HWVs and GWPs

[The Croc]

I know theres some GWP people on here, has anyone any experience of HWVs
Is one more laid back than the other, is one easier to train than the other
When Oscar is a bit older and "wiser" I would like to start another dog.
With the intention that its big enough to carry a goose, beat, and useful enough for whatever stalking I do.

Must be "easy" to train (no such dog, I know)

Brian

 

[Turfer]

I would like to start another dog.
With the intention that its big enough to carry a goose, beat, and useful enough for whatever stalking I do.

Must be "easy" to train (no such dog, I know)

PMSL

If thats what you want forget about the HPR breeds and get yourself a decent well bred working Lab.

It'll do more than you want, will cost you 1/2 the price to buy and insure and will give you years of pleasurable ownership.

You could even pick yourself up a 9- 18 month rescue dog from one of breed societies if you make it know what you are looking for and will take one at short notice.

 

[cookingfat]

My partner was given a 10 month old choclate lab 18 months ago, i am not a big fan of choclate labs in fact i always said i would never have one, but i am now having to eat my words.

He is the best deer dog i have owned, all be only the second one.

earlier this month he did me proud finding 4 deer on a big deer movment day not far from me.

good luck cookingfat

 

[The Croc]

Like Cookingfat I'm not a big lab fan, but at the moment I'm only thinking out loud.

The other alternative is a Flatcoat

Brian

 

[Turfer]

Flatcoat.

If you can find a decent one you'll pay a small fortune for it. The gene pool is getting exceedingly small these days. I have a good friend who is a big Flatcoat fan even he has given them up after 30 years of owning, working and breeding them. They mature very slowly mentally. Given time you often find there's no difference in their working abilities when compared to Labs, apart from the Lab has got there 2-3 years earlier.

Good luck in your search for what suits you. Its as much fun as choosing a new motor vehicle, just harder to get rid of it should you find you've got it wrong, as by then the wife and kids will have fallen in love with the mistake.

 

[Paul 600]

You could be different and try a German Long haired Pointer? I have a GWP and a Viszla, but the GLP seems to be a good dog to try?, heard good things about them.

 

[Turfer]

A few notes from the KC breed standard guide

A few notes from the KC breed standard guide

Longhairs are much happier doing what they have been designed for, rather that acting as a pure retriever sitting at a peg on a driven shoot.

Something of a fidget arse then.

Nor are they suitable for people that are away from home for long periods in the day or for those that live in cities or where they cannot be run freely.

Suffer from separation anxiety and are chewers, likes chasing pigeons in the park

At least one to two hours' exercise a day is required, rain or shine. It is expected for them to work all day and their energy is inexhaustible.

Gets bored easily and looks for ways to amuse its self. Takes off after the nearest scent as soon as you let it out of the landrover.

They are very intelligent and therefore easily trained but it should be noted that it is not a hardheaded breed and would be sensitive to harsh training.

Bit of a softy and sulks a lot if you tell it off.[/b]

 

[mudman]

I obtained my HWV at nearly five years old after the previous owner emigrated. He had been used for alot of walk/stand style gameshooting and had picked up one or two bad habits by the time I got him, mainly he runs unless anchored to something very substantial.

He is my first HPR and I use him mainly for wildfowling, beating and small scale game shooting. Oh, and a bit of stalking, he has discovered a real passion for deer recently and I reckon if he had undergone an appropriate training regime when younger would have a really classy deer dog.

Temperement can be summed up easily, SOFT. I find him more willing to please and easier to handle than my previous Lab, but he was a stubborn old sod. Another plus for me is his colour and coat is perfect camoflage when out on the marsh.

 

[Sariel]

Ive had GLP's but they were German dogs (i was living in Germany). Very hard to get in the UK and like a lot HPR's not as biddable as Labs etc. Ive gone back to Munsterlanders afer two generations of GLP's as they were easier to get in the UK, still a headstong breed and not the easiest to train, i would say that they are generally independant thinkers which if they understand their role will be excellent. I have friends with HWV and they are not as good with children as a LM, (perhaps a consideration?). My third choice would be a GWP of which when il ived in Germany most of my hunting friend had.

A scottish keeper / stalker bred lab is still hard to beat over here.

Apart from its actual intended use and integration into your family and lifestyle, think about whats required from you (experience / skill / time) to train the chosen dog, i found my two ML quite trying this time round.

Either way its still going to br huge fun.
Best regards

 

[Davie]

I worked the first ever HWV in Britain her name Amber.She was a top dog and worked very steady needed a calm kind hand and would respond with gusto. I then bred her and kept a pup every one knows well his name Buck and he has made a top deer dog .He is nearing the end of his stalking days at nine years old and hopefully i will get his replacement this year.HIS REPLACEMENT WILL BE A HWV THAT SHOULD SAY A LOT

 

[Turfer]

Small gene pool

The big problem with the HPR breeds especially the minor breed types as well as the Bavarian, and Hanoverian hounds. here in the UK is the gene pool is relatively small when compared to the other working breeds.

There by restricting choice of line characteristics to the detriment of the dogs.

If I were ever to choose any HPR or deer hound I'd ensure I purchased from where the potential gene pool was the greatest. The importation of a suitable pup is no great task these days, with the added bonus of you're not having to pay the inflated prices demanded by UK breeders due to the breeds limited availability.

 

[The Croc]

Turfer
What do you feel the price difference would be getting a pup from abroad, bearing in mind the cost of the initial trip out to pick the dog, then the paperwork etc, then the trip to bring it back, and having to pay the fare for the dog.

Davie
Whereabouts are you based?

Brian

 

[Davie]

I am in south west Scotland and work that old fella twice or more a week was he easy to train yes will he carry a goose no idea but he will lift a pheasant or to.
I know there are still some chaps out there that value them as workers rather than cash cows i am told there might be a litter soon pups price will be 450 -500 .Not bad when the show mob are asking 650 -700

 

[admin]

In answer to Turfers post (who by the way is no longer a member of the forum )

Bavarians are not restricted by a small gene pool. That is rubbish and a stupid comment to make. Bavarians are widely used on the continent, but have only recently come into their own in the UK. If you are looking for one then its true there are few available in the UK at present. But on the continent they are obtainable.

So the small gene pool theory is not true, and shows the true extent of a certain individuals knowledge of the breed

Sikamalc

 

[Jagare]

sikamalc is right when he says that there is a large gene pool out there for most hunting dogs. When i sent a teckle to England she was nearly a year old. This was due to pets passport etc.
I think picking a pup up from Europe is no problem. Flying one cargo to the UK costs a fortune but you can flyback with them in a bag on your lap with some airlines.

 

[The Croc]

Thanks for this guys.

I think it will be a HWV in a couple of years time, will have to try and see some at some time, and then keep my eyes and ears open for a working litter.

How quick do they mature, like a lab, or like a Flatcoat

Brian