German wirehaired pointer Vs German Shorthaired pointer

[Daniel308]

What breed would be more suited for deer and rough shooting ?

 

[John Gryphon]

This will attract owners of both breeds and they will maintain that "their breed" is best.
I have had both.

A good farm reared dog of either breed from a long line of hunting dogs that are truly worked will beat the longest pedigreed dog of either breed.

Answer EITHER ONE.

 

[bogtrotter]

I would agree with the previous poster EITHER

 

[jimmy milnes]

Breeding more important than breed

 

[levigsp]

As above, both will do the job equally if bred and trained well.

 

[huntsman]

While I would agree with the importance of breeding .l too would be interested to hear people’s experience. Considering both these breeds for some time.
I personally think that the wires coat gives it an important advantage when going into cover and dealing exposure when conditions get harsh . A bird dog , as we all know will be on the move a lot so maybe might suit the short haired ? Compared to stalking where there can be alot of standing around or lying In wait for the shot to present.

As for temperament I have no idea as I have not owned either. I have vizsla experiences and would say that wires are very different characters and far more pleasant to be around.

 

[User00003]

Having had several wirehaired, they need firm training and a firm hand, then they are great dogs...but give them and inch and they’ll take hundred yards! My impression was always short haired were easier in temperament but not quite as thick skinned

 

[SussexSteve]

Both great breeds. Having had both my preference is the GWP

 

[BenA]

Agree with PKL they have an uncanny ability to take the **** if allowed!

 

[Dawnrazor]

I've always fancied a GSP but I've never seen one that wasn't a chronic whiner, I just couldn't live with a bad whining dog, is this a breed trate or more of a line trate?

 

[McKenzie]

I've had both & it depends more on the individual dog rather than the breed.

It also depends on what your actual needs are & how the work splits. Probably the best deer dog I've had was a slightly clingy GSP bitch as I didn't even have to keep an eye on her, she would just be at my heel unless instructed otherwise. I'm enjoying the GWP I have at present for rough-shooting because he's fearless with cover & is so soft-mouthed & whilst he will walk to heel all he wants to be doing is bursting the undergrowth apart looking for game. The GSP's I've had were less keen to drag themselves through bramble patches whereas you will find you need to spend a bit of time de-burring fearless GWP's.

 

[Spix]

I've always fancied a GSP but I've never seen one that wasn't a chronic whiner, I just couldn't live with a bad whining dog, is this a breed trate or more of a line trate?

Complete agreement. You would be very fortunate indeed to find a UK bred GSP these days that does not whine.

If you are looking ask the breeder to take his dam for a ride with you in the car, see how you fare You may well encounter the most appalling BS and self-aggrandisement in the GSP community along the way, one possibly two exceptions, speaking from very long experience.

 

[jimmy milnes]

Trust me although a hell of a lot of GSP's I've come across do winge I've also come across a lot of GWP HV wire and smooth that do exactly the same

 

[bogtrotter]

Complete


If you are looking ask the breeder to take his dam for a ride with you in the car, see how you fare You may well encounter the most appalling BS and self-aggrandiseme oknt in the GSP community along the way, one possibly two exceptions, speaking from very

I must have been lucky then ! I have had GSPs for twenty five years and only had one whiner ,mind you she makes up
for it whines constantly reason or none.

 

[countrryboy]

Having had several wirehaired, they need firm training and a firm hand, then they are great dogs...but give them and inch and they’ll take hundred yards! My impression was always short haired were easier in temperament but not quite as thick skinned

That was my impression too but GSPs will hunt harder faster and range further, than most hprs including wires, when u see some of the better FT dogs in full flow, great to see but I'm pretty sure theyll also take a bit of handling/training.
Just so fast
I think that's the difference if ur used to 'normal" gundogs, if u let ur dogs out to free run in a field most labs/ spaniels will run 30m then look back and stop and mooch about, a hard hunting hpr will just cover 100+ m effortlessly seemingly in a blink off an eye.
With that speed u u can't afford to take ur eyes off them.

Trust me although a hell of a lot of GSP's I've come across do winge I've also come across a lot of GWP HV wire and smooth that do exactly the same

I think it's just a hpr thing, many seem to be noisery than traditional gundog breeds, but sometimes these dogs are expected to give tongue when worked on continent.
Plus also in uk being used for jobs/roles not entirely suited to them ( ie peg dogs, but plenty cockers also whine on peg and even labs too) Lot of excitement with gunshots and birds falling for adog to be sat on a peg

 

[John Gryphon]

I have had GSP`s that will gallop off way further than they should and are working for themselves,one pup here has inherited his mothers trait of frigging off on solo missions.
She was a real **** for doing that and right when you want the dog with you the frigging **** would be 600 yards away.
I was given the bitch as an adult.

The pup has been introduced to the North Korean Re-education camp method with a collar over the last two weeks and when it squeaks he is compliant but smart..if its not on he is off to his old stuff...I will win!

 

[bogtrotter]

The only time my old bitch won't whine is when she is workings she whines at all other times even when she is asleep
Its just a habit, a bad one certainly!

 

[Norfolk Horn]

I have a HWV who I call the ginger whinger, I think that says it all. The good thing is she doesn't whinge when out stalking, that is until I use a call.

 

[jimmy milnes]

Just my opinion obviously....
But as we're a nation we're predominantly non hunters, but we still love our dogs, so that's a big problem because probably only around 5% "just a guess" are worked the rest are bred for looks or as a pet hence the problems start because a lab that doesn't swim isn't a problem in London and a hpr that won't sit still without whinging isn't a problem in a Sheffield penthouse flat, but because they look the part and are a money magnet they get bred from without being tested..
Another thing I wish that the KC would do is only lift a breed restriction for one litter at a time as even if you lift a restriction for a litter because you think it's a good match theres not a thing you can then do to stop them from breeding another 3 litters with any ole crap..

 

[bogtrotter]

Just my opinion obviously....
But as we're a nation we're predominantly non hunters, but we still love our dogs, so that's a big problem because probably only around 5% "just a guess" are worked the rest are bred for looks or as a pet hence the problems start because a lab that doesn't swim isn't a problem in London and a hpr that won't sit still without whinging isn't a problem in a Sheffield penthouse flat, but because they look the part and are a money magnet they get bred from without being tested..
Another thing I wish that the KC would do is only lift a breed restriction for one litter at a time as even if you lift a restriction for a litter because you think it's a good match theres not a thing you can then do to stop them from breeding another 3 litters with any ole crap..

Most GSPs will work until now that is , until fairly recently they were not that popular either as pets nor that attractive
to show types and until recently there was not a particularly large gene pool with the result that the work ethic is quite
strong in the breed ,however more and more are being bred for looks rather than working ability so in my opinion
its only a matter of time before they go the way of other working breeds where there is a clear distinction between working and none working types of the breed.
Training also pays a part to many get a GSP or GWP and go about training it like any other gundog they are not Labs
they are very slow to mature and I mean slow many expect to soon or give up on them to soon .
For example I have a bitch that only started to work towards the end of last season she was just crazy up until then
she has just turned four and will need this season on birds before I even consider introducing her to deer work.
How many are prepared to put in three four or even five years to achieve what they want from a dog.
Must add she has been worth every minute of it she is going to be a cracker just needs work experience now.
Its not just her I have had GSPs for twenty five years and while some matured quicker than others I have not had one
that was ready for the shooting field before they were three years old