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How To Select a Breeder For Your Hunting Dog

Gun Dogs: Breeders

May 11, 2015 by Robert McCartney 14 Comments

Part one of this series covered some basic information about different types of hunting dogs, and their jobs. At this point I am going to assume that you have picked the breed of dog you want. I hope that this decision was based on the game you hunt and not the dog’s aesthetics. I plan on using my hunting dog for upland birds, water fowl (infrequently), blood trail tracking, and scouting. In other words, I decided to go with a versatile hunting dog.

Versatile hunting dogs include breeds such as German Shorthairs, German Wirehair, Vizslas, Brittany Spaniels, Griffons, and many more. Specifically, I chose to go with the Wirehair pointing Griffon. The AKC (American Kennel Club) describes this breed as: “Medium sized, bred to cover all terrain encountered by the walking hunter. Excels equally as a pointer in the field, or a retriever in the water. His easy trainability, devotion to family, and friendly temperament endear him to all.”

So now what? If you have no idea where to start looking for a breeder, check on the AKC (American Kennel Club) website. You will find a lot of information on this site about breeders. There will also be specific clubs for the breed that you choose, and they can provide breeder information. For example, NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) and AWPGA (American Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Association) are great places to start for someone looking at getting a griffon.

Gun Dogs: Breeders
Versatile hunting dog (Vizslas). Image courtesy of hungarianvizsla.co.hu

There should always be an open dialog between you and the breeders. Any request for paperwork relating to the registration and pedigree of the sire or dam (dad and mom) should always be readily available. If you are given any difficulty when asking for these documents, you should consider moving on from that breeder.

Gun Dogs: Breeders
Versatile hunting dog (Brittany Spaniel). Image courtesy of pixshark.com

Another important consideration is the temperament of the sire or dam, and the age of the pup when you receive it. If you are able to visit the breeder prior to picking up your pup, ask to see the parents and really pay attention to their temperament. Is the dog very shy, or, is it extremely aggressive? Both can cause problems down the line and should be part of your determination in selecting a breeder. As for the age at which you receive the pup, my father (a veterinarian) recommends anywhere from seven to nine weeks depending on the dog’s development and whether or not the breeder has to ship the dog to you via airplane.

So we have selected the type of hunting dog, the breed and the breeder. All that is left now is to get ready for our pup to arrive.

(Featured image courtesy of topdog-breeds.blogspot.com)

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Filed Under: Dogs Tagged With: dog breeders, dogs, gun dog, Hunting dogs, wirehaired pointing griffon

About the Author

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Robert McCartney served with the 2nd Ranger Battalion from 2003-2007 where he deployed four times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. He attended Jump school, Ranger school and has served as a riflemen progressing to a team leader. After leaving the Military Robert became a Customs and Border Protection Officer, working at both Seaports and Airports. During his time at CBP he has been utilized as a Range Safety Officer and K9 Handler, and EMT. When not spending time with his wife and kids, Robert spends his time bowhunting in Washington State, and lifting heavy things. Fun Certifications: CF-L1, Firefighter I, EMT. (Instagram: robert.mccartney)

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