[caddis8]

I'm not trying to get into a big debate. Myself, my brother, and a good friend are all entertaining the idea of getting a wirehair. I'm doing some research on my own, but I have some questions for the crowd:

1) I know the word "wirehair" isn't necessairily a breed but a distinction. So, what breeds are there? I don't want to know what the best is, i just want to know what there is.
There is the Germain Wirehair Pointer, Wirehair Pointing Griffon, Dratthar something or other...

What's the difference? What does Zim have? Oprah is a good looking little pup...so are Travis' dogs. What are they?

2) I know there is talk about "treborwolf" lines and being great hunters but also having some aggression still in the lines....what breed of line is that?

3) What else is there to know about wirehair varieties? There is a lot of talk about wirehairs and the thing I'm interested in is versatility. I hunt quite a bit of waterfowl, but I still love some good ditch parrot hunting and chukar hunting, ect. Thus this is why I'm looking into it.

4) How does the coat do with burrs and thistles and the like? l love short hairs for that reason. My current lab is acceptable with the burrs and stuff. We had a springer growing up that we had to shave after hunting because she came back looking like a ****leburr...

If you could answer these questions, I'd be very happy...especially without the arguments of my shorthair can beat up your grandma, ect....

 

[utfireman]

I had a GWP, didn't like it and so I GAVE it away. I still see the dog often and I am still not impressed with them. Infact a 3 legged shorthair out hunted that GWP all day long.When we went out the other day and he was chuck full of burs by the time the day was over with.

 

[TEX-O-BOB]

I had a GWP, didn't like it and so I GAVE it away. I still see the dog often and I am still not impressed with them. Infact a 3 legged shorthair out hunted that GWP all day long.When we went out the other day and he was chuck full of burs by the time the day was over with.

:roll: You must have bought a dud. :?

Don't let one nasty attitude spoil your sense of reason and good judgment.

I've owned them for 20 years and have had nothing but the best results. Burrs? na. Mean and agressive? Depends on the amount of training and socialization skills you as an owner have. I've seen labs that would EAT you, and I've seen GWPs that would lick you to death and vice versa. GWP, DD It's the SAME **** dog! Don't let anyone tell you different. One just costs a lot more, and comes with more arrogance and the propensity to chase fur. Zims dog is a Treborwolf GWP, and she is a shiny little beeoch. Speaking of Treborwolf, I've owned a Treborwolf dog. THE best dog I've had. Also the best water dog I've ever had too. I will own another one soon. The coat on a wirehair can come as slick as a shorthair and as furry as a griffon, I have a slick and a furry one right now and niether dog has a problem with burrs. Their hair is just to coarse.

If you want to read about the breed go to Treborwolfs websight and check it out. Bob west has a lot of good info on this sight. http://www.drahthaars.net/index.htm

Good luck,

Tex.

 

[DDGuy]

Go to http://www.vdd-gna.org/ Try to just ignore the arrogance. We just can't help it :?

 

[caddis8]

So is the slick coat breed or line specific or is it just luck of the draw? How does each one handle water?

These are probably dumb questions, but I'm trying to gather the most information as possible....

 

[DDGuy]

So is the slick coat breed or line specific or is it just luck of the draw? How does each one handle water?

These are probably dumb questions, but I'm trying to gather the most information as possible....

Some breedings don't produce any slick coated dogs and some lines always will. Most any DD or GWP will always be willing to enter water to retrieve game. That's just the way they are, but some are much better at handling cold water than others. Prey drive, retrieving instinct, mental toughness, coat type, and body mass are all factors involved in a dogs ability to handle cold water. If you are an upland bird hunter that occasionally hunts fair weather waterfowl, a slick coated dog would probably work out fine. If waterfowling is more important to you than that, you would probably want to find a dog with the correct wirehaired coat.

There are no dumb questions when looking for a dog!!

Good Luck

 

[mulepacker]

Caddis,

E-mail me . When will you be in Cache Valley again? I can tell you where there are a few GWP's to look at everything from slick to wired. This is a dog you can't go wrong with if you put a little effort in training and hunt them.

 

[huntinco]

DDGUY...
Who's female was used for the header photo in the litter section of your site?
http://www.vdd-gna.org/litters.php

 

[InvaderZim]

My "answers" in red:

1) I know the word "wirehair" isn't necessairily a breed but a distinction. So, what breeds are there? I don't want to know what the best is, i just want to know what there is.
There is the Germain Wirehair Pointer, Wirehair Pointing Griffon, Dratthar something or other...

What's the difference? What does Zim have? Oprah is a good looking little pup...so are Travis' dogs. What are they?

Funny you should ask. Turns out a friend of a friend (who just happens to live in Vernal...go figure. :wink: ) recently bought a DD. A discussion ensued and finally the fella pipes up, "Well they have to be different...I payed more!" To be honest that really does sum it up. Find a breeder with good, proven (for what you want) dogs and you wont be dissatisfied.

2) I know there is talk about "treborwolf" lines and being great hunters but also having some aggression still in the lines....what breed of line is that?

As TEX mentioned you can visit Treborwolf Kennels to read more about his dogs and their lineage (he also has a good read on the DD/GWP debate.) Oprah is from his lines (both parents) and I can tell you she is all business. And I'm certain of one thing...she has the most genetic prey drive of any dog I've had. That prey drive makes them great retrievers & natural hunters. But don't let anyone fool ya...you'll get the good with the bad. With that drive you WILL get aggression. They are one tough dog!

3) What else is there to know about wirehair varieties? There is a lot of talk about wirehairs and the thing I'm interested in is versatility. I hunt quite a bit of waterfowl, but I still love some good ditch parrot hunting and chukar hunting, ect. Thus this is why I'm looking into it.

A GWP is a great Duck Dog. maybe not great for sitting on the ice for 10 hours a day...but for a dozen ducks hunts a year, and a dozen rooster hunts...you betcha!
4) How does the coat do with burrs and thistles and the like? l love short hairs for that reason. My current lab is acceptable with the burrs and stuff. We had a springer growing up that we had to shave after hunting because she came back looking like a ****leburr...

Same as any dog, even labs and GSP's...it'll get some burs, but they seem to come out fairly easy.

If you could answer these questions, I'd be very happy...especially without the arguments of my shorthair can beat up your grandma, ect....

My setter can beat up your tea-cup poodle...

 

[DDGuy]

DDGUY...
Who's female was used for the header photo in the litter section of your site?
http://www.vdd-gna.org/litters.php

I asked our webmaster in GA and the photo was submitted by Chad Crissup in Oklahoma.

 

[DDGuy]

My "answers" in red:

1)
Funny you should ask. Turns out a friend of a friend (who just happens to live in Vernal...go figure. :wink: ) recently bought a DD. A discussion ensued and finally the fella pipes up, "Well they have to be different...I payed more!" To be honest that really does sum it up. Find a breeder with good, proven (for what you want) dogs and you wont be dissatisfied.

WOW!!! Thanks for clearing that up. Who would have thought it was that simple. I could have been getting the exact same thing for all these years for a lot less money. You're a genius! I feel like a moron

 

[InvaderZim]

WOW!!! Thanks for clearing that up. Who would have thought it was that simple. I could have been getting the exact same thing for all these years for a lot less money. You're a genius! I feel like a moron

The pleasure is all mine. Trust me! :wink:

 

[Donttreadonme]

Keith even though I have a "dud" GWP I can see plenty of good in him to be willing to buy another. I just don't have the time nor tallent to break Gage of all his bad habits. Like everyone else has said I too have never seen a dog with more prey drive than a GWP. They can hunt big and far or close in, Gage's coat does pick up a lot of burrs but they come out very easily. If you would ever take me up on my offers to hunt when you are out here you could see just how good a poorly trained GWP is and imagine how amazing a good one could be.

 

[Gumbo]

Can you guys talk a little about these dogs' aggression? I'm very interested in one, but need one that's GREAT around young kids.

 

[Donttreadonme]

Gumbo My wirehair and all others I have met are great family dogs. My kids prefer to play with my wirehair over my lab because he is much more mellow around them. Granted my lab is a pup and that is cause for a lot of his bouncyness. If you are in the Cache Valley area you would be welcome to come see my wirehair any time.

 

[Gumbo]

I'm coming up to Cache Valley tomorrow with my hi-energy lab. Mind if I take him out to your favorite pheasant hot spot?

Is there a previous thread I've missed comparing the GWP with the DD? Gun Dog magazine has a nice article on the GWP several issues back.

 

[Donttreadonme]

What time will you be up here? If I had a favorite hot spot for pheasants I would take you there but all my favorite "wells" have gone dry this season.

And like others have said the GWP and DD are the same **** dog.

 

[huntinco]

DDGUY..

Do you know how I could get in touch with Chad Crissup ?
Thanks
Justin

 

[DDGuy]

And like others have said the GWP and DD are the same **** dog.

The battlecry of the colossally unimformed

 

[DDGuy]

DDGUY..

Do you know how I could get in touch with Chad Crissup ?
Thanks
Justin

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