Replacement GWP

I think we will lose our GWP bitch before too long...
She's a near perfect dog for everything but hunting. She's a bit headstrong on a scent but super intelligent, a serious guard dog a great family member. A big upside with the Wirehairs is that they don't moult much and they are cleaner than most dogs.
I would love to find another one that's laid back and a bit more interested in what the guy with the boom stick is doing.
Does anyone out there breed a quiet biddable GWP or am I dreaming.
Cheers...Chris

man I love the breed. The protection side is a must for me as well as being a versatile hunter, also they need to know when to chill and be a loveable pet. The first of these is the hardest to train, the other 2 should be natural. Matt Sampson a plumber from Kawerau was my last breeder, but that was some 8yrs ago. Would definitely get another like Jazz or May my last and current one. Shot Lace my first one, way to aggressive.

Attachment 91590
We will be having our last litter of docked Drahthaars in a few weeks, very laid back lines until you flip the switch.
Are not breed for aggressive temp though.

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Originally Posted by Gapped axe

man I love the breed. The protection side is a must for me as well as being a versatile hunter, also they need to know when to chill and be a loveable pet. The first of these is the hardest to train, the other 2 should be natural. Matt Sampson a plumber from Kawerau was my last breeder, but that was some 8yrs ago. Would definitely get another like Jazz or May my last and current one. Shot Lace my first one, way to aggressive.

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Can be a bit scary...we are super careful with our bitch...you have to make sure she's kennelled before you open the gate...or she will bail a passer by.
The first time I saw it was when I was late home from work in the dark...and we met by chance on a corner...she roared like a fucin lion and came for me...jeeze mate...no fear of people...German breeding...gentle as a lamb and total confidence with the grandkids...

They more dangerous than a pitbull or atleast in my experience any way

I was fortunate enough to get one of Kawhia’s dogs. He is nearly 9 months old, and is a really lovely dog.

He has the strongest hunting drive of any dog I have known. I live on a 10 acre block, and when he is outside he is always honing his skills, constantly hunting. The down side of this is he brings back remains of mice, rats and birds that our cat has killed.

When he is around the house he is the friendliest, loveable family dog you could want. I have only ever heard him bark once - my son shot a young pig when when our dog was about 5-6 months old, and he was a bit unsure what it was when he was standing next to it so he woofed at it (the dog did, not my son).

I have never seen any aggression from him at all. He is intelligent so easy to train, loves the car, has never batted an eye lid at the sound of gun shots, and really wants to be with me. If I was looking for another dog, I know what I would be trying to get.

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Originally Posted by kawhia

Attachment 91590
We will be having our last litter of docked Drahthaars in a few weeks, very laid back lines until you flip the switch.
Are not breed for aggressive temp though.

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I will pm you Kawhia...as much as our dog has been great I've always regretted not being patient and getting one of yours.

For the sake of the thread though...do your dogs guard...I don't mean hospitalise intruders (if my daughter was involved our probably would)...But its a hell of a nice having a dog that makes it presence known and generally ours has been smart enough about it...

Her fault is once the switch does flip...she's pretty challenging to stay connected to...and I have put that down to backyard breeding...I don't think its disobedience as such...more like a short circuit under pressure...mind you my kids are like that too

I would love to see one of your dogs in action as a comparison...will chat to the wife...

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Originally Posted by kawhia

Attachment 91590
We will be having our last litter of docked Drahthaars in a few weeks, very laid back lines until you flip the switch.
Are not breed for aggressive temp though.

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What switch ????
My GWP lives to hunt but is an awesome pet and the ultimate builders dog.
Really happy to see people around the truck if she can see me, but watch out if I'm not around ... even if she knows who you are !
At 9 years old most people who meet here for the first time think she's only young due to all that energy and the intense pre occupation with anything that looks remotely like it should be hunted.

I have had a number of dogs over the years but loosing this GWP would be the hardest, so I feel for you @Fisherman

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Originally Posted by Paddy79

They more dangerous than a pitbull or atleast in my experience any way

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My vet insists that I hold the dogs head because GWPs are the worst...but I've always had the impression that its about Kiwi backyard breeding...

My GWP is awesome with other dogs. Really laid back and has absolutely never had a fight with another dog in 9 years.

But and that's a very big BUT She will absolutely leap on any cat she sees and it will be dead in a flash !
Now that's just fine out in the bush and she has caught a few.
Luckily we live on a decent size farm and the nearest domestic cats are 1km away.

When we spend time in the big smoke I have to be ultra vigilant that she is on a lead and in control.
She has still managed to kill a few. Especially after the Canterbury quakes when there were quite a few strays cats around our town house !!

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Originally Posted by Fisherman

My vet insists that I hold the dogs head because GWPs are the worst...but I've always had the impression that its about Kiwi backyard breeding...

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Backyard breeding or inbreeding? after all many if not majority of all purebreds in NZ are inbreed

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Originally Posted by akaroa1

What switch ????
My GWP lives to hunt but is an awesome pet and the ultimate builders dog.
Really happy to see people around the truck if she can see me, but watch out if I'm not around ... even if she knows who you are !
At 9 years old most people who meet here for the first time think she's only young due to all that energy and the intense pre occupation with anything that looks remotely like it should be hunted.

I have had a number of dogs over the years but loosing this GWP would be the hardest, so I feel for you @Fisherman

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Interesting the guarding thing...mine is the most intelligent guard dog around the home...but does give hoot about the car...
Perhaps its because yours spends so much time in the truck with you it sees it has a second home...

Ours reacts to difference...I once found her (as a pup) bailing a push bike that had fallen over...and a tent family had left beside the garage...
The first time the footrest of the lazyboy recliner came up she just about hit the roof...a real problem for her...
I always thought it was to do with the security element of their work in parks...I can imagine a Drahthaar bailing snare a poacher has set...
Kawhia might know if that's how they were used.

All 3 of mine would of eaten you on command. the last 2 are exceptionally friendly if the believe there are not working. at the bach Jazz doesn't know whether to bail up people crossing our property or to drop a ball for them. We keep her in chilled mode most of the time but once the chain is on ,its look out. I had let May off one night and she was sleeping outside, some drunk dropkick thought they could come on to my place and help themselves to my fishing/divegear. They got a freeking good fright and when they bolted from my place they went straight into a police dog that my neighbor has. Next day I and the handler
both laughed about it and the party house was quite subdued for a while at least. Pengy knows my two and has a great liking for my Aussie terrier, Jazz can be a bit indifferent to people she's not sure of. Jazz's half brother is the biggest I have seen and looks and acts like a Polar bear. Woody has probably the best looking one I have seen except for my May.

There was an aggressive streak in the first Wires that were imported here. Fortunately that's been bred out or bred around by the best breeders. It seems to have lingered with some back yard/hobby breeders who have the old strains that have probably been back bred and cross bred a few times.

There is no place for an aggressive wirehair.

Protective is different, so long as its predictable and not vicious.

My dog is very laid back but can be aggressive with small breed/toy dogs. Not sure why, but I rate it as a fault. Otherwise her nature is wonderful.

I think that you can buy from Kawhia with confidence.

My current one and one before were protective, the first I owned was aggressive hence why I shot her.

I've had 3 wires, got my first in 2000, never had any problems with aggression.

I have one of Jason’s (Kawhia) Drahthaars
He is an entire male and is 18 months old and has been awesome so far much better than the GSP I had before him, only thing I have to watch is he is pretty keen on cats... other than that awesome as has the off switch inside and has been great with other dogs so far

Am onto my fourth GWP now. All have been great. Each has their own personality and training and handling must recognise and deal with those traits to get the best from the dog. The breed is highly intelligent and communicative. Not responding in a positive way to the body language of the dog could easily lead to a frustrated animal with resulting behavioural difficulties. They are not a dog for inexperienced handlers. They give and expect love and care. Mine certainly make plenty of noise when people enter the property, and it is easy to hear the changing tones from warning to welcome barks when dogs do or don't recognise the visitor. Nobody can put their hand in my vehicle though, if I'm not there. If I hear the bark maintained as warning tone, I tell the person to stand perfectly still while the dog /s investigate in my presence. I am quite sure if I indicated that I thought the visitor was a threat, then they would react protectively.
One dog I had was a true alpha male and this became more evident as he got to about 15 months. He would act quite stiffly to any other dog. I studied all I could about managing aggressive behaviour. One trainer recommended that I approach other dogs with my dog on a leash. As soon as the other dog got within about 40 yards, I made my dog sit and face to the side so no dog to dog eye contact was possible. It only took about a dozen of these training sessions till my dog realised the only one in our pack who was allowed to decide on challenging another dog was me, and not him. Never had a problem with him from then on, although if he was ever attacked he certainly then dealt to the aggressor, but he never started a fight himself, and did his best to avoid eye contact with challengers. That dog had massive hunt drive but at the same time was incredibly steady and biddible; probably the best dog I will ever have, such that it is now the measure I try to attain with subsequent dogs. I can't emphasise enough, that these dogs always have something new to teach you, IF you have the ability so see and think dog language and signals. Well bred GWP's deserve respect. As @Tahr said, there was a very bad strain bred by a puppy factory a few years back, and thank goodness it is no longer in existence. My dogs have ben bred in SI directly from European stock or within one breeding of that stock.

You have a grandfather on one side with European blood woody, the rest is typical nz lines... related to my old sweep in fact, 11 years old and still going strong, his dad was one of stugs 3, we bred 2 litters from him none of which was breeding material.
As stated the gene pool is hiding many issues compounded by inbreeding and lack of a benchmark to breed against.
The root stock being English came with health coat and temp issues... none of it is a good thing and the gwp gene pool still has it.
The lack of new bitch lines was the biggest reason.... bringing in new males was not the answer.
It is identified and eliminated from the breeding gene pool in the drahthaar world when it come up.... hence the testing they go through.
Some of the eastern German lines were known to be very aggressive and big, looking at old pics of the nz foundation stock they looked very similar.

German Wirehaired Pointer breeder warns dog should not be pets after girl mauled in Neerim Junction | Daily Mail Online

Its a nonsense statement isn't it...and criminally irresponsible maybe...its the breeders responsibility to ensure his dogs recognise and are safe in their own pack surely...even if there is a cost to some trait that they value...

how much is a draathaar pup going to set me back?

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Originally Posted by Fisherman

Its a nonsense statement isn't it...and criminally irresponsible maybe...its the breeders responsibility to ensure his dogs recognise and are safe in their own pack surely...even if there is a cost to some trait that they value...

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you should not be leaving your dog(s) unattended with children anywhere near them especially unattended......................... for the sake of the dog(s) cause no matter what happens if its bad the dog will be blamed.

ironic in the fact this happened last week, thars and gapped axes comments came to mind once the news was coming out.

yep...and respect your integrity posting it...

Looking for another one

I am looking to get one too, I should be ready about November if anyone knows of anything coming up

Am teaching mine to crawl beside me now. He was very puzzled at first but had caught on quick. When I give him the down and then get down myself and command crawl, he crawls nicely with his head under my armpit. A few more days and will start to train him to do it independent of me. Big smile on his eyebrows when he knows I appreciate his "good job". He keeps my life smiling.