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New here to the forum and waterfowl hunting. I had a retriever and pointer growing up, I moved to Montana with my wife and will be in a house by next summer. I'm wanting to get a puppy, although not sure if I should get a retriever or a pointer. I like to hunt upland game as well and will eventually have both. Any thoughts?

Lab

X 2 lab.



Blog- http://www.ksducks.com

Talk to Jarbo

Drahthaar or WPG

Get one with 4 legs.

3geese4me wrote:Drahthaar or WPG

Would be my advice, pudelpointers are a fine dog too. The type of upland hunting you'd be doing would be a major factor. If you only hunt pheasant in small thick cover, a lab or chessie would work fine. For grouse, huns or prairie hunting, I'd go with one of the stated pointing breeds, they are retrieving machines also.

3legged_lab wrote:Get one with 4 legs.

Seriously laughed out loud

I have been thinking for a long time of getting a Bracco Italiano. Great all around hunting dogs, can get fairly pricey but I've seen too many friends get "AKC" registered dogs that were dumb as a bag of hammers. AKC simply means the dog will look like what the breed is "supposed" to look like, doesn't take into account any of the psychological attributes of the dog. If I'm not able to find a Bracco before next year, would most likely try and find a good GSP and lab. My dad has a GWP and he is a good dog, I just prefer the GSP's

GSP and lab would suit your needs fine, although my choice would be a britt, persobnal preference. I thought you were asking bout a dog that can do both upland and waterfowl very well.

My dog is not AKC registered, but instead NAVHDA. If looking for a GSP, look for NAVHDA bloodlines.

I would like a dog that does both well, but don't want just a lab. My wife likes them is the only reason I am considering getting a lab. I do like GSP's but am not sure how well they would retrieve waterfowl. Reason behind wanting the Bracco is that I would upland hunt more than waterfowl, simply because I don't have any dekes or calls or anything necessary for waterfowl hunting.

I hunt both upland and waterfowl with a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, I would recommend one of them, or a Deutsch Drathaar. Great pointing dogs and strong retrievers. The Pudelpointer or Spinone would also be options. There are many good WPG breeders in MT. I will be there hunting in 2 weeks. Where are you at in MT?

My wife and I live in Bozeman. My dad has a German Wirehaired Pointer, is that the same dog you are referring to as the WPG?

The German Wire-haired pointer is the american version of the drahthaar. The only difference is the german dogs have togher breeding standards than the American version. The German and American dogs really can and will do it all with the breeders passion to better the breed. I don't have one but my next dog will be a Drahthaar. I liked the breed so much that I joined the Central Dakota NAVHDA and just help out on training days.

They are different breeds, the German Wirehaired Pointer is a Drathaar, depending on the registering and testing organization. Do plenty of research, I was looking for the same thing when I decided on the Griffon. After 12 years with a lab and a britt, I wanted to only have one dog that served both roles. I couldn't be happier.

3geese4me wrote:The German Wire-haired pointer is the american version of the drahthaar. The only difference is the german dogs have togher breeding standards than the American version. The German and American dogs really can and will do it all with the breeders passion to better the breed. I don't have one but my next dog will be a Drahthaar. I liked the breed so much that I joined the Central Dakota NAVHDA and just help out on training days.

Good idea, haven't met a bad person through NAVHDA yet. Unfortunately there are no chapters in KS, closest is in Iowa, makes it tough to attend training days.

jarbo03 wrote:

3geese4me wrote:The German Wire-haired pointer is the american version of the drahthaar. The only difference is the german dogs have togher breeding standards than the American version. The German and American dogs really can and will do it all with the breeders passion to better the breed. I don't have one but my next dog will be a Drahthaar. I liked the breed so much that I joined the Central Dakota NAVHDA and just help out on training days.

Good idea, haven't met a bad person through NAVHDA yet. Unfortunately there are no chapters in KS, closest is in Iowa, makes it tough to attend training days.

I have to travel 120 miles one way to go. Wish there was one closer.

180 miles for me.

181 miles for me.

But seriously, it is a 3 1/2 hour drive (the other side of DC), even though I have no idea how far it actually is. Hell, the vet didn't even have "wirehaired pointing griffon" in the database as a choice when I took the dog in. And I haven't had one long enough, nor even hunted with him yet, to have my opinion count worth a damn, but so far I'm very happy with my choice. It was a long process (about a year and a half, from start to finish) and I did a lot of homework, but it's worth every bit. I couldn't be happier with my WPG. He matches my personality, he's smart, and he doesn't shed. That last one may sound silly, but when you have a wife who didn't really want another dog in the house, it makes it MUCH easier not having to hear her saying "I have to vacuum AGAIN because of all the damn dog hair". VERY much easier. I may change my opinion in the future, and your personal preference will more than likely (or should) play a big role, but I'm happier than I imagined.

And the icing on the cake. They are pretty!

My dad has a GWP, I like him a lot buy my wife thinks he is ugly

Might be time for a new wife!




Seriously, time to show her some puppy pics, and the results it leads to. Don't forget to tell her about the minimal shedding.

Great looking pup! Does yours retrieve in water?

Yea, he has about 650retrieves in his first 2 years, plus 150 or so upland birds.

10 degree morning on the river, iced up


geese

CGI. Fake. Everyone knows Griffs are mythical creatures like unicorns and ligers

jarbo03 wrote:Yea, he has about 650retrieves in his first 2 years, plus 150 or so upland birds.

10 degree morning on the river, iced up


geese

The iced up picture is pretty cool, Jarbo.

Redbeard wrote:CGI. Fake. Everyone knows Griffs are mythical creatures like unicorns and ligers

What? Are you telling me that ligers aren't real? I'm calling BS!

Stick this in your pipe and smoke it.