Anyone know where to find a Drahthaar breeder in Texas? Pro's and con's verses a lab?

I do not know of any breeders in Texas.
I have owned a wirehaired pointer however. Mine (a male) had these traits compared to a lab:
1. Very strong willed / strong personality.
2. Very obedient right up until he decided he didn't want to be (see #1). Most labs tend to be "stupid obedient".
3. Mine had a very stout, square frame with broad muscular chest. I think he could have pulled a truck out of a ditch.
4. In German short haired pointer style, he was very lean with almost no body fat. His coat was not real dense. I think that his ability to keep warm in very cold wet conditions was not as good as a lab. I didn't have to hunt him in those conditions but if so I probably could have put a neoprene vest on him and he'd of been fine.
5. Didn't have the digging / chewing problems with him like I have had with labs.
6. He had a better nose than a lab although I never used him to quail hunt.
7. His coat was long enough to catch stick tights, burrs, etc. so did require some brushing.

I think if you wanted a dog that could point and field work as well as do water retrieves, a good wirehaired might be the ticket.
Maybe not the best choice for extreme weather.

I appreciate your input sir. Thank you very much. These decisions are tough.

Go to http://www.vdd-gna.org/dog-and-litter-listings/ and call Brandt Hardy, http://www.redstick-drahthaar.com/index.html. Hasn't had a litter in a while but very knowledgeable and friendly. Once you have a bearded, ugly dog, you will be a supporter. There's a few on THF. Do a search and reach out to them.

There's a breeder list too. Great versatile dogs that hunt intensity and desire and an ability to handle cold weather duck hunting and all levels of retrieving with the best labs out there. You will also get solid upland work too with a range that works for most hunting versus trial situations. Look for parents that are within standard but not heavy framed, if you plan to do a lot of upland work. If you like testing, JGHV is one of the more rigorous and has solid field applications. The German oversight for breeding and testing is serious.

You might have to go outside of Texas though.
Good luck.

Take a look at the Oklahoma breeders on the VDD-GNA site...several on there that would be worth a call in your search.

Thanks guys. I'll check it all out. This is why I love this site.

Mine came from a pretty famous breeder in South Dakota but cant remember the name for the life of me.

BAS . . whada ya mean "ugly dog"? Otto was a real purdy dog!
Got me looking for a photo now!

Never will forget the first time we went to the lake. He took off after the tennis ball at 90mph.
One giant leap and splash later there was nothing but the tennis ball floating.
Up came a swimming dog with eyes the size of saucers.
Couldn't keep him out of the water from that day forward.

Did real well finding and retrieving dove as long as there were enough dead birds to keep him entertained.
Things got slow one hot day and he up and walked back to the truck. Wouldn't even turn around and look at me!

Would sit in the passenger seat of the truck and talk with me.
Thank goodness he couldn't really talk . . no telling what he was saying.
Probably not suitable for print.
Never laughed so hard with any other dog I've owned.

Didn't like coming inside the house.
Made him gassy. Could have peeled the paint off the walls.

At six weeks he was pointing tweety birds when they landed on his water bowl.

Got busy at work for a couple weeks and didn't spend much time with him.
Got a day off and went to the lake fishing.
He retaliated that night by chewing the driver seat out of my new Stratos.

Still miss that dog.

There is one in Abilene

I have been a professional trainer for a dozen years. I have and will always be a lab man. I do have to give credit to the Dutch dogs, they are freakin smart X 10!

There are several breeders in Texas...scanned the wrong side of the list. This kennel has a website and had a litter in early 2015. I'd start here.

Dutch dogs?

Con is going to be they cannot handle very cold weather as a lab. They also will not take 500 yard blinds or lines as well.

Pro is that they are much better at tracking down cripples. Mine has found many a downed bird that labs would not find.

With good training, they can preform very well for a hunters needs minus all the extremes that lab guys like to do.

Might try posting in the Gundog forum.

Call Camp Chuck Soaring hearts kennel in Lucas. He is training one right now.

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