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Lots of German breeds here...
German versatile hunting dogs are known for their adaptability, trainability, and strong hunting drive, making them popular among hunters who pursue multiple species in a variety of hunting styles throughout the season. In America, many of the German hunting dog breeds are also supported by breed clubs that emphasize standardized testing and breeding programs designed to preserve hunting ability and versatility across generations.
The other three German pointing dog breeds are the Deutsch Stichelhaar, Weimaraner, and Grosser Münsterländer. Of course these breeds are still found in North America, but without the organizational structure described here.
In Germany, there is a single, federal kennel club that governs the various breed clubs; there is also a hunting dog association that provides additional oversight for the hunting breeds. The breed clubs establish the conformation and working standards along with breeding regulations. If a breeder does not follow the regulations, they will not be able to fully register the litter or get appropriate paperwork. In other words, there’s no way to interface with the kennel club and registry without going through the breed club. It functions far more like a government than a recreational society.
Is one system inherently better than the other? No. There are pros and cons to both approaches, and both have very strong cultural influences that reflect attitudes in their country of origin. Anecdotally, whenever I describe the foreign system to either an American or a German, I’m met with matching looks of horror. The Germans struggle to wrap their minds around the free-for-all system in North America, while Americans cannot fathom a system with so much governance and so many rules and processes. To each their own, right?
For owners and breeders who wanted to require testing and other minimum standards, the best option was to import the entire German system, registry and all.
The Drahthaar club pioneered this effort and, in 1971, established the Verein Deutsch Drahthaar-Gruppe Nordamerika (VDD-GNA). This is a fully-recognized chapter of the Verein Deutsch Drahthaar (VDD) in Germany, and dogs born under the VDD-GNA are issued FCI pedigrees with full approval and privileges of the VDD. You can think of the puppies as ex-pats who are whelped in America but retain their German citizenship.
Read: Comparing NAVHDA, JGHV, and AKC Hunting Dog Tests
Importing the system into North America meant that the testing had to come, too. NAVHDA may have had its origins in the German hunt test system, but it was adapted to fit more typical American-style hunting—for example, by eliminating all furred game from testing. In order to play by the German rules, the Jagdgebrauchshundverband (JGHV) tests needed to be replicated in their entirety. This was no small feat, but as interest began to grow, JGHV tests were eventually held across North America.
Today, there are three different testing associations that hold JGHV tests in America (NA-JGV, JGV-USA, and JGV-Rocky Mountain) along with the breed clubs who frequently organize their own tests. All of these are held under the strict governance and oversight of the German hunting dog association.
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German Hunting Dogs: Understanding Breed Clubs and Testing Systems in North America
ByJennifer WapenskiJune 15, 2026
The German system of testing and breeding hunting dogs has shaped some of the world’s most versatile breeds. Here’s how it works in North America
German hunting dogs have become increasingly popular among North American hunters because of their versatility and regulated testing and breeding programs. Ask someone about the difference between a Deutsch Drahthaar and a German Wirehaired Pointer and you’re liable to start an argument—been there, done that. Regardless of your position on the dogs, though, their associated breed clubs in North America have very different origins, structures, and philosophies. These clubs are the basis from which German hunting dogs are tested, evaluated, bred, and registered.What Are German Versatile Hunting Dogs?
Unlike many sporting breeds that were developed to specialize in specific skills such as pointing, retrieving, or flushing game, German versatile hunting dogs were bred to perform a wide range of hunting tasks. They are expected to point upland birds, retrieve waterfowl, track wounded game, and hunt furred game.German versatile hunting dogs are known for their adaptability, trainability, and strong hunting drive, making them popular among hunters who pursue multiple species in a variety of hunting styles throughout the season. In America, many of the German hunting dog breeds are also supported by breed clubs that emphasize standardized testing and breeding programs designed to preserve hunting ability and versatility across generations.
What are the German Pointing Dog Breeds?
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognizes eight German pointing dog breeds. Of those eight breeds, five have recognized chapters of their German parent club organized in North America: Deutsch Drahthaar, Deutsch Kurzhaar, Deutsch Langhaar, Kleine Münsterländer, and Pudelpointer (note: the Deutscher Wachtelhund also has a North American chapter of the German breed club, but it is a flushing dog). These clubs use the German-language name of the breed in order to differentiate from the American-registered dogs.The other three German pointing dog breeds are the Deutsch Stichelhaar, Weimaraner, and Grosser Münsterländer. Of course these breeds are still found in North America, but without the organizational structure described here.
How Breed Clubs in Germany Differ from American Breed Clubs
It’s important to note here that there’s a major cultural difference between the role of breed clubs in North America and those in Germany. In the U.S., breeders and/or owners can choose whether they want to register their dogs with the American Kennel Club (AKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association (NAVHDA), or none of the above. Breed clubs organized under one of those registries may have guidelines for breeding, but there’s no single source of rules and they are largely unenforceable. Essentially, a person can breed any two purebred dogs together and apply for their paperwork from the registry of their choice. There is no requirement for the parents to meet a breed standard or a working standard; registration is done strictly by pedigree. There may be an agreement among groups of breeders to adhere to certain testing or conformation requirements, but those requirements are not tied to the registry organization itself.In Germany, there is a single, federal kennel club that governs the various breed clubs; there is also a hunting dog association that provides additional oversight for the hunting breeds. The breed clubs establish the conformation and working standards along with breeding regulations. If a breeder does not follow the regulations, they will not be able to fully register the litter or get appropriate paperwork. In other words, there’s no way to interface with the kennel club and registry without going through the breed club. It functions far more like a government than a recreational society.
Is one system inherently better than the other? No. There are pros and cons to both approaches, and both have very strong cultural influences that reflect attitudes in their country of origin. Anecdotally, whenever I describe the foreign system to either an American or a German, I’m met with matching looks of horror. The Germans struggle to wrap their minds around the free-for-all system in North America, while Americans cannot fathom a system with so much governance and so many rules and processes. To each their own, right?
The German Testing System in America
When Bodo Winterhelt introduced the idea of hunt testing to North America—which eventually became NAVHDA—he brought the German concept of evaluating hunting dogs against a performance standard rather than a competitive trial. This philosophy still aligns with the way dogs are evaluated in Germany today. However, the testing has never been a compulsory step for American hunting dogs.For owners and breeders who wanted to require testing and other minimum standards, the best option was to import the entire German system, registry and all.
The Drahthaar club pioneered this effort and, in 1971, established the Verein Deutsch Drahthaar-Gruppe Nordamerika (VDD-GNA). This is a fully-recognized chapter of the Verein Deutsch Drahthaar (VDD) in Germany, and dogs born under the VDD-GNA are issued FCI pedigrees with full approval and privileges of the VDD. You can think of the puppies as ex-pats who are whelped in America but retain their German citizenship.
Read: Comparing NAVHDA, JGHV, and AKC Hunting Dog Tests
Importing the system into North America meant that the testing had to come, too. NAVHDA may have had its origins in the German hunt test system, but it was adapted to fit more typical American-style hunting—for example, by eliminating all furred game from testing. In order to play by the German rules, the Jagdgebrauchshundverband (JGHV) tests needed to be replicated in their entirety. This was no small feat, but as interest began to grow, JGHV tests were eventually held across North America.
Today, there are three different testing associations that hold JGHV tests in America (NA-JGV, JGV-USA, and JGV-Rocky Mountain) along with the breed clubs who frequently organize their own tests. All of these are held under the strict governance and oversight of the German hunting dog association.
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