Trying to figure out the world of the amazing Drahthaar!

By Vernita Lackey

Hunting is in my blood. As a child my sisters and I would go out hunting with my parents, mostly deer, but on special occasions pheasant hunting (though I had to wait in the truck with my baby sister, so I did not have boots on the ground experience). Fast forward to 2005, my husband started researching bird dogs. There are so many breeds out there it can be overwhelming at times, however we decided to get a black lab. His name was Gunner, and he was almost perfect. He was a great family dog, loved the water, pretty obedient and had a six sense of when a tornado was about to hit (which is helpful if you live in Kansas) however…he was gun shy! After 10 years of a having a loving lap dog, we had to make the dreadful decision to put him down. Once again, we started the research journey for the ultimate hunting dog. Now I want everyone to understand that when my husband researches something, he will RESEARCH FOREVER!!! He kept hearing amazing things about the Drahthaar. A great hunting, tracking and family dog were a few of the things we heard through the grapevine. He worked with a guy that had a Draht and had recommended Rodger Green, who used to live in Glenrock WY (where he currently works). We contacted Rodger and put a deposit down. Unfortunately, the litter we put a deposit on was a failed litter, we decided to have him keep our deposit for his next litter. During this time, we stumbled upon a local man who had a Pudlepointer for sale. My husband had flipped back and forth between these two breeds and decided he wanted a male (I wanted a female) and decided he needed this pup. Hiccup is a very high-strung knucklehead! Great nose and drive but too much for this girl to handle. . . so I waited anxiously for Rodger’s next litter. Unfortunately, his next litter only had 1 pup. I was disappointed but I am a firm believer everything happens for a reason. My husband had seen on Rodger’s Facebook page that Rod Jugler had 1 female pup left from his kennel (vom südlichen Wald). After much discussion within our household, we decided to “go look” at this little girl. After our initial introductions to Rod and his wife Linda they bring out 2 female pups. 1 was Linda’s pup Helena and the other was little Harper. OH, MY WORD! Talk about divine intervention, this little girl was so curious and playful she stole my heart! So, the journey began for this first-time owner and handler of this precious girl. Rod and Linda strongly encouraged me to start the testing process. Talk about a different world, I have never trained a hunting dog before. The only experience I had with hunting dogs was my parents had a German Short hair and I have no clue who trained her (probably my Dad, he really was a great hunter), and they bred Rat Terriers.

Let me just say Rod and Linda are amazing. They took me under their wing and helped me EVERY step of the way. We traveled to Colorado for training days as well as training days in Casper hosted by Rod and Linda. There is so much information to take in, there were times when I felt like I don’t know if I can remember everything. I joined VDD-GNA, started reading and watching videos on how to train my pup. Rod showed me how to force fetch (there were days I almost quit because of her not responding to the training collar/ear pinch, but Rod and Linda told me that we just need to find a different way to train her…praising her was it!!!), pointing work, tracking, rabbit drags, water work…and this wa

s just for her VJP. Then the dreaded Corona Virus hit! Luckily, we got to do the Emergency Corona Test and we passed. It was amazing to see how my girl Harper vom südlichen Wald tracked….and she is site laut! Once she hits a trail and see’s that rabbit you can not lose her, she is so loud, and it just makes me smile at her enthusiasm in the field. 

We continued to train throughout the summer for our next test. . . the HZP. More rabbit tracking, teaching her to stay, sit, fetch (she loves bumper training) and getting her on the water for ducks. This is incredible to watch her smell and trail the duck lays on the water. Then once that duck gets in her view it is GAME ON!  In late September we did our first full test and she passed with a 170, I am very proud of the both of us. What an experience, however when the test was over Rod turned to me and said enjoy your fall hunts because we start training for the VGP (actually, he said she did good, but you need to clean some of that stuff up. The VGP will be here before you know it).

Her first true hunting season was so much fun. Both my husbands dog Hiccup and Harper did great, and it was a real joy to watch them out in the field. I was hooked to say the least! When others say a Draht is versatile, they are not kidding. When Harper is in the field, she is relentless, but when she is indoors, she is a snuggle girl. After the season was over my husband and I decided we wanted others to experience what we have with my dog, so we started researching the next step in starting a kennel of our own (v.d. Bergwiese).  She got her HD and we entered her in the Breed show in March. This too was an experience, seeing so many dogs from all over the country. Listening to their stories, meeting some amazing people. VDD-GNA is not just an organization but is like an extended family.

We continued to put our noses to the grindstone and train…train…train. The summer months were hot, but we did many training days here in Casper, Rod and Linda Jugler had their hands full with all levels of trainers. We did blood tracking, steady to wing, steady to shot, fox drags, fox in the box, forest work, rabbit drags, and bird work. There was a lot of sweat and maybe a few tears, and before we knew it September was here. Ready, or not we were going to give it our all. I was so lucky to test with my friend and mentor Linda and our friends Steve (& his wonderful wife Cindy) Lund. We trained together throughout my journey (fascinating fact during one of our blood tracks in the mountains Steve and his dog Hans ran into a rattlesnake. We were grateful that they had gone through the rattlesnake avoidance clinic at Mark Heuer’s the previous year. . . the only fatality that day was the snake thanks to my husband and his trusty shotgun). The two days were brutal for both me and my dog but in the end, WE PASSED (with a prize III) as did Linda and her dog Helena, and Steve and his dog Hans.

We have made so many memories along the way. Forged lifelong friendships and a bond with my girl Harper that is unbreakable!

Our journey is just beginning. . .

The above article was written by my wife, I love reading it. I must add my two cents.

Over the years I have become leery of “pure breed” dogs, they seem to have a lot of inherent health issues and unstable/unrepeatable personalities. We have had many dogs over the years, all have been mutts or rescues with 2 exceptions, both had health issues. When we were in a place to get a new companion, I did some research into bird dogs and found all the things I had come to know and fear about pure breed dogs were rampant in most of the breeds registered with clubs dedicated to "show dogs". Then I came across an article on the Deutsch Drahthaar and discovered a whole new world of breeding structure that keeps all these problems at bay. Make no mistake health and personality anomalies will happen, some because of genetics but most caused by training and improper care of the dog. The VDD, the parent kennel club, have strict guidelines to stop breeding dogs that have known conditions that maybe passed on to their offspring. What does all of this mean? When you get a puppy from a litter registered with VDD-GNA (VDD) you know everything that can be done to have a healthy puppy with the instinct to hunt has been done.