird handling rather than shooting at this point- you will end up with a better dog in the long run.

thanks woodmaster81,,,,I did not mean to infer a shock collar was "torture",,,I use them when appropriate (and that garmin alpha is worth it just for the tracking feature - WAY better than my old ATS system),,,,,,,but they must be used judiciously and after training,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I fully agree with your comments on exposure, obedience training, and field training,,,,,,,,I am lucky enough to live in an area (like out the back door) where she is already getting exposed to other dogs, woods, fields, ponds and streams,,,,,she is gobbling it all up,,,,,you should see her when she hits a scent (got rabbits, deer, and too many carnivores around abouts),,,,,,,,

she was born in 3rd week of March,,,,,I am already planning some training boondoggles/field experience for us this fall,,,,,don't expect much except that we will have FUN,,,,,,,,

bewteen now and then is learning, repetition, exposure, and "raised" birds and such,,,,,,we have a date at teh rabbit pen in a few weeks or so, just for fun,,,,,,

anyhow, again, thanks to all of you for the ideas and such

If you are encouraging the pup to run mammals you must be planning to run VDD tests. Even so, I did all in my power to break my dogs from chasing deer, there are too many in my hunting areas and around the house and I don't need the dogs running off to parts unknown chasing deer. I am not big on their chasing rabbits either but the dogs tend to point them rather than chase making it easier to control them. By not making much to do over rabbits, the dogs eventually begin to ignore them. I just wish the dogs would show the same restraint on raccoons and especially skunks and porcupines.

I used a fox for my first VDD test, raccoons thereafter. Breaking the dogs from chasing rabbits and deer didn't seem to make any difference. The fox was the toughest as its shape and being dog like was a problem for th dog and just acquiring a fox was a problem for me as it was the off season and harvesting one would have been considered poaching.

I have the same advantage as you, training ground out the back door. I have it registered as a dog training area with the warden which allows me to run my dogs on it all year long. Right now I am waiting to do formal training as I have two pheasants, a mallard, and a pintail nesting there. A turkey just hatched her eggs last weekend. The turkeys and pheasants give impromptu contacts in the pasture, ruffed grouse and woodcock in the woods on the other side of the pasture. The chicks grow with the pup and all learn how to handle each other at an early age.

I got my first versatile 2 years ago after 40 years of gsp's brittanies labs I chose a griffon because of my hunting style

Good advice above and like the E collar mostly as a back up for safety hunting near roads other dogs etc. I just use the vibrate mode. I did use the collar
Shock mode for snake avoidance training.


I like getting the socialization ( kids animals noises etc) basic obedience and prey drive down using a lot of live birds.
The versatile dogs are intelligent and get bored quickly imo
As mentioned keep training short and be patient.

I do a lot of upland and waterfowl hunting.i did some rabbit hunting but still deciding if want to continue. She'll point rabbits
She's broke to chasing deer and elk. She's pretty good with cats but probably needs more exposure.on shock

Post some pics it's definitely interesting working with versatile breeds

thanks guys - all the insight the better - been training and working with dogs for 40+ years but this is the first run with these

I actually WANT her to like small mammals, heck I don't care if she points a squirrel!! Like I said, I am a versatile style hunter and a mixed bag is fine with me.

and yes, plan to run VDD tests, all three if we make it

thanks

I was like you with my first wirehair, thought it great the dog would be sharp on fur and hunt everything. I learned that was not necessarily for the better as the dog would also take after anything it considered vermin- even the farmer's barn cats.The dogs also began to prefer to hunt fur and their work on feathered game weakened with points not being as common nor as intense when they did occur. As I was not always able to see the dogs and call them off when they were casing some furred animal, we spent a lot of field time and especially energy messing with less desirable game.

As I wanted bird dogs and not pointing beagles I began work on breaking dogs of fur. To date, I have been pretty successful on breaking the dogs on fur though raccoons, skunks, and porcupines have been problems. Maybe if I could catch one and set up training sessions with them like I can with birds or if they were more common like rabbits and deer I would be more successful.

As is so often the case, one often needs to prioritize their desires. Trying to be a Jack of all trades leaves one with some deficiencies in all areas. The "versatile" part of the versatile breeds is not in a single dog handling all aspects of hunting but in bloodlines within a breed being able to perform all the major tasks. NAVHDA testing places more emphasis on bird work which is what I am most interested in. The VDD places a much greater emphasis on tracking and working furred game which I feel decreases the bird handling abilities of the breed. Staunch supporters of each will vehemently disagree with me but those are my observations over 40+ years. I do insist my dogs retrieve on land and water and the Continental breeds would also blood track when assigned but work on fur beyond that is not encouraged these days.

you know, my wife has said for years,,,"why don't you just hunt one thing, it would be easier on you"!!! She is likely right!





thanks for the thoughts on NAVHDA and VDD,,,,,,,and your thoughts on fur vs feather,,,,,,,,