first GWP

[Deutsch - Drahthaar]

You are lucky to get a pup from Django (Troll) who was an excellent example sire DD from Vladica Sulc breeding in Serbia. I had contacted Emily myself and chosen this dog for my bitch this summer 2025. Sadly I was told a few weeks ago that Django passed away in the field while working.

I will now be travelling to Germany for a sire.

 

[muntjacmad]

yes I was very fortunate a friend used him on his excellent bitch and three days late I believe Django died.

so this will be the last litter by him and what a superb litter she had 14 altogether. now just to pick the right one

 

[Jon P]

yes I was very fortunate a friend used him on his excellent bitch and three days late I believe Django died.

so this will be the last litter by him and what a superb litter she had 14 altogether. now just to pick the right one

No pressure then to get this one going well then

 

[Hayduke]

A superb litter she had 14 altogether. now just to pick the right one

I try and pick one of the quiet ones, the ones that hold back. The thinkers rather than the doers. If the pup is very inquisitive, active, bouncing I think they maybe a more full-on and intense dog, and a potential handful on paying attention and recall etc. That said could be completely wrong. They are all different. I think the more head strong 'doer' dog will be more likely to nail / pin mis-shot deer - which they don't all by any means. I value more highly an attentive silent and obedient hunting companion that will point/indicate has initiative, will scent and follow trail and find deer.

Do you mind sharing where these pups are, Im looking and nearly have the Mrs onboard for another.

 

[muntjacmad]

I try and pick one of the quiet ones, the ones that hold back. The thinkers rather than the doers. If the pup is very inquisitive, active, bouncing I think they maybe a more full-on and intense dog, and a potential handful on paying attention and recall etc. That said could be completely wrong. They are all different. I think the more head strong 'doer' dog will be more likely to nail / pin mis-shot deer - which they don't all by any means. I value more highly an attentive silent and obedient hunting companion that will point/indicate has initiative, will scent and follow trail and find deer.

Do you mind sharing where these pups are, Im looking and nearly have the Mrs onboard for another.

this is my thought process to! they are in mid wales

 

[muntjacmad]

Speak to Ian at anvilstone gundogs. Knows the breed inside out and an excellent trainer

took your advice and glad i did. What a great no nonsense guy. Gave me some pointers(excuse the pun) to start with from the off then i shall pay him a visit.

 

[fallowfellow]

Im 3.5 yrs in with mine. A trip to Ian will be well worthwhile. Livestock training early. Stop whistle from the start. Crate train from the beginning, they are so energetic it helps them turn off. Stop to shot from as early as is practical wooden clapper, moderated 22/ starter pistol and building up slowly. Train rather than walk. I have found a ball on a rope is great for fetch as there is a tug of war on return and gets the release command. It also builds focus on you.

They are very quick to learn! Normal maxims from others were not to train early but I felt ours was craving the stimulation and needed to use her brain. I don’t think it’s the same as training labs etc. More like what you see online with Malinois.

I didn’t hand feed mine while training to start with but think I will next time round to develop the training. We do a bit now and it’s good.

As for holding deer, no problems there but it’s a rarity to need it and I aim to avoid it where possible for the dogs sake. I think it’s the Italian/ Slovenian book on tracking that says not before the dog is three years old and the deer on its third bed. They already know how to hunt, they need to learn to do it with us so I followed that advise and chasing not a problem.

Recently I’ve found mountain biking together to be great.

 

[fallowfellow]

yes I was very fortunate a friend used him on his excellent bitch and three days late I believe Django died.

so this will be the last litter by him and what a superb litter she had 14 altogether. now just to pick the right one

Fine looking fellow that Django. What a shame to hear he died. Any idea what the issue was?

 

[Brittany boy]

Some great advice so far, build the bond and pick the quiet one. Take it out in the country early break it to stock and socialise well with other dogs. They are really protective of their family and do much better if allowed to be part of that family. My GWP is now 5 and the best shooting partner I’ve ever had. Get the basics installed they learn quickly and love to please the boss , you must be the boss consistent and fair.

 

[mwncidur]

Here is the bitch and the pups that muntjacmad refers to. Consider ourselves very lucky to have had Django cover her before the tragedy.

 

[GeoffWood]

Here is the bitch and the pups that muntjacmad refers to. Consider ourselves very lucky to have had Django cover her before the tragedy.

Lovely looking bitch and litter. Good luck

 

[wag]

It's a long project. Aim for 3 years and no sooner for a well rounded dog. I've lived with them all my life currently entertaining my 8th,shes a 2.5 year old rescue. And at 5 she's ready for trials. Don't push the retrieving it will come but don't push like you can with a lab. I currently have 3, my dog will retrieve a muntjac if I send him for it.
The most important command IMHO is sit/sit to whistle.

Get it stock trained . If you don't want it to kill cats train it not to.
I would recommended getting HPR training. They are so much more dog than most you will see in the field.

If you want a chat send me a message.

 

[GeoffWood]

I remember watching a Spanish hunting chanel where a chap explained his method of choosing a pup from a young litter.
Whilst sitting on the floor amongst the pups, he took them one at a time and lay them on their backs on his lap. Any pup that resisted and refused to settle was rejected. The ones that remained calm were deemed to have accepted him and he chose one of those.
The theory being that if a 6 week old pup will trust you it will be easier to train.
I totally agree with the other advice about training to sit on and recall on command.

 

[Terrydeer]

This is one of the bitches brothers, that a colleague of mine has and he is absolutely great

 

[Brittany boy]

Can I ask where the dog came from , I picked mine up 5 years ago from Sally Ware in Staffordshire and he is the image of the dog above

 

[deeksofdoom]

I had a GWP bitch a few years ago and she was a lovely thing had to put her down a few years ago due to cancer. Got a 14month old bitch here now at the moment and she is a lunatic..... stands out in the rain all night runs from one window to the theother at the back of the house watching every move we make inside.... plane passing in the sky at night no problem outside barking at it. Great Craic.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

With the right dog they will hold on.

My first GWP was run with a pack of foxing terriers. She was a hard dog and would take no messing from anything. Would pull a fallow deer even if it was not shot.

Second GWP completely different end of the scale. Very kind gentle , would track a deer but would not engage in anything physical. I moved her over to work with my Harris hawk which she was great at.

Third GWP and current one- if she had been my first GWP it would have been my last. .
Great for tracking deer, will indicate deer bedded down in front of me. If tracking off long lead she has a GPS collar on her as she will keep running. - I can’t trust this one fully off lead when stalking if muntjac are around as she goes deaf and it may as well be someone else’s dog, I think this is from starting her to young.

All were broken to livestock as I have regularly access to free run my dogs through sheep, cattle horses on a daily basis.

I think I started on your third

 

[hendrix's rifle]

@NigelM did a really good post about pointers a while ago, probably worth having a butchers through.

To echo most comments above, cracking dogs. Mines unfortunately more on the turbocharged side of things, wanting to complete everything at 100mph and killing everything in sight. He was semi easy to train, hard headed and for the majority wanted to do things his way. Training needs to start early on, get the basics nailed and continue with the basics all the way through. If you settle down on the basics, they will try and ignore them. Ask me how I know

Depending on the characteristics on your dog, lead work will also be extremely worthwhile. I've recently started working mine on a hands free long line (probably around 8 foot in total?) as he tends to be far more methodical in the way he works. This is for deer work only mind so tracking, air scenting and so on. Its slowed him up and he picks up on far more because of it rather than being set on one track. Yesterday he found me 3 shot deer in maybe a 50 yard area that was pretty thick in terms of foliage. He will drag them out for me too. Absolutely no issues carrying a roe doe however he always does the obligatory neck shake before he does.

As already mentioned, they will kill things if you aren't careful. Ground game, birds, deer, you name it. If you don't want it to kill next doors cat, get it trained nice and early. I've got a few videos of mine finding deer if you want me to send them over, it's quite enlightening.

Would I have another? Yes. I can't think of much that compares at all. I'd probably look at a smaller one in future as mines quite a lump (no bad thing when you've got reds mind) but if he sits on you, you know about it

 

[MGD]

Hello all,I have two gwp both from the best trailing lines. My advice is let it of the lead let it run from a pup and it will be fine always walk into the wind .do not walk straight lines zig zag the pup will learn to look towards you as it will always wants to be in front so as it runs to be in front turn across the wind and you will find pup will turn to get in front .Dont listen to the bad reds they don’t know how to train a dog properly.all the best

 

[270rem]

My GWP is now coming up to 3.
Do’s
A deer tracking man with much knowledge told me to encourage the pup to track from very early on.
Whether that be just to a deer part a small distance and reward with meal and so on. This will bring them on really well if you want a tracking dog.
When tracking well then working on discipline.
I never called her from a seated position I would always return to her and then continue the walk or whatever.
Recall was initiated at home in the garden when she was playing with the children or distracted with something, I would then call her for a reward and a lot of fuss, she picked this up very quickly.
When you get round to training for me was.
Heel
Sit on command to both voice and whistle.
Staying seated while I walk away and sit down in view of her for greater amounts of time but always returning to her with praise.
Mistakes and trouble
This one is easy when you think about it but very difficult to actually put into practice.
if you leave things about that will get her into trouble THEY WILL. Because they are inquisitive and young that’s exactly what they will do. So try as much as humanly possible to think to yourself if I was a young dog would I grab that really good smelling thing off the worktop when dad's back is turned, because that’s exactly what’s going to happen.
She was sitting at the bottom of the highseat untethered at just over six months old, she has never left her seat. And has watched countless deer and hares and pheasant walk right past and I mean right past.
She indicates deer both with smell and sound.
And she has made my stalking a joy and it’s great to have her as my partner.
If you put the hours in, a lot that is, you will be rewarded with a great companion.
Last thing, make sure you create train, it’s the best thing you can do for your dog and yourself.
Just my opinion