Pudelpointer vs Griffon

Thinking

Thinking

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Hi folks,

My family is in the process of selecting a breed of versatile dog breed. I think we have narrowed it down to either a Pudelpointer or a Griffon. I/we primarily hunt waterfowl, 15-30 days a year, with 10-15 days of grouse and some bunnies etc thrown in for some variety.

Eventually we will end up with two dogs, likely another of the same, or perhaps one of the other. We have 3 acres of yard, and a couple hundred acres of land to work them on daily. There are two toddlers in the house, who are both fairly well dog proofed, and what I have read the two breeds are fairly good with kids.

Thanks for your input.
 
You sound exactly like I did 3 years ago. I had spinone, pudelpointer, griffon, and drahthaar on my short list. I went with the DD because of my inability to visit multiple kennels for the other 3 breeds. You see, the VDD program offers some comfort in that those involved are absolutely dedicated in their endeavors. Of course, I'd bet that a majority of the breeders of the other 3 are just as dedicated, but I would still want to visit them more than once and at least once again by surprise. They do not have to answer to any governing body regarding conformation nor performance to have their dogs registered. This is fine as long as they have the knowledge and specific performance goals in mind.

Assuming, though, that you can visit the breeders and have found reputable ones for both the griffon and pudelpointer, I would go with the PP. The griffon has a style that does not appeal to me - more "cat like" in their point. The PP has that German work ethic that I am familiar with from my experiences with GSP's and my current DD.

Take your time, visit the breeders. Try to get out into the field with the dogs and see how they hunt.
 
Ummm, er, well, I think I am partial to the "Griffon", lol.

My Griffon is a hunting fool. He will not quit. He doesn't get tired and if there is a bird hiding within range, he will find it.

I have tried to trip him up in training. I have hidden the training dummy and have placed dummies in the field before he even arrives... he finds every darn one without fail.

He is a fantastic hunting partner and an even better best friend. I love my Griffon and would consider getting a second one without hesitation.
 
I have trained and hunted over both breeds. There are good and bad ones just like any other breed, but I think the most important thing is the breeder. You need to visit the breeder, see his dogs in action, research his bloodlines and breeding program. When I got my versatile dogs, I had it narrowed down to a couple of different breeds as well, the breeder made the final decision for me, and now I have a professional trainer as a resource and a great friend out of the deal as well!

Good luck with your new pup! And join NAVHDA, you will never regret it!
 
Griffoneur said:
Ummm, er, well, I think I am partial to the "Griffon", lol.

My Griffon is a hunting fool. He will not quit. He doesn't get tired and if there is a bird hiding within range, he will find it.

I have tried to trip him up in training. I have hidden the training dummy and have placed dummies in the field before he even arrives... he finds every darn one without fail.

He is a fantastic hunting partner and an even better best friend. I love my Griffon and would consider getting a second one without hesitation.
Click to expand...

LOL.

I also think you should send Pudelpointer here a pm and he will fill you in on that breed.

Then make up your mind. good luck
 
Have a look at the VDD Canada website, read their breeding info, and get a Drahthaar (Real German Wirehair). Be ready for LOTS of energy, my wife & I spend between 1.5 to 2 hours a day at the dog park where our 9 month old pup "Nos", socializes, swims & retrieves his ball like a maniac!!! Most people that see him ask; "How old is your dog?" and are shocked to see the confidence, obedience & determination in a 9 month old pup...

You will not be disappointed in the Drahthaar! And, seeing as how your considering a Pudelpointer, FYI, my Drahthaar's "mother line" is the Pudelpointer...

Cheers
Jay
P.S. This is a pic of Nos at 6 months... Gives ya an idea of his athletic ability & confidence, even as a puppy...
IMG_03844.JPG
 
Jay, I had given the DD a long hard thought, and if I had older kids, and more experience in training gun dogs I would be getting one. It had been my "Must Have" hunting dog for a long time, but after talking with some people with far more experience than myself, I figured it was more dog than I had experience for.

That's a great pic by the way.
 
I was concerned about the GWP/DD aggression rumour and I'm glad I listened to the more informed crowd. Every one I've met (the dogs, not people) has been a happy, face-licking lunatic.

They "know" stuff - it's hard to explain. When Piper was 3 months, she spoke "dog" better than my 10 year old GSP ever had - meaning she knew exactly how to handle herself around other dogs. When she looks at me, it's creepy - she is "seeing" me. I've had 4 GSP's over the last 16 years and this dog is just all there in a way I have never experienced.

Okay, fanatic mode off.
 
The short lists expressed here are mostly the same as mine when I was looking.

I had a GSP before, and while I loved that dog to death, his hunting style was to mechanical. I looked at DD, GWP, PG, Wirehaired Vislas, and a few others, including setters, brits, and Munsterlanders. Hell, I even considered a "pointing lab"! (I know.)

When it came down to it, the DD was more dog then I wanted to share my house with, and the GWP, while generally good, appeared to be a little less of a sure thing (too much questionable breeding going on). The Grif interested me; size and temperament were close, but I felt the ones I saw lacked intensity and I was not bowled over by their water work; good hunters, but something was missing.

The PPs I saw were "lab-friendly" and "DD-driven". I talked with a number of old timers who had had numerous dogs of various breeds, and they all said that their PP(s) was (were) bar-none the best versatile hunting dog(s) they had ever had. These guys were all upland foot hunters, and occasional waterfowlers.

Like Crashman, the breeder made my decision easy. In the end, I felt that my potential for getting a fantastic hunting dog was highest with the Pudelpointer, second with the DD, and then it generally went downhill pretty fast after that. I believe that the PP is still NAVHDA's top performing breed (highest average scores attained by all dogs of a specific breed). My Parker scored a 112 (out of 112) in his Natural Ability test, the only 2 other 112's were a GSP and GWP during that test.

Currently (unless there has been a recent change) the AKC and CKC do not officially recognize the PP as a breed. I pray to god that it stays that way. The Pudelpointer is a hunting dog, pure and simple. Superficial conformation characteristics are secondary to the dogs performance in the field (especially on wild birds); that is the way it should be.
 
Thanks for the great feedback and info everybody. I'm having a long hard look at them again, trying to figure out which way to go. They seem to have a great deal in common, which isn't making it any easier.

How does the PP work grouse? Are they close working?

How does the Griff handle water?
 
Where did you buy your dog?
Where would you recommend?



Pudelpointer said:
The short lists expressed here are mostly the same as mine when I was looking.

I had a GSP before, and while I loved that dog to death, his hunting style was to mechanical. I looked at DD, GWP, PG, Wirehaired Vislas, and a few others, including setters, brits, and Munsterlanders. Hell, I even considered a "pointing lab"! (I know.)

When it came down to it, the DD was more dog then I wanted to share my house with, and the GWP, while generally good, appeared to be a little less of a sure thing (too much questionable breeding going on). The Grif interested me; size and temperament were close, but I felt the ones I saw lacked intensity and I was not bowled over by their water work; good hunters, but something was missing.

The PPs I saw were "lab-friendly" and "DD-driven". I talked with a number of old timers who had had numerous dogs of various breeds, and they all said that their PP(s) was (were) bar-none the best versatile hunting dog(s) they had ever had. These guys were all upland foot hunters, and occasional waterfowlers.

Like Crashman, the breeder made my decision easy. In the end, I felt that my potential for getting a fantastic hunting dog was highest with the Pudelpointer, second with the DD, and then it generally went downhill pretty fast after that. I believe that the PP is still NAVHDA's top performing breed (highest average scores attained by all dogs of a specific breed). My Parker scored a 112 (out of 112) in his Natural Ability test, the only 2 other 112's were a GSP and GWP during that test.

Currently (unless there has been a recent change) the AKC and CKC do not officially recognize the PP as a breed. I pray to god that it stays that way. The Pudelpointer is a hunting dog, pure and simple. Superficial conformation characteristics are secondary to the dogs performance in the field (especially on wild birds); that is the way it should be.
Click to expand...
 
I have had the opportunity to compare several Griffons with Pudelpointers participating in NAVHDA tests. The tests are meant to be objective measures of hunting ability. The PP's I saw were better hunters. So that's what I got, and I believe I made the right choice. But the particular blood lines within each breed could possibly change the equation!
I have posted these pictures before, so please forgive me for doing it again!

IMG_3553.jpg

P1000166.jpg
 
Nice looking pup!

I have made the big decision and will be getting a male PP from Vom Maple Run in Vermont the first week of October. I've seen the litter, and met both of the parents, they seem to be great dogs, hopefully this litter will do as well. Pretty stoked about it, will post puppy pics when he arrives.

http://www.pudelpointer-puppies.com/English/Welcome.html

***No need to break the link to sites which are not dealers, ie competing with CGN sponsors***
 
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As a previous owner of a POINTING Cheasee, commonly reffered as the buldozer and now an owner of the World Champion and German Champion , a Drahthar is not for a novice. While Oban can point and retreive pheasant and partridge at great distances, he is a very noisy dog on waterfowl. He has retrieved geese across 100 foot rivers but is not steady on incoming Canadas! He can mark 400 yard pheasants but howls on seeing any flying bird!

Here he is with his first pheasant:
IMG_4063w-1.jpg

IMG_3896.jpg


He is an "Ugly Dog"!!!

Regards,
Henry;)
 
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