What a beautiful dog! Makes me want to go out and get one!

There are some bits of correct info in this thread but as always, much misinformation and hearsay. The dogs can be possessive and some lines can be aggressive.
The first thing all dogs need to be taught and understand is you are the alfa of the pack no "if ands or buts"this should eliminate much of the tension. These dogs are smart beyond belief and may not like the rules but if you set them they understand.
I have Wirehairs not Drahts but the lines are traceable to solid Draht kennels.
1000yd blind retrieves not likely. Drags or tracks yes. 200 yd blinds I have done it.
I hunted field trial bred Labs for 10 years.Versatile dogs leave them in the dust. Do not expect versatiles to be as mechanical but far more natural instincts and abilities. If you want a dog you can handle through a key hole buy a lab. If you want a dog to find a bird or game you know dropped in an area send a versatile dog.We could burn out at least 2 labs a day not so with the Wires.
I have seen good and bad in all breeds but I know what I feed. DO your research before you put a deposit down don't rely on what someone else hard.

My puppy Wes has come in handy already this year. He's just four and a half months old and he's blood trailed two deer this past week! Fist track, my cousins spike horn, was easy. About 80 yards with good blood. Unfortunately the deer died on a wasps nest and when we we flipped him over, they swarmed all over the dog and I. I thought for sure that would turn him off deer tracking, but a few days later I arrowed a nice doe but my arrow got hung up in the offside shoulder so there was very little blood. But Wes followed that track just about as easy as the first. Track ended up being around 150 yards with large 5+ yard gaps in the blood trail and no big blood splashes at all, just pin drops the whole way. Not 100% certain I'd have found the deer without him.

Watching him track is so much fun I'm hoping that when I start trapping with my cousin in a few weeks we have some good spots to use drags so we can have the dog track them.

I bet - great pics, sweet dog!

I owned one for a while...Beautiful dog out of ND. But hardheaded and you always had to stay on top with corrections. Sold him after a couple years for a mellower breed.

kind of bad when a guy shares his opinion in a respectful way and someone reacts like that. I've hunted with only a couple and from what I've seen that would of been my opinion before I learn it was such BS.

Anybody who reads this and is considering a new dog should get a jagdterrier. They will out hunt any dog you've been around and then try to kill any dog you're around!

I guess most of my photos are too big and I don't feel like resizing them now! Anyways, congrats on your Draht!

I have a Draht named Hank (Immo vom Kennedy) and he is 7 1/2 now. I was thinking about getting a dog and actually had a post on here just before I got him. I was thinking about a Jagd, but someone mentioned Drahts when they read what I wanted in a dog and I'm very glad I went with a Draht. I mainly do upland with some water and a little blood trailing.

MANY things MANY posters have said are accurate in MY experience. Some things are way off of my experiences with them. One thing I woudl tell anyone thinking about a Draht.......if you aren't going to be able to give them LOTS of exercise and put in the time to train and hunt them, just get something else.

One thing I like about the Drahts is the German standard and testing system. Are their times when I wish he was a little calmer at all times? Yes, but the drive in the field and trainability balance that out for me.

I know you will thoroughly enjoy the Draht. Happy trapping! (And hunting) ScottW

Good looking dog Scott. Funny, my pup loves DQ too. They are a handful. All the comments about needing exercise, training, frequent (and often harsh) correction, are all true. Hopefully when the pups a little older I'll confirm that all the good stuff about talent in the field is true as well.

Good luck this season and Fear the Beard!

Before this dog, I'd have questioned your character; how can anyone give up on a dog they take into their home? Now I know. These dogs aren't for everyone and they can certainly wear you down. I've given some thought about selling Wes, but every time I think I'm ready to give up he does something to make me think otherwise.

I love dogs but this one I have yet to own or hunt with. I think they are a beautiful breed. Some day when I have become rich and famous, therefore having time and money to bird hunt and trap I will get one!

LOL
Mac

Super cool but Hardheaded

As I stated earlier they are very intelligent if you don't have the time to put into them,don't try one... they will find a way to keep from getting bored,if you can't. That does not always have a positive outcome. They are a lot like teenagers.

I have owned labs, goldens, and a chessie the last 45 years. Last 3.5 I have had a Draht. Much of what has been said here is very true. he is the most athletic dog I have ever been around, even more than my Chessie. My first pointing dog and I heeded some advice that told me to let him chase birds as he will never catch one, not true. He has eaten a few grouse. Caught a hare as well. Watched him snatch a training chukar out of the air 10 feet up on the wing. Super smart and trainable, a better trainer would have a lot more out of him. It is truly amazing how fast he can learn things.

The prey drive and birdiness is of the charts, to the point of obsession. Also quick to get in a fight which I do not like. Great dogs for bird hunting, and will run fox for hours. Kind of far ranging and will run head up past birds. For waterfowl just not the coat of a lab or Chessie, and I hunt in the salt water of PWS so it will never happen with him. Super driven to fetch but not the natural retrieving ability of a lab or Chessie but way more seek and find ability. These dogs are truly special and I feel like I have not touched his potential, kind of like if I had a Ferrari for my costco runs.

Also clever/dodgy. leave a Red Salmon or Moose roast to thaw on the counter unattended and all I will find is the empty wrapper hidden under the couch that evening. Force fetch is very necessary, that is a bone crunching mouth.

Funny... I have always had German bird dogs. Have had wirehairs, shorthairs and Kurzhaars... never have had any issues at all with fights in the field. Had two males that didn't get along at home when (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) were in season. Curious what made you come to that conclusion. A good bird dog puts birds first and everything else aside.

Agreed. One of the most aggressive dogs i ever owned was a Lab . Especially around other dogs.

I've owned and hunted several Drahts and a few NAVHDA German Wirehairs. With a DD you are paying for all the selections, culling and testing done to the dogs in the generations before yours. You can not breed without the breed wardens approval. In my opinion, having owned both, is that the VDD program sets you up to get a dog that is very consistent to the breed. Does that make an individual dog a better hunter?... I dont think so.

I now hunt FDSB English Setters. Less drama. Less sharpness. Less worries about encountering other hunters dogs while out hunting.

The ones I've owned never really looked for a fight...but would sure end one if others started it. I find that unacceptable now but thought nothing of it a few decades ago. They also had a great memory and seemed to hold a grudge against anything they thought had wrong them. Almost all of mine had that trait. I had a female in the 90's that was knocked off the tailgate by a Chessy when she was young and never forgot about it and hated Chessies from that point on until she passed.

I'm sure it's not all DD's but certain lines are definitely known for being over protective and occasionally dog aggressive. Just like the Jagds I've owned...some sweet as tea...some very aggressive. Especially if you got "old world" lines from Europe.