Posted on Monday, March 30, 2009 by Richard in 3a How to Select a Good Gundog, Basic Advice, Gun Dog Breeds |

Good German Shorthaired Pointer Gundog Breeders And Sometimes More Difficult to find

One question that is often asked by many potential dog owners is “Where do I find a breeder?”

This may seem like an easy question to answer since you can simply open up a newspaper or even a website page and find a dozen breeders for any type of breed. The problem with this method is that it is really difficult to find the breeder that fits your needs.

Obviously, if you are reading this, you are probably at the point where you have selected the breed that you want and are interested in finding the best breeder for it. Before you do that, make sure that the breed is really the right fit for you.

Research its history, breed characteristics and health concerns and also research whether the breed has distinct differences between their field dogs and their conformation dogs. As surprising as it may be, some breeders have changed the breeds significantly so that a “bench” or conformation dog may not do as well as a gundog as a puppy that is bred from field dogs.

If your chosen dog breed has differences between show and field, it is time to start researching your breeders. Before I get into where to find the breeders, I want you to be aware of several points before you start searching so you can eliminate some breeders without putting too much time into them.

Questions to ask:

What do they breed for?

If the breeder tends to focus on show quality dogs, then chances are they are not going to have a lot of field dogs to choose from. Yes, occasionally they will produce an excellent dog but for the most part they are breeding for conformation and looking for the traits of a perfect conformation dog.

What groups are they part of?

Another thing to check when you are searching for a good gundog breeder is the groups they belong to. Breeders are usually a part of the national kennel club, and a breed club but there may be hunting clubs, gundog association and field groups that will alert you to the fact of whether they are interested in producing quality gundogs.

How do they work their dogs?

If you are looking for a good gundog, then you are going to want to find a puppy that has gundogs in its pedigree. When you are researching a gundog breeder, make sure that they are using their dogs for hunting and other field work. If they are only using the dogs for showing or for nothing at all, then they may not be aware of the considerations needed to produce quality gundogs.

Do their dogs have health clearances?

Although this has nothing to do with gundog specifically, you should make sure that the breeder gets health clearances for their dogs before breeding. If they don’t have clearances, then don’t go with that breeder.

Are they picky?

This may seem like a strange point to check on but I have found that the pickier a breeder is about the homes his puppies go to, the better the puppies are. It shows a general love for gundogs and also that they want the best for the puppies they produce. Some breeders of gun dogs will not sell to anyone that won’t be using the dog for hunting purposes and this can also be a great sign of a good gundog breeder.

Now that you have asked those questions, let’s look at places to look for a reputable gundog breeder.

The first place that you should really check is the breed clubs. Many of the clubs offer a listing of breeders and it is a great way to narrow down your choice. Some have websites and others don’t so do not be deterred if the breeder doesn’t. Simply contact him by other means and ask to set up a meeting or to receive pictures of his dogs both in the field and at home.

If the breed club doesn’t seem to have a large list, I would recommend looking into a gundog association. There are several and many of them list breeders of various gundog breeders who are also members. Focus on the active members and on the ones that are working their dogs in the field.

Another great place to find a reputable breeder is by attending field trials and hunt tests. It is important to remember that this is not a family outing when you go to a field trial. Everyone who is there is working so don’t bring your children and make sure that you don’t bother the people who are working their dogs or getting them ready for working. Instead, focus on the people watching since many of them are breeders or know of reputable breeders. If you want a good recommendation for a breeder, talk to the people who own quality gundogs because they are going to know where to look.

When you are choosing a gundog breeder it is important to find one that works his dogs and only produces between one and three litters per year. Once you have found one, get references and contact people who have purchased dogs from him. Do a web search to determine if there are any disputes with him and check around in the gundog community.

If everything checks out, then you have found a reputable gundog breeder.