Gun Dog Forum

Hi,

I am a long time labrador field trialer and dachshund trainer for upland, waterfowl, tracking.

Two labs passed this last year and my remaining dachshund is 18yr. Time for a new pup. Looking at a GWP that will I've up to its 'versatile' moniker. Looking at litter on the Wirehair Alliance form and noticing most litter are from starter dogs with no background. The dogs seem to have achieved good things in the NAVHDA events but no proven litters.

Any advice or direction to sound breeders would be appreciated. I won't entertain any breeder who does the show ring.

Thank you

David

I'm a setter guy but welcome to the forum Tamid. I'n sure that you'll get some great advice here~

Tamid:
Just so you are aware. Some of the best Hunting Wirehairs in the USA are also show champions. Nothing wrong with good conformation.....Cj

You'll have to be content with evaluating dog's by their NAVHDA scores. It's a whole different world that Lab's. For instance in Lab's, you may have proven crosses like, say, Honcho to a Thunderhead female. Sorry for the dated sires and dam's, but I've been out of field trialing a long time. What you have to realize is that you will NOT be holding these dog's to the exacting standards of training and competition a retriever is held to. So, it's more common for the breeders not to go back to the same sires, but to keep trying out crosses. With GWP's or DD's, all will hunt that are from proven parents (NAVHDA CHAMPIONS). Best advice I can give you is not to worry about buying from a proven sire and don't worry about GWP vs DD. They're basically the same dog though I do lean toward the DD side of things.

The one thing I'd say about the difference in the two is that the GWP's tend to be faster dog's geared more for the upland and waterfowl. The DD's are maybe a tad slower and fur is emphasized greatly with the breed.

Whichever you get, it'll hunt. And hunt everything from duck to woodcock. With skunk, possum' coon and rabbit thrown in for good measure.

Welcome!!! I am a Brittany guy out west. Love NSTRA for the off season. Used to hunt with GSPs and a Lab.

cjhills wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 09, 2022 6:47 am

Tamid:
Just so you are aware. Some of the best Hunting Wirehairs in the USA are also show champions. Nothing wrong with good conformation.....Cj

This is entirely accurate. If you are basing your beliefs about what you think you would like in wirehairs on what you know about labradors -- and it sounds as though you are --- be aware that the two breeds are entirely different in terms of a breed split. And, uh, how do you train your dachshunds for hunting?

Your question got me interested in looking up how dachshund 's hunt. Seems to be a combo of a beagle and a JRT.

https://www.sausagedogworld.com/hunting ... achshunds/

Sharon wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:35 pm

Your question got me interested in looking up how dachshund 's hunt. Seems to be a combo of a beagle and a JRT.

https://www.sausagedogworld.com/hunting ... achshunds/

An excerpt from the article. Hmmm...

Dachshund racing is actually quite popular, especially in America.

LOL That would be an interesting race.

Tamid wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 08, 2022 12:00 pm

Hi,

I am a long time labrador field trialer and dachshund trainer for upland, waterfowl, tracking.

Two labs passed this last year and my remaining dachshund is 18yr. Time for a new pup. Looking at a GWP that will I've up to its 'versatile' moniker. Looking at litter on the Wirehair Alliance form and noticing most litter are from starter dogs with no background. The dogs seem to have achieved good things in the NAVHDA events but no proven litters.

Any advice or direction to sound breeders would be appreciated. I won't entertain any breeder who does the show ring.

Thank you
David

Like you I am new to this forum. Although there have been some nice dual champions in various breeds, I understand your reasoning for steering clear of show bred dogs. I Own versatile’s but not GWP’s. I will share some of my opinions with you. A versatile dogs strength is its versatility. It will not be the best at any one facet of bird hunting, retrieving, or tracking. It may be close but the specialists rule in the individual facets. If you are a die hard waterfowler, the DD’s will have the most consistent coats. The Americanized GWP will generally be a smaller boned and more athletic dog than the DD. The Chukar guys out west is where I would begin my search but My first priority is upland hunting. The dogs the Chukar guys breed require athletic dogs with big motors and range, superb noses, and alot of lung capacity to hold up to the terrain and altitude of Chukar habitat. When selecting a versatile, a discussion about disposition of a breeders line needs to be had with perspective breeders. To an extent most will be fur sharp. The DD more so. Some lines more so than others. Any of the versatile breeds are going to like the feel of fur in their mouth. Trash breaking will require more effort than what you experienced with your labs. A litter that is a repeat breeding of a pairing that produced pups with the attributes you desire is your best bet. The DD and GWP are not nearly as common as the Labs you have been running. Be willing to travel to find what you are looking for.
Good luck with your search for a versatile.
Willie

Welcome to the forum!

Sharon wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 11, 2022 9:35 pm

Your question got me interested in looking up how dachshund 's hunt. Seems to be a combo of a beagle and a JRT.

https://www.sausagedogworld.com/hunting ... achshunds/

Wow, interesting. Their name suggests that they are hunters but I never actually read much about them. I had to tell my brothers about them.