Choosing a Puppy - Any Tips?

oneskilledshooter

oneskilledshooter

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So after a lot of research and consideration I am getting a dog. I am set on a Drahthaar because I want a versatile dog and I like the fact that they have trials that the breeding dogs have to pass.

Any tips for choosing a puppy?
What would you be asking a prospective breeder?
I have never had a hunting dog before and I wondering if there is any advantage to choosing a male or a female? I know that with regular dogs females are often less dominant and easier to train, have you found this to be the case with hunting dogs?

Random thoughts, tips, etc. are welcome!
 
In my experience with other breeds, ### is pretty much a non-issue if they are spayed/neutered early.

I've always found it very good to be able to meet the mom & dad of the puppy. It will give you a farly good indication of the expected temperment of the puppy you are getting. Also tells you a bit about the breeder if they refuse to let you meet them.

Very good looking choice in breed :)
 
If you want a working dog, then you might want to consider a pup that is not too docile. A bit of spirit and energy is a good thing in this case I think. You don't have to break the pup, just steer it's energy in the right direction.
 
Buy from a breeder that breeds dogs for field performance - not for looks. You want an athlete, not a model.

A good breeder will have a lot of dogs out there with known performance. If he has a litter on the way, he will be able to tell you in great detail what the dogs will be like.

I have a field spaniel. He is exactly like the dog the breeder described, before he was born.
 
Look up a book called The Right Dog for You written by Daniel F. Tortora.

He breaks down all of the recognized breeds (at the time ~early 1980's) by various attributes, including things like: indoor and outdoor activity level (they're not always the same), problem-solving ability, sociability with children, family and strangers.

The book is based on the author's work dealing with dog (and dog owner) behavioral problems. It's a great place to start.
 
oneskilledshooter said:
So after a lot of research and consideration I am getting a dog. I am set on a Drahthaar because I want a versatile dog and I like the fact that they have trials that the breeding dogs have to pass.

Any tips for choosing a puppy?
What would you be asking a prospective breeder?
I have never had a hunting dog before and I wondering if there is any advantage to choosing a male or a female? I know that with regular dogs females are often less dominant and easier to train, have you found this to be the case with hunting dogs?

Random thoughts, tips, etc. are welcome!
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If you are considering a Drahthaar (excellent choice ;) ) then selecting a breeder is not as big of an issue. It simply is not possible to breed these dogs with anything other than the necessary dedication - otherwise the VDD will boot you in the nards.

I pained over male or female and it turns out if I wanted one from the litter that I was slated for, it was going to be a female. I have no regrets - she is a sweetheart. Both ###es can have their moments, albeit for different reasons and at different times. But this breed has me - hook, line, and sinker.
 
Keep in mind that there are many puppies at your local shelter that need a home. Did I mention that many of them are free?
 
Great choice. By choosing a Drahthaar you have eliminated most of the problems associated with "sloppy" breeders. Just a small point of correction, the breed association does not use "trials" to assess breeding qualifications, it uses standardized tests.

Many people confuse trials and tests. A trial is a competition based on winners and losers. A test is a set of field exercises and a panel of judges. Any dog can pass, or fail, a test. It is simply a matter of whether they meet the minimum standard, and what the score is achieved for the various elements of the test. The Drahthaar test is particularly rigorous and thorough, and any dog that has passed that test and is also recommended by the breed warden for breeding will have very good genetics.

By contrast, the CKC and the AKC sponsor trials, which in my opinion often produce "champions" that may exhibit qualities that a hunter does not desire - but they can win a lot of ribbons! just one of the reasons why I prefer hunt with breeds of versatile dogs whose breed associations do not recognize the "authority" of the CKC.
 
Our current Bouvier (our fourth over a period of twenty-five years) is a 13-year old female that we imported from Holland. She is from "working" lines and doesn't match up particularly well to North American conformation standards for the breed.

Not for first-time owners, such dogs can be a bit if a handful but, with lots of patience and properly training, they are amazing. I doubt that we would have any other.
 
Drjekyll said:
Keep in mind that there are many puppies at your local shelter that need a home. Did I mention that many of them are free?
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Excellent reminder for those wanting to have a pet!

I kinda took the OP's post to be asking about working/hunting dogs. If that is the case, then dogs found at the shelter rarely meet the high standards or demands for hunting dogs. People that buy quality dogs for hunting do not just give them up regularly.

Also, I had a friend looking very recently at dogs at a shelter in the hopes of finding something that would not only be a pet, but a hunting dog. Once the shelter found out about the "hunting" aspect, they were not too interested in helping him. I guess I can see their moral dilemma between helping animals vs. finding suitable homes/adoptive families that may have that animal participate in "harming" other animals.
 
IMHO a serious breeder will have a selection process for potential buyers and will most likely not sell you one of their dogs if you have no prior experience with hunting dogs. When I got my dog there was a very strickt and lengthy interview/selection process to ensure the dogs went to qualified homes.
 
Meet the Mom and Dad.
Meet the breeder in person so you can get a feel for what type of operation they run.
I think vets also put out lists of breeders who meet a certain level of service or excellence, whatever you want to call it.
 
Drahthaar is an excellent choice! If I didn't have a Pudelpointer bred through the VPP (the German Pudelpointer equivalent of the VDD) I'd have a Drahataar with heavy Pudelpointer mother lines. I would reccomend talking with a variety of breeders and find one who breeds to fit your hunting type and style. The great thing is these dogs can do it all, and do it well. Please don't spay or neuter your pup until you've tested them in VJP and HZP, too many good dogs are taken out of the breeding pool before their potential is realized.

The best book to get you through your DD puppy experience is the Drahtaar Puppy Manual, by Roger Smith and Nancy Bohs. These aren't your run of the mill puppy, and the book helps understand a little better before you begin to pull your hair out.

Join VDD Canada, they are a great resource.
 
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