drahthaar questions?

[upnorthbacon]

Long story short I found a deal on a Drahthaar puppy today while at a sporting goods store, price is $200.  The owner showed me both mother and father, they were in my neck of the woods hunting grouse and woodcock, both dogs looked very nice.  He said he has a couple puppies left but they have smooth coats more like a GSP and very little if any beards.  He will be back in my area on the 5th of October and stated he would bring the pups up if I wanted to purchase one.  I've been reading about them, I'm really scared because it sounds like they don't have the normal features of a drahthaar with the wirey coat and beard but the price is definately right.  My other concern is I know they are supposed to be super versatile in hunting several different species of game.  I only really want one for grouse and woodcock and I don't want it to be tracking deer and rabbit and such when it should be pointing birds.  Should this be a concern of mine?  I want a nice grouse/woodcock pointer that will also make a good family dog.  I was previously looking at brittanys, english setters, and gsp's but stumbled upon these pups.

[ROB]

Why don't you contact some other breeders and see what they think? rob

[myronman3]

things you NEED to know.... drahthaars are HARD dogs.  by hard i mean  their temperment.  i think you are barking up the wrong tree with this breed.  everyone of them that i have seen is aggresive in nature.  they are NOT wirehairs, the drahthaar  has to meet german guidelines in order to be named as such.   they are bred for the harder temperment.  i would pass if you want a family dog.  think not only of your kids,  but of their friends that may come over. 

[myronman3]

one other thing... regarding the price.  you need to look at the big picture here.  a 200 dollar  dog may be total disaster.   you dont need to pay 1000 bucks for a good dog,  but this aint the time to be selling off desirable qualities to save a buck.  remember, this dog is may be around for 15 years.  get what you want the first time around and avoid trouble.   i know you will be betterserved by a quality brittany or setter. 

[WesinND]

I have a 6 yo Drahthaar,  he doesn't have the beard or the wirey coat, and he does resemble a shorthair. He is an extremly good hunting dog, however, if you want a specialized dog for upland birds only get another breed.  My draht may be an anomaly, he is not people- or dog-aggressive at all, and loves children.  He's a great house dog.  He will kill anything that resembles game in the yard if he can catch it. 

But if I don't hunt him hard, keep up on the training in the off season, and keep him mentally challenged, he gets mischievious around the house.

Two hundred bucks may sound like a deal, but to my thinking, if someone offered me a Draht for that price I'd investigate a little further.

Wes     

[upnorthbacon]

Well I went for it and purchased the puppy, he seems to be very smart for his age right now and is picking up commands really fast.  I'm not super concerned about them being too aggressive from what I've heard with good socialization they are great with a family.  I've always owned dobermans which everyone is terrified will turn and kill you etc, I've had great dobies that are very loving with other people and dogs.  For the price I was willing to take the risk, if it doesn't work out I'll figure something else out.  Thanks for the replies and I've jumped over to gundogforum.com to gain some more knowledge on bird dogs in general.

[Tonk]

Upnorthbacon, I guess you never heard of the fact "You only get what you pay for up front" Now all the pedigree Drahthaar German dogs I have seen, cost upwards of at least $800 dollars for puppies and higher. They are a hard type dog but I am wondering if you got any type of paper work on your puppy? Now if this puppy does not have the tattoes in the lip, chances are you did not get the real McCoy. It is always best to go to a bonified breeder or visit several breeders before you purchase a puppy of any breed. The registered pedigree is the only warranty you will ever have in the genes being passed from titled champions in the family tree back to your puppy.

I raise German Shorthair Pointers and I can tell you that it takes 2 years for that pup to grow up and you will spend (doing it right that is) upwards of $200 dollars in shots, good feed will cost you around the $400 dollar a year mark X 2, that is $800 dollars and you still won't really know if that dog will do as you wish on birds in the field. Chances are it is NOT full blooded either, just so you know. This is why that organization tattoes it's dogs.

It sounds to me like that puppy came from what we call a puppy mill......Someone who breeds dogs to cash in quick on the puppies regardless and keeps their operation hidden for the most part and adults get very little care in the whole process. These people are NOT registered with any dog groups. Good luck with your pupp!

[anweis]

they are bred for the harder temperment.  i would pass if you want a family dog.  think not only of your kids,  but of their friends that may come over.  

I don't know about them, but you may consider a Hungarian wire-haired Vizsla if you also want a family dog. They are universal hunting dogs, they point, track, retrieve, set. They even have webbed feet, handy ( when duck hunting.