Friday, July 20, 2012

Field Development and Energy

Are you considering a VHD and wondering what the Wessls are like? They are active; think pointer energy with the retrieving desire of the lab! Not unlike any other hunting dog, but she is intense. When she figured out the retrieving dummies were on the mantle or in the garage, she wouldn't and still won't stop trying to get to them. Before we picked Brie up at 52 days I wondered what level of prey drive and "birdiness" she would have. Those thoughts and concerns are gone. At 8 weeks she would scent a bird wing on the lawn from 20 or 30 feet downwind and race to it. At 4 months old she was fairly uncontrollable when searching out quail, ducks and pheasants on our daily field trips. At 7 months, her attitiude in the field changed and she showed a much better level of cooperation. She ranges from 30 to 300 yards out depending on cover and my attention to her, but she always checks back and works with me. Don't get me wrong, when she is distracted she doesn't hear well but when she realizes I want her back she is headed my way at a run.

At home she isn't needy, she doesn't want to be on your lap or in your face and if she isn't sleeping, chewing on a bone or bringing you a toy, she is headed to the back yard to hunt .....anything. On the other hand she sleeps all night on the dog bed (one side or corner of our king bed) with no problem.

In the next post I'll talk about foundation dogs and size; if you have any specifc questions, just send me a note and I'll respond ASAP.



Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Why a Wessl?

Why a wesslpointer? After years of great labs, wirehairs, and drathaars, I love the lab coat and drive to retrieve with the run and pointing drive of the elhew and shorthair. I also got tired of picking burrs!
If your considering a VHD for the first time, true versatility requires some patient training to bring out the best in pointing, retrieving, and tracking but Brie has been a natural at all three. 

Thursday, June 21, 2012


Here is a picture of Brie on her 8 month birthday.
The picture on the right is Brie at 12 weeks.
(The dove sacrificed itself on our living room window.)



Welcome!

Welcome to Wesslpointer Notes!

This is the place where those of us who have or are thinking about acquiring a Wesslpointer could come to share our experiences and learn a thing or two from each other about working with and training these awesome versatile hunting dogs.

My experience is not from field trials and testing but from years of work with great field labs, and four great working drathaars.  We have, what I would call, "working" family dogs, they live, play, hunt, and travel with us.

I hope you'll find the site a good place to share information, pictures and experiences.
Thanks for visiting!