Post by: dromero on January 15, 2015, 08:13:21 PM
Post by: yorketransport on January 15, 2015, 08:27:58 PM
I really wanted a German Wirehaired but couldn't get over the high energy of the breed as a house pet. I ended up with a Wirehaired Griffon and I couldn't be happier. Shes incredibly well behaved in the house and I think that she does great in the field as well considering her complete lack of real training.
Andrew
Post by: wildweeds on January 15, 2015, 10:03:54 PM
Post by: jackson7 on January 15, 2015, 11:13:35 PM
Post by: AspenBud on January 16, 2015, 06:33:42 AM
You'll get a better dog with more predictable results than you will from mixing two breeds together. Otherwise find a reputable pointing lab breeder.
Post by: Special T on January 16, 2015, 12:52:43 PM
Better upland dog than my chessie for sure, he uses them for hunting ducks and geese also on the Skagit, but they dont sit very still.
Post by: Dhoey07 on January 16, 2015, 01:05:42 PM
Thoughts on crossing labs and German Wirehaired pointers? Significant other wants a block-head lab, I want a GWP. She wants a lazy-ier, not high-strung house dog, I want a dog to grouse/pheasant/quail/shed hunt with. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds in one dog? Let's hear your thoughts!!
Not all labs are spazzes :twocents:
Post by: jrebel on January 16, 2015, 01:39:46 PM
Now I know and have seen very good labs, but to think they are not high maintenance / energy would be a gross underestimate of the breed. The above is just my personal experience, if and when I buy another it will be another wirehair or wirehair griffon. :tup:
To your original question....I love mixed breed dogs. My first dog and hands down favorite was a cross between a pure bread wirehair and pure bread border collie. Looked like a border collie with short coarse hair. She was amazingly smart and very obedient. :tup:
Post by: Shannon on January 16, 2015, 05:55:24 PM
Post by: John B on January 16, 2015, 10:56:18 PM
Post by: John B on January 16, 2015, 11:00:42 PM
To the guys that recommended a spinone, have you ever hunted behind one? I've watched quite a few at test and I would never feed one. Big and clumsy looking with a real slow hunt with very little to no intensity. I'd rather walk up birds by myself.
My buddy has one, she's gets pretty intense as soon as she picks up a scent. They do have a strange gait though, look like a cartoon character, but I like that
Post by: Vader8 on January 17, 2015, 12:46:49 AM
Post by: AspenBud on January 17, 2015, 07:20:03 AM
To the guys that recommended a spinone, have you ever hunted behind one? I've watched quite a few at test and I would never feed one. Big and clumsy looking with a real slow hunt with very little to no intensity. I'd rather walk up birds by myself.
I know someone who breeds them and I have hunted behind a couple of them. They are not the most thrilling dog to watch but they can get the job done and if the OP's wife wants a mellow dog they are definitely that, or at least the ones out of the line I've seen. I'm assuming the OP wants a dog that can do ducks too and they can handle that job.
If we were talking a strictly upland dog I would have some different suggestions.
Post by: Sportfury on January 17, 2015, 05:55:31 PM
Thoughts on crossing labs and German Wirehaired pointers? Significant other wants a block-head lab, I want a GWP. She wants a lazy-ier, not high-strung house dog, I want a dog to grouse/pheasant/quail/shed hunt with. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds in one dog? Let's hear your thoughts!!
I grew up with labs and now have a GWP and I would not go back. My GWP might not be as fast in the water as a lab, but she gets everything done that a lab will do in the water and is great on grouse, quail, pheasants, chukar, etc. I'm sure I could easily teach her to shed hunt. In the house she is almost a pest and not in the high strung way. She wants to be petted and is on the floor at my feet or where ever I am sitting (see Jrebels comments). Also you won't have to deal with the knock every thing off the coffee table wagger and the black hair that gets everywhere. You do have to get them out to run to burn some of the energy off, but a GWP would be my pick. Check out "I love my German Wirehaired Pointer!" and "DD Deutsch Drahthaar" on facebook. Lots of great photos.
Have you considered a pudelpointer? I have a Lab/GSP mix, he is the first dog I've owned. He's a pretty good bird dog, but you never know which qualities you'll get from a mix breed. That can make training difficult and you might end up with a long ranging flusher.
So true on the qualities. When I was young and couldn't afford a dog I got a "Safeway Special" lab/springer mix. The dog would not swim, hunted to the far reaches of the earth (and would flush the birds for you just within sight, but out of range). Sometimes he would point, sometimes not.
Post by: ghosthunter on January 17, 2015, 06:12:35 PM
Than you get a hunting dog of your choice.
Post by: yorketransport on January 17, 2015, 06:20:07 PM
If I were you I would take your wife to the pound. Let her pick out a house dog. Whatever she wants.
Than you get a hunting dog of your choice.
This is pretty good advice. I got my dog and then we picked up a Maltese mix rescue dog for my wife. The two get along great so it worked out pretty well.
Post by: westsidehntr on January 17, 2015, 06:27:43 PM
I have owned / raised; wirehair (current), Short hair (current), Lab (never again). Hands down the Wirehair is the tamest, calmest and smartest of the bunch. My shorthair is 15 years old and still as dumb as when I got him as a puppy. He is lucky mom loved him and he has become a great house dog. I will never buy another shorthair. My lab of past was hands down the most energetic spastic dog I have ever owned. It was also the most destructive dog I have ever owned. Labs are very high energy until they get old.
Now I know and have seen very good labs, but to think they are not high maintenance / energy would be a gross underestimate of the breed. The above is just my personal experience, if and when I buy another it will be another wirehair or wirehair griffon. :tup:
To your original question....I love mixed breed dogs. My first dog and hands down favorite was a cross between a pure bread wirehair and pure bread border collie. Looked like a border collie with short coarse hair. She was amazingly smart and very obedient. :tup:
That's hands down one of the best comments on this thread ;)
Post by: jetjockey on January 17, 2015, 06:48:41 PM
Post by: RadSav on January 17, 2015, 06:53:15 PM
Thoughts on crossing labs and German Wirehaired pointers? Significant other wants a block-head lab, I want a GWP. She wants a lazy-ier, not high-strung house dog, I want a dog to grouse/pheasant/quail/shed hunt with. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds in one dog? Let's hear your thoughts!!Not all labs are spazzes :twocents:
Yep, sooner or later they get too old to continue their Spazzy ways :chuckle:
I agree that in most cases trying to create a better breed is not a great idea. The dominate breed/personality usually trumps the hope of a perfect combo. Even though I did have a lab/black&tan duck dog that didn't bark much and could smell a duck ten feet under water :o
Of those mentioned I do think for upland hunting the wirehair should give you what you want. Although, so would a springer. For me anything with a lab gene is a water dog and not an upland dog. I've hunted upland with a few good labs, but most are too loud and bull rush to keep a hun or rooster laying tight. However, if you are wanting to hunt roosters in the baddest of bad arse blackberry briars a bull rush lab isn't the worst thing to have.
If the wife wants a pet and you want a hunting dog I do think there are two other breeds you might want to consider. Springer or Golden Retriever. Both require ten times the hair cleanup around the house compared to the wirehair, but they are fantastic family dogs and very universal bird dogs. I'd give the edge to the springer as far as smarts go, but both seem almost brain dead compared to any wirehair I've ever met.
Post by: johnr060 on January 18, 2015, 12:04:43 AM
Post by: Happy Gilmore on January 18, 2015, 12:37:35 AM
Post by: Ruger on January 18, 2015, 07:53:43 AM
Message me if want more info... :twocents:
Post by: Dhoey07 on January 23, 2015, 12:59:57 PM
Thoughts on crossing labs and German Wirehaired pointers? Significant other wants a block-head lab, I want a GWP. She wants a lazy-ier, not high-strung house dog, I want a dog to grouse/pheasant/quail/shed hunt with. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds in one dog? Let's hear your thoughts!!Not all labs are spazzes :twocents:
Yep, sooner or later they get too old to continue their Spazzy ways :chuckle:
Me and my buddy have come up with lots of ideas to slow my 2 year old down, such as tying his back to legs together