It is not easy to explain our breeding program. To date we have used many different lines of Shorthairs, everthing from the American white field trial lines to imported DK Shorthairs from Germany. We have used dogs from the North America Versatile Hunting Dog, National Shoot to Retrieve Association, North American Deutsch Kurzhaar Club, and good old American Hunting Dogs, and almost every combination of these. We have pretty much tried them all. We have tested them in the hardest format in America, the American Hunting Fields. Fur or Feather, Land or Water. We are looking for a good nose, good point and back, natural love of the water, and the natural retrieve. We want a loving dog, that hunts with us as a team member. Easy right? Well not really.
We want to breed a dog that is Genetically programmed to do all the above, not a dog that has to be trained to do so. We don't want the kind of dogs that many trainer want, one that takes a licking and keeps on ticking. We are looking for one a little more kicked back. Calm in the house, and focused with us in the field. We have had many who hunt hard, and for themselves, and sometimes they don't seem in the least bit under control. Never checking in, and hardly ever working within any type of reasonable range. If one breeds a dog like this, guess what? They get one like that.
One problem I have found with clubs is that dogs needed to succeed at the top level are high performance dogs. A Thoroughbred is desired for the performance needed, where the average hunter or family would be much better off with a Quarter horse.
The American Field is going on 50 plus years breeding for an over exaggeration of a trait, and that trait is Run. Run big, run long, and run with style. Followed by men and woman on horses. All of this without the least interest of such things as water work, natural retrieve, or working with or for the hunter. Approx. 25 percent of German Shorthairs bred in America are this type.
The newer generation of German dogs are fantastic in the water, with a great retrieve. With a very high energetic drive, but most I have seen lack the pointing and backing that we are looking for.
We have ran into many great working lines, either hunting or the American Versatile lines. The ones that have blended with the black Shorthairs have been very good.
The truth is we have found it not hard at all to breed versatile dogs. Even the show lines we have used have been pretty darn good. We have found it easy, within one generation to straighten out any line lacking in something. Breed a German line to an American Field line and the litter will have some outstanding versatile hunting dogs. I mean the real deal. Great water work, point with backing, working med. close, natural retrieve, and good on furred game as well. Some pups will get something from each side and in one generation you have a breeding program with versatile dogs.
Remember that I have excellent sons and daughters from both German and American Field dogs.
That said, I'm looking for a better way, at least by eliminating some steps. The problem with certain crosses is that there are pups in the litter that are unpredictable. If you take a white big running field trial dog and breed it to a versatile hunting dog you will always get some white dogs in the litter and they are to unpredictable for me. In too many cases I have seen where they don't like the water, they run too big, and they don't have a natural retrieve. Even the next few generations pups will pop up that just don't work for us.
Right now I have a son of Jack and Dolly. He is 6 years old and is a wild running dog. We got him back 3rd hand. I've had him for months, but he is just like his grandfather who is a field trial champion. He hates the water, does not retrieve, runs big and long. Never checks in, and most of the time I have to go find him. So even if a field trial cross can be outstanding, it just complicates things for our breeding program.
The German lines have proven to be somewhat better but not enough to make me want to get into 100 percent German dogs. If I was going to be a duck guide maybe, their water work is unreal, simply outstanding. But I get tired of them always busting and not pointing without being trained and under control. I want natural dogs in our breeding program if I can get it them. That way all pups in the litter are prone to be genetically programmed to Point, Back, Retrieve, work close and love the water, and have wonderful temperaments. Most people are very happy with this.
So how are we going about making that happen? First and foremost by keeping in the breeding program dogs that do all the things we want naturally. Almost all dogs are given the same chance. We try and start with puppies and get them out as much as possible. I watch them work within our pack, both dogs and human. The most lovable are the ones we keep. Never keep a fighter, or trouble maker. They eat, sleep, play, swim, hunt and live together. They must be able go get along. No one is separated because they can't get along. If they can't get along then they move along down the line. Each dog must love the water. We want a great water dog, because that's what the breed was bred for. Ducks for hunting, and lakes for playing. We have to have a natural retrieve. Retrieve for hunting and retrieve for family play. We want a close to med. ranging dog, both for hunting and family hikes. I don't want to be hunting my hunting dog. I want to watch them hunt, not hunt for them hunting. We do want them to hunt fur as well. Rabbits to Fox, we want them to have a good tracking nose. Pretty easy really, we want a 100 percent Versatile hunting and family dog. One dog that can do it all.
So where did, or where do we get these wonderful lines? Well the truth is there have been plenty of like minded people wanting and breeding the same kind of dogs. I did not have to reinvent the versatile hunting dog, all I had to do was go out and find it. In fact I'm still looking, have to separate the wheat from the shaft. To many non-versatile shorthairs out there, so one has to be on their toes.
Hunters,; I come from a hunting background, our family, and friends always have had hunting dogs, so I understood a hunting dog from a hunters perspective. Hunters I knew and their hunting dogs were pretty easy to understand. The dog needed to do what it was expected to do with little training. A lab needed to retrieve ducks, what other use was there. A coon hound better tree coons, what other use was there? Uncle Mike's bear dogs better tree bears, not chase trash. What other use was there. So for me it was easy.
A German Shorthaired Pointer better point, retrieve, track, and go in the water. Pretty easy, what other use was there? Be good with the kids and family, because he or she was going to live in the house as a family member.
But what happened along the way to the dance. Someone, or many someones had changed the versatile German Shorthair of my youth. In all my life at least for the first 45 years, I or no one I knew ever heard of a field trial, and no hunter any of us knew would have been involved in Trials, Testing, or Shows. Everyone I knew hunted, and their hunting dogs were bred to other hunting dogs.
My uncle has great bear dogs. I mean out of this world good. The numbers of bears treed would seem too unbelievable, so much so that I'm not even going to give you the numbers. Each dog comes from a long line of hunting dogs. None are show dogs, or trial dogs, or hunt test dogs. They are all American hunting dogs. I'm not sure if any are registered with a kennel club. They might be, but first and foremost is they better be good hunting dogs. The pedigree, or each ancestor is know for their hunting ability. That's where I am coming from. Most people that get our dogs would still get them even if they did not come with fancy registration papers, and pedigrees. A good hunting or family dog is all that most of us are after, and I always try and keep this in mind.
So hunters were the first ones and in most cases the only ones I have looked at when getting our dogs. But I have been looking at older lines who I'm hoping have been grounded in wonderful versatile hunting dogs.
If the breeder is a hunting fanatic, then he will not have time or a desire to fool around with anything other than hunting dogs that do what the hunter wants them to do. Not enough time or money to fool with anything else. Most old hunters don't even have the time or desire for people. They would rather be hunting with their dogs. The founder of Hege-Haus hunted until he was 92, now that's my kind of breeder. I would bet the lines are not as they once were.
All German Shorthairs seem to hunt, and with such a large world wide gene pool it can seem an overwhelming task to sort things out. It is easier now because of the internet. The community gets smaller, but even with so much information available, one must still sort through it, and make up their own mind as to what is to their liking. I think at this time the three biggest advantages are: First in being able to find the books that are out there to read, and me being a big reader that is a very big advantage. Second is the ability to find breeder, and thus be able to talk with them, and get dogs from them if desired. Even getting dogs from other countries is easier. Third is the ease of finding forums where real people in real time are talking about all aspects of the German Shorthaired Pointer.
I have spent the last 10 years in near one hundred percent devotion and study of the German Shorthair, with countless hours and miles in the hunting field learning what a good Shorthair consists of. I've personally owned and hunted behind over a hundred GSPs, live with them, traveled with them, and loved and cared for them. We have had at our kennel somewhere around 100 litters. I do believe I have an understanding of the breed. At least I have an understanding of what I want in a German Shorthair. It's as if it is etched in stone. I want a super loving and caring dog, a great hunting dog that works with me in the field and knows at all times where I am at. I don't want to track down my dogs. I don't use a whistle, or tracking collar, I just hunt with my dogs and we are in tuned to each other. I want a pointing dog, one that has a nice natural point and who also backs and works with the other pack members that we always hunt with. I want a dog that has a natural retrieve, and who loves the water. Not just likes it, but loves it. I want to hunt everything that is out there, fur or feather. From Fox to ducks and everything in between and I want dogs that are up for the task. I want dogs that when I walk out to the truck to leave, I don't have to say a thing, open the door or tail gate and they jump in. Open them back up when we get to the hunting area, and they get out ready to hunt. I want them to come every time I call with happiness and joy without every having been made to do so. I don't want any dog that heads out with little or no concern about me. Dogs that can't find birds, don't point, fight, run away, don't mind, don't love me, don't care about what I'm doing, don't want to be around me, can't work in a pack setting, don't take care of their pups, or are to shy, these dogs will not make it in our program. They are gone. Only the best dogs that strike my fancy are kept to work with and who I consider having the ability to help build our program of the very best of versatile hunting dogs are kept.
And do we have those dogs? Absolutely. We have some wonderful family, and hunting dogs. Some I would put up against anyone's dogs anytime. I think in my mind that all these top dogs in all these formats. Live and hunt with one of our dogs for a month, and live with one of theirs, and after a month I'd bet you'd stay with ours.
We have had the desire the last few years to look at the American Shorthairs from yesteryear. I know there are good hunting lines out there but the dogs and lines that came from Hillhaven's Hustler, and that made him are interesting to me. The lines like Wasserschling, Pottmes, Rothenuffeln, and so many more. The ones that made the German Shorthair the versatile hunting dog that it was before the pointer type took over. Because of frozen semen, and the fact that some have kept these old lines going we have the ability to at least look at them and see for ourselves if they are worth working back up in a breeding program. So that's what we have been doing, a kind of program within a program. A huge amount of research for sure. There are a couple of other areas that we may explore, such as the United Kingdom lines with a close look at the GSPs bred in England. Also maybe trying to track down some German lines that point and back better than I have been able to find.
The lines of Tonya and Scout are where we started trying to nail down the older American lines, with lots of first Generation German dogs in their background. A blend of dogs such as are in Trekker v. Grunbaum would seem to work well. I will post information about some of these dogs and kennels a little later in this writing.
Scout and Tonya share the same mother, and close lines on one side of each of their sires. This should give me the concentration of genes from these great dogs that I desire. But only time will tell. The ability to get good dogs will be the key.
Since Tonya and Scout share the same mother let's look at the mother line first. A very strong influence of both Hillhaven's Hustler and his son Trekker v. Grunbaum. So I will add their information below so you can get an idea of what is thought of both of them.
First Hillhaven's Hustler:
` Dual Ch. Hillhaven's Hustler: With his impressive background of all-time greats, Dual Ch. Hillhaven's Hustler was destined to earn a place in breed history. He was bred in 1978 by Dave and Jan Hill of Wisconsin and sold to Helen B. Shelly and Randall Sime. Jan handled Hustler to his show championship in 1982, and Dave handled him to his field championship in 1983. After his dual championship was completed, Hustler's ownership was transferred to the Hills.
Hustler was by Hillhaven's Handsome ex Hillhaven's Mark V's Mandy. In ther background is perhaps the greatest concentration of Germany's leading sire Axel v. Wasserschling through the Axel son, Peron, on both sire and the dam's side of the sire and through Esser's Chick, another Axel son, on the dam's side. Hustler's great grandsire on the sire's side is Dual Ch. Erick v. Enzstrand twice in the fourth gereration and FC Uodibar's Boss Man in the fifth generation. On Hustler's dam side are NFC FC Mar V's one Spot, NFC Blick v. Shinback and Dual Ch. Kay v.d. Wildburg. His pedigree incluses six Hall of Fame member.
Hustler was sire of the year for dual-type dogs, and many of his get went on to establish their own impressive records. His five dual champions were Hillhaven's Sunshine, Trekker v. Grumbaum, UD, MH; Ceburn's Erick of Hustleberg, JH; Dual Ch./Can. Ch./AFC Stradivarius Baroque CGC; and Kurzhaar's Ruger v. Haven, SH. Of these duals, the two most famous were Stradivarius Baroque, and Trekker. In addition, Hustler sired twenty-two show champions and nine field campions.
Dual Ch. Trekker v. Grumbaum MH, is one of the most titled dogs in GSP history. His lineage on the Hustler side was reported under Hustler's pedigree. His dam, Freigeist Begannte v. Laden, CD, JH, was K.S. Voli Rothenuffeln ex. Am/Can Ch. Laden Field's Cocoa Pebbles, CD. In the background of the dam are many famous stalwarts of the breed, including NSS DD Ch. Kooskia's Chief Joseph; Dual Ch. And NFC Erick v. Enzstrand; Am., Can. Dual Ch. Radback's Dustcloud, TD; Ch. Ashbrook's Papageno and Ch. Kaposia's Star of the North.
Robert H. Mckowen, The New Complete German Shorthaired Pointer.
Second Trekker v. Grumbaum:
Dual Ch. Trekker v. Grumbaum MH, is one of the most titled dogs in GSP history. His lineage on the Hustler side was reported under Hustler's pedigree. His dam, Freigeist Begannte v. Laden, CD, JH, was K.S. Voli Rothenuffeln ex. Am/Can Ch. Laden Field's Cocoa Pebbles, CD. In the background of the dam are many famous stalwarts of the breed, including NSS DD Ch. Kooskia's Chief Joseph; Dual Ch. And NFC Erick v. Enzstrand; Am., Can. Dual Ch. Radback's Dustcloud, TD; Ch. Ashbrook's Papageno and Ch. Kaposia's Star of the North.
Trekker finished his dual championship at just two years, making him one of the younget, if not the youngest, dog to earn a dual championship. In the field trial career he earned ten first places, including five majors, and qualified as a Master Hunter in four consecutive weekends. His last leg was earned two hours before winning BB at Western Reserve KC show. His was the first Utility Dog Obedience title earned by a dual champion. At the age of five years, he had already sired twelve champions. In 1997, Trekker added the new open Agiliy title to his long list of achievements.
Here is what the owner of Trekker had to say:
The German Shorthaired Pointer was originally bred to be a versatile hunting dog. In Germany, the best dogs are required to hunt, track and have excellent conformation. Once in a great, great while, nature lines up the genes and creates a specimen that not only competes but excels in many areas. ..and that dog makes it look easy!
Trekker hunted, pointed, backed and retrieved at four months of age. With some schooling, he became a Conformation Champion at 14 months and a Field Champion at 2 years of age. He is one of the breed's youngest Dual Champions. Not just a title hound, he was nationally ranked in Field and Show in the same year. Being named a finalist in the National Amateur Championship Field Trial and winning a Best In Specialty Show were "just" part of the competition. Amateur Field Champion and Master Hunter titles were gathered along the way in record time. A journey in Obedience competition yielded the very difficult Utility Dog Excellent title. Four first places in tough Obedience competition and a national ranking are testimony to his intelligence. Tracking was second nature, and the Tracking Dog title was garnered on the first try.
History will record Trekker as not "only" the most AKC titled GSP, but one that excelled in all the areas in which he competed, and he did it without losing his boldness and independence. Trekker has redefined the term "Versatile" as it applies to German Shorthaired Pointers.
As Trekker passes into "Senior" status, his get are now moving to center stage. His puppies have accumulated 23 Championships in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. There are dozens of hunting titled get and many have field trial points. Just as important, Trekker's pups are happy, biddable, dedicated natural hunters and companions which are cherished by their owners.
Trekker still greets the start of each day with his own ceremony of jumping, spinning and tail wagging. And no one gets to the coffee pot until he gets his full measure of petting and play. He instills everybody he knows with his own brand of happiness and enthusiasm.
David B. Deioma, Trekker's Owner
Trekker also has the Rothenuffeln line that will come into play in Tonya and Scout's top half.
The Rothenuffeln Kennel:
Herr Wischmeyer, the latter day Rothenuffelns, as can be seen by the growing list of Kleeman-dogs and Siegers, are very successful indeed.
A 1871 repeat of the “A” litter (Rigo v. Hege Haus ex Eike v. Wittekind) produced Centra Rothnuffeln (Diana Prfg). Centa, with the above mentioned Diana, gained her First Prize at the 1974 Kleeman-Trial. Dago gained his in 1976, together with his half-sister, Gunda Rothenuffeln 475/73 (by KS Ex v. Kruckenmoor, a grandson of KS Zeus v. Blitzdorf, ex Jutta v. Gruntal (Kl. AusL. Prfg).
At the 1980 Kleeman Trial, perhaps the most important of Herr Wischmeyer's dogs to date gained his title. He is KS Remo Rothenuffeln. KS Remo is by KS Basko v.d. Schillersgrudn ex Donya v. Birkenbusch, a daughter of WS Basko v. Hellenkamp and a granddaughter of Pat v. Hanstein.
KS Remo is alreay the sire of 8 Kleeman-dogs, one of which has gained the US Dual Champion title in addition to his KS title. He is KS & Dual Ch. Ybold Rothenuffeln. KS Ybold is himself the sire of several US Champions, including a Dual Champion.
KS Ybold, ex. The Czechoslovakian-bred Gabina z Vesek, was a litter-mate to two more Siegers, KS Yoli, also imported to the US, and WS Yola, a V1 bitch winner. WS Yola has also proved herself, by producing no less than four KS dogs from her two litters by Junker v. Uphauser Kolk.
Two more Rothenuffeln Kleeman-dogs, both by KS Remo, are KS Baron (ex Blanka v. Eckhof, a granddaughter of the Kleeman-dog, Amor v. Maxhof, and a greatr granddaughter of KS Artemis Erf and KS Ex v. Osterberg) and Jetta, the daughter of another Czech-bred bitch, Jalta z Vesek.
Georgina Byrne, The German Shorthaired Pointer.
Tonya and Scout's dam: Saddleup Stradivarius Vom Trinity. Trinity's Grandparents are such:
1st. DC Hof Treeker v. Grunbaum, who is the son of Hustler, and Rohenuffeln on the bottom.
2nd. Granddaughter of Trekker, and Orson v. Pottsiepen is on the bottom.
3rd. DC Ziel Vom Folnschmeker, out of FC Beier's Evolution and reads like a who's who of shorthairs. Ziel is a great grandson of Hustler, and goes back to Axel on both sides. Also heavy in Hege-Haus.
4th. Heavy in both Hill Haven's Hustler, and Hege-Haus.
First Grandparent of Trinity:
2nd Grandparent of Trinity, who is Tonya and Scout's Mother:
Third Grandparent of Trinity:
4th Grandparent of Trinity:
Tonya's Sire is Silvertip's Gunther's War Dance: Overview, Gunther's sire is Ch. Ybold's Jaeger Von Hainholz Master Hunter, out of KS/DC Hall of fame dog Ybold Rothenuffeln. This makes Tonya's top half 100 percent Hainholz Kennel lines. Tonya's mom is also heavy in Hustler, and she also has Ybold as a great great grandfather. Then there is DC Hof Erick Vom Enzstrand. Even a few lines going back to Hof FC Greif v. Hundsheimerkogel.
Tonya's Sire:
Now a look at Scout's sire, and his lines: Even though Tonya's sire is 100 percent Hainsholz kennel dogs, Scout's has the added advantage of being 100 percent Hainsholz kennel dogs, with the added Hainsholz dog DC Bodo v. Walrand, Master hunter. Bodo was imported from Germany and was the last German import to become an American Dual Champion.
So Scout has Bodo as his grandfather, on his sires side and KS DC Hof dog Ybold Rothenuffeln as his great grandfather on his mother's side. It's quite remarkable when you think about it. Take a look at Scout's sire's pedigree:
Now when you take Scout's sire's pedigee and add it to Scout's dam's pedigree you really get something worth looking at. It would have been a shame if Scout's sire would have been bred to just any old dog. In this case the two dogs pedigrees complimented each other famously.
So the first cross to set these fine lines were between Tonya and Scout. They pretty much share the exact same lines with Scout bringing in Bodo. So let's look at this cross:
I have a hard time explaining what I see in this pedigree, which is the pedigree of our Daisy and her brothers. Let's go to the 5th generation and work forward. In the 5th generation there are 32 dogs. A quick look will give us: 7 American Dual Champions, 5 German KS Champions, 2 Field champions, and a Show Champion. The dogs who are not titled are Branko Vom Lenachtal and Fuerstein Pottmes who produced KS Arco V.D. Sieben Brunnen who we see in the 4th gerneration. Remember the Pottmes kennel is where we get our black GSPs.
Romy V.D. Hansaburg who is the grandmother to DC Bodo. Bonnie Blue Von Hainholz who is a Master Hunter who is the grandmother to FC Tara Von Hainsholz. Then we have Freigeist Bekannte v. Laden CD/JH who is the mother to DC Hof Treeker V Grunbaum MH. Then there is TT Trekker's Vom Terz who is a Master Hunter and the son of DC Treeker V Grunbaum. Next we have a Born Ranch girl, Born Ranch Your Spirt. The Born Ranch kennel produced wonderful dogs, and is our Jill's line. Spirt's sire is Andrew Vom Feisigberg and here is his pedigree:
A wow factor of it's own. Then there are two Stradivarius dogs, Maximllen and Symphony, who's pedigree looks like this:
Bonnie Blue Von Hainholz MH is repeated, then there is Hillhaven's Happy Times Holly, who pedigree is so good you just have to take a look:
Every single dog in the 5th generation is an outstanding stand alone dog. It's simply astonishing the quality of dogs in the 5th generation, and they were used with great success as they produced dogs for the 4th generation.
The 4th generation is simply remarkable as well. We have the sire of DC Bodo who is KS Arco V. D. Sieben Brunnen, and Bodo's dam Nixie v. Heunenbrink. DC KS Ybold Rothenuffeln is there twice, DC Trekker is there twice, FC Razorhavin's Revolution out of DC Ziel Vom Fainschmeker and DC Stradivarius Arabesque is there. Just some wonderful dogs.
As we move forward we continue to see wonderful dogs until we get to Tonya, Scout, and then Daisy. They are very good dog who love to hunt, great in the water and who are very loving dogs themselves. The cross with Tonya and Scout will be made again in hopes to get even better or more diverse dogs. Also inbreeding will be done in the hopes that the great genes in the dogs that made up the dogs we have now will come forward and a line of versatile dogs made up of the dogs from the past will be set.
The dogs from these lines are being bred to the dogs we already have. So far we are seeing good results. A little early to tell for sure, but it's very exciting for us to watch everything come forward and manifest in our pups and then older dogs. It's a labor of love but we are hoping to preserve these outstanding lines that gave us such wonderful dogs of the past.
We want to breed a dog that is Genetically programmed to do all the above, not a dog that has to be trained to do so. We don't want the kind of dogs that many trainer want, one that takes a licking and keeps on ticking. We are looking for one a little more kicked back. Calm in the house, and focused with us in the field. We have had many who hunt hard, and for themselves, and sometimes they don't seem in the least bit under control. Never checking in, and hardly ever working within any type of reasonable range. If one breeds a dog like this, guess what? They get one like that.
One problem I have found with clubs is that dogs needed to succeed at the top level are high performance dogs. A Thoroughbred is desired for the performance needed, where the average hunter or family would be much better off with a Quarter horse.
The American Field is going on 50 plus years breeding for an over exaggeration of a trait, and that trait is Run. Run big, run long, and run with style. Followed by men and woman on horses. All of this without the least interest of such things as water work, natural retrieve, or working with or for the hunter. Approx. 25 percent of German Shorthairs bred in America are this type.
The newer generation of German dogs are fantastic in the water, with a great retrieve. With a very high energetic drive, but most I have seen lack the pointing and backing that we are looking for.
We have ran into many great working lines, either hunting or the American Versatile lines. The ones that have blended with the black Shorthairs have been very good.
The truth is we have found it not hard at all to breed versatile dogs. Even the show lines we have used have been pretty darn good. We have found it easy, within one generation to straighten out any line lacking in something. Breed a German line to an American Field line and the litter will have some outstanding versatile hunting dogs. I mean the real deal. Great water work, point with backing, working med. close, natural retrieve, and good on furred game as well. Some pups will get something from each side and in one generation you have a breeding program with versatile dogs.
Remember that I have excellent sons and daughters from both German and American Field dogs.
That said, I'm looking for a better way, at least by eliminating some steps. The problem with certain crosses is that there are pups in the litter that are unpredictable. If you take a white big running field trial dog and breed it to a versatile hunting dog you will always get some white dogs in the litter and they are to unpredictable for me. In too many cases I have seen where they don't like the water, they run too big, and they don't have a natural retrieve. Even the next few generations pups will pop up that just don't work for us.
Right now I have a son of Jack and Dolly. He is 6 years old and is a wild running dog. We got him back 3rd hand. I've had him for months, but he is just like his grandfather who is a field trial champion. He hates the water, does not retrieve, runs big and long. Never checks in, and most of the time I have to go find him. So even if a field trial cross can be outstanding, it just complicates things for our breeding program.
The German lines have proven to be somewhat better but not enough to make me want to get into 100 percent German dogs. If I was going to be a duck guide maybe, their water work is unreal, simply outstanding. But I get tired of them always busting and not pointing without being trained and under control. I want natural dogs in our breeding program if I can get it them. That way all pups in the litter are prone to be genetically programmed to Point, Back, Retrieve, work close and love the water, and have wonderful temperaments. Most people are very happy with this.
So how are we going about making that happen? First and foremost by keeping in the breeding program dogs that do all the things we want naturally. Almost all dogs are given the same chance. We try and start with puppies and get them out as much as possible. I watch them work within our pack, both dogs and human. The most lovable are the ones we keep. Never keep a fighter, or trouble maker. They eat, sleep, play, swim, hunt and live together. They must be able go get along. No one is separated because they can't get along. If they can't get along then they move along down the line. Each dog must love the water. We want a great water dog, because that's what the breed was bred for. Ducks for hunting, and lakes for playing. We have to have a natural retrieve. Retrieve for hunting and retrieve for family play. We want a close to med. ranging dog, both for hunting and family hikes. I don't want to be hunting my hunting dog. I want to watch them hunt, not hunt for them hunting. We do want them to hunt fur as well. Rabbits to Fox, we want them to have a good tracking nose. Pretty easy really, we want a 100 percent Versatile hunting and family dog. One dog that can do it all.
So where did, or where do we get these wonderful lines? Well the truth is there have been plenty of like minded people wanting and breeding the same kind of dogs. I did not have to reinvent the versatile hunting dog, all I had to do was go out and find it. In fact I'm still looking, have to separate the wheat from the shaft. To many non-versatile shorthairs out there, so one has to be on their toes.
Hunters,; I come from a hunting background, our family, and friends always have had hunting dogs, so I understood a hunting dog from a hunters perspective. Hunters I knew and their hunting dogs were pretty easy to understand. The dog needed to do what it was expected to do with little training. A lab needed to retrieve ducks, what other use was there. A coon hound better tree coons, what other use was there? Uncle Mike's bear dogs better tree bears, not chase trash. What other use was there. So for me it was easy.
A German Shorthaired Pointer better point, retrieve, track, and go in the water. Pretty easy, what other use was there? Be good with the kids and family, because he or she was going to live in the house as a family member.
But what happened along the way to the dance. Someone, or many someones had changed the versatile German Shorthair of my youth. In all my life at least for the first 45 years, I or no one I knew ever heard of a field trial, and no hunter any of us knew would have been involved in Trials, Testing, or Shows. Everyone I knew hunted, and their hunting dogs were bred to other hunting dogs.
My uncle has great bear dogs. I mean out of this world good. The numbers of bears treed would seem too unbelievable, so much so that I'm not even going to give you the numbers. Each dog comes from a long line of hunting dogs. None are show dogs, or trial dogs, or hunt test dogs. They are all American hunting dogs. I'm not sure if any are registered with a kennel club. They might be, but first and foremost is they better be good hunting dogs. The pedigree, or each ancestor is know for their hunting ability. That's where I am coming from. Most people that get our dogs would still get them even if they did not come with fancy registration papers, and pedigrees. A good hunting or family dog is all that most of us are after, and I always try and keep this in mind.
So hunters were the first ones and in most cases the only ones I have looked at when getting our dogs. But I have been looking at older lines who I'm hoping have been grounded in wonderful versatile hunting dogs.
If the breeder is a hunting fanatic, then he will not have time or a desire to fool around with anything other than hunting dogs that do what the hunter wants them to do. Not enough time or money to fool with anything else. Most old hunters don't even have the time or desire for people. They would rather be hunting with their dogs. The founder of Hege-Haus hunted until he was 92, now that's my kind of breeder. I would bet the lines are not as they once were.
All German Shorthairs seem to hunt, and with such a large world wide gene pool it can seem an overwhelming task to sort things out. It is easier now because of the internet. The community gets smaller, but even with so much information available, one must still sort through it, and make up their own mind as to what is to their liking. I think at this time the three biggest advantages are: First in being able to find the books that are out there to read, and me being a big reader that is a very big advantage. Second is the ability to find breeder, and thus be able to talk with them, and get dogs from them if desired. Even getting dogs from other countries is easier. Third is the ease of finding forums where real people in real time are talking about all aspects of the German Shorthaired Pointer.
I have spent the last 10 years in near one hundred percent devotion and study of the German Shorthair, with countless hours and miles in the hunting field learning what a good Shorthair consists of. I've personally owned and hunted behind over a hundred GSPs, live with them, traveled with them, and loved and cared for them. We have had at our kennel somewhere around 100 litters. I do believe I have an understanding of the breed. At least I have an understanding of what I want in a German Shorthair. It's as if it is etched in stone. I want a super loving and caring dog, a great hunting dog that works with me in the field and knows at all times where I am at. I don't want to track down my dogs. I don't use a whistle, or tracking collar, I just hunt with my dogs and we are in tuned to each other. I want a pointing dog, one that has a nice natural point and who also backs and works with the other pack members that we always hunt with. I want a dog that has a natural retrieve, and who loves the water. Not just likes it, but loves it. I want to hunt everything that is out there, fur or feather. From Fox to ducks and everything in between and I want dogs that are up for the task. I want dogs that when I walk out to the truck to leave, I don't have to say a thing, open the door or tail gate and they jump in. Open them back up when we get to the hunting area, and they get out ready to hunt. I want them to come every time I call with happiness and joy without every having been made to do so. I don't want any dog that heads out with little or no concern about me. Dogs that can't find birds, don't point, fight, run away, don't mind, don't love me, don't care about what I'm doing, don't want to be around me, can't work in a pack setting, don't take care of their pups, or are to shy, these dogs will not make it in our program. They are gone. Only the best dogs that strike my fancy are kept to work with and who I consider having the ability to help build our program of the very best of versatile hunting dogs are kept.
And do we have those dogs? Absolutely. We have some wonderful family, and hunting dogs. Some I would put up against anyone's dogs anytime. I think in my mind that all these top dogs in all these formats. Live and hunt with one of our dogs for a month, and live with one of theirs, and after a month I'd bet you'd stay with ours.
We have had the desire the last few years to look at the American Shorthairs from yesteryear. I know there are good hunting lines out there but the dogs and lines that came from Hillhaven's Hustler, and that made him are interesting to me. The lines like Wasserschling, Pottmes, Rothenuffeln, and so many more. The ones that made the German Shorthair the versatile hunting dog that it was before the pointer type took over. Because of frozen semen, and the fact that some have kept these old lines going we have the ability to at least look at them and see for ourselves if they are worth working back up in a breeding program. So that's what we have been doing, a kind of program within a program. A huge amount of research for sure. There are a couple of other areas that we may explore, such as the United Kingdom lines with a close look at the GSPs bred in England. Also maybe trying to track down some German lines that point and back better than I have been able to find.
The lines of Tonya and Scout are where we started trying to nail down the older American lines, with lots of first Generation German dogs in their background. A blend of dogs such as are in Trekker v. Grunbaum would seem to work well. I will post information about some of these dogs and kennels a little later in this writing.
Scout and Tonya share the same mother, and close lines on one side of each of their sires. This should give me the concentration of genes from these great dogs that I desire. But only time will tell. The ability to get good dogs will be the key.
Since Tonya and Scout share the same mother let's look at the mother line first. A very strong influence of both Hillhaven's Hustler and his son Trekker v. Grunbaum. So I will add their information below so you can get an idea of what is thought of both of them.
First Hillhaven's Hustler:
` Dual Ch. Hillhaven's Hustler: With his impressive background of all-time greats, Dual Ch. Hillhaven's Hustler was destined to earn a place in breed history. He was bred in 1978 by Dave and Jan Hill of Wisconsin and sold to Helen B. Shelly and Randall Sime. Jan handled Hustler to his show championship in 1982, and Dave handled him to his field championship in 1983. After his dual championship was completed, Hustler's ownership was transferred to the Hills.
Hustler was by Hillhaven's Handsome ex Hillhaven's Mark V's Mandy. In ther background is perhaps the greatest concentration of Germany's leading sire Axel v. Wasserschling through the Axel son, Peron, on both sire and the dam's side of the sire and through Esser's Chick, another Axel son, on the dam's side. Hustler's great grandsire on the sire's side is Dual Ch. Erick v. Enzstrand twice in the fourth gereration and FC Uodibar's Boss Man in the fifth generation. On Hustler's dam side are NFC FC Mar V's one Spot, NFC Blick v. Shinback and Dual Ch. Kay v.d. Wildburg. His pedigree incluses six Hall of Fame member.
Hustler was sire of the year for dual-type dogs, and many of his get went on to establish their own impressive records. His five dual champions were Hillhaven's Sunshine, Trekker v. Grumbaum, UD, MH; Ceburn's Erick of Hustleberg, JH; Dual Ch./Can. Ch./AFC Stradivarius Baroque CGC; and Kurzhaar's Ruger v. Haven, SH. Of these duals, the two most famous were Stradivarius Baroque, and Trekker. In addition, Hustler sired twenty-two show champions and nine field campions.
Dual Ch. Trekker v. Grumbaum MH, is one of the most titled dogs in GSP history. His lineage on the Hustler side was reported under Hustler's pedigree. His dam, Freigeist Begannte v. Laden, CD, JH, was K.S. Voli Rothenuffeln ex. Am/Can Ch. Laden Field's Cocoa Pebbles, CD. In the background of the dam are many famous stalwarts of the breed, including NSS DD Ch. Kooskia's Chief Joseph; Dual Ch. And NFC Erick v. Enzstrand; Am., Can. Dual Ch. Radback's Dustcloud, TD; Ch. Ashbrook's Papageno and Ch. Kaposia's Star of the North.
Robert H. Mckowen, The New Complete German Shorthaired Pointer.
Second Trekker v. Grumbaum:
Dual Ch. Trekker v. Grumbaum MH, is one of the most titled dogs in GSP history. His lineage on the Hustler side was reported under Hustler's pedigree. His dam, Freigeist Begannte v. Laden, CD, JH, was K.S. Voli Rothenuffeln ex. Am/Can Ch. Laden Field's Cocoa Pebbles, CD. In the background of the dam are many famous stalwarts of the breed, including NSS DD Ch. Kooskia's Chief Joseph; Dual Ch. And NFC Erick v. Enzstrand; Am., Can. Dual Ch. Radback's Dustcloud, TD; Ch. Ashbrook's Papageno and Ch. Kaposia's Star of the North.
Trekker finished his dual championship at just two years, making him one of the younget, if not the youngest, dog to earn a dual championship. In the field trial career he earned ten first places, including five majors, and qualified as a Master Hunter in four consecutive weekends. His last leg was earned two hours before winning BB at Western Reserve KC show. His was the first Utility Dog Obedience title earned by a dual champion. At the age of five years, he had already sired twelve champions. In 1997, Trekker added the new open Agiliy title to his long list of achievements.
Here is what the owner of Trekker had to say:
The German Shorthaired Pointer was originally bred to be a versatile hunting dog. In Germany, the best dogs are required to hunt, track and have excellent conformation. Once in a great, great while, nature lines up the genes and creates a specimen that not only competes but excels in many areas. ..and that dog makes it look easy!
Trekker hunted, pointed, backed and retrieved at four months of age. With some schooling, he became a Conformation Champion at 14 months and a Field Champion at 2 years of age. He is one of the breed's youngest Dual Champions. Not just a title hound, he was nationally ranked in Field and Show in the same year. Being named a finalist in the National Amateur Championship Field Trial and winning a Best In Specialty Show were "just" part of the competition. Amateur Field Champion and Master Hunter titles were gathered along the way in record time. A journey in Obedience competition yielded the very difficult Utility Dog Excellent title. Four first places in tough Obedience competition and a national ranking are testimony to his intelligence. Tracking was second nature, and the Tracking Dog title was garnered on the first try.
History will record Trekker as not "only" the most AKC titled GSP, but one that excelled in all the areas in which he competed, and he did it without losing his boldness and independence. Trekker has redefined the term "Versatile" as it applies to German Shorthaired Pointers.
As Trekker passes into "Senior" status, his get are now moving to center stage. His puppies have accumulated 23 Championships in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. There are dozens of hunting titled get and many have field trial points. Just as important, Trekker's pups are happy, biddable, dedicated natural hunters and companions which are cherished by their owners.
Trekker still greets the start of each day with his own ceremony of jumping, spinning and tail wagging. And no one gets to the coffee pot until he gets his full measure of petting and play. He instills everybody he knows with his own brand of happiness and enthusiasm.
David B. Deioma, Trekker's Owner
Trekker also has the Rothenuffeln line that will come into play in Tonya and Scout's top half.
The Rothenuffeln Kennel:
Herr Wischmeyer, the latter day Rothenuffelns, as can be seen by the growing list of Kleeman-dogs and Siegers, are very successful indeed.
A 1871 repeat of the “A” litter (Rigo v. Hege Haus ex Eike v. Wittekind) produced Centra Rothnuffeln (Diana Prfg). Centa, with the above mentioned Diana, gained her First Prize at the 1974 Kleeman-Trial. Dago gained his in 1976, together with his half-sister, Gunda Rothenuffeln 475/73 (by KS Ex v. Kruckenmoor, a grandson of KS Zeus v. Blitzdorf, ex Jutta v. Gruntal (Kl. AusL. Prfg).
At the 1980 Kleeman Trial, perhaps the most important of Herr Wischmeyer's dogs to date gained his title. He is KS Remo Rothenuffeln. KS Remo is by KS Basko v.d. Schillersgrudn ex Donya v. Birkenbusch, a daughter of WS Basko v. Hellenkamp and a granddaughter of Pat v. Hanstein.
KS Remo is alreay the sire of 8 Kleeman-dogs, one of which has gained the US Dual Champion title in addition to his KS title. He is KS & Dual Ch. Ybold Rothenuffeln. KS Ybold is himself the sire of several US Champions, including a Dual Champion.
KS Ybold, ex. The Czechoslovakian-bred Gabina z Vesek, was a litter-mate to two more Siegers, KS Yoli, also imported to the US, and WS Yola, a V1 bitch winner. WS Yola has also proved herself, by producing no less than four KS dogs from her two litters by Junker v. Uphauser Kolk.
Two more Rothenuffeln Kleeman-dogs, both by KS Remo, are KS Baron (ex Blanka v. Eckhof, a granddaughter of the Kleeman-dog, Amor v. Maxhof, and a greatr granddaughter of KS Artemis Erf and KS Ex v. Osterberg) and Jetta, the daughter of another Czech-bred bitch, Jalta z Vesek.
Georgina Byrne, The German Shorthaired Pointer.
Tonya and Scout's dam: Saddleup Stradivarius Vom Trinity. Trinity's Grandparents are such:
1st. DC Hof Treeker v. Grunbaum, who is the son of Hustler, and Rohenuffeln on the bottom.
2nd. Granddaughter of Trekker, and Orson v. Pottsiepen is on the bottom.
3rd. DC Ziel Vom Folnschmeker, out of FC Beier's Evolution and reads like a who's who of shorthairs. Ziel is a great grandson of Hustler, and goes back to Axel on both sides. Also heavy in Hege-Haus.
4th. Heavy in both Hill Haven's Hustler, and Hege-Haus.
First Grandparent of Trinity:
2nd Grandparent of Trinity, who is Tonya and Scout's Mother:
Third Grandparent of Trinity:
4th Grandparent of Trinity:
Tonya's Sire is Silvertip's Gunther's War Dance: Overview, Gunther's sire is Ch. Ybold's Jaeger Von Hainholz Master Hunter, out of KS/DC Hall of fame dog Ybold Rothenuffeln. This makes Tonya's top half 100 percent Hainholz Kennel lines. Tonya's mom is also heavy in Hustler, and she also has Ybold as a great great grandfather. Then there is DC Hof Erick Vom Enzstrand. Even a few lines going back to Hof FC Greif v. Hundsheimerkogel.
Tonya's Sire:
Now a look at Scout's sire, and his lines: Even though Tonya's sire is 100 percent Hainsholz kennel dogs, Scout's has the added advantage of being 100 percent Hainsholz kennel dogs, with the added Hainsholz dog DC Bodo v. Walrand, Master hunter. Bodo was imported from Germany and was the last German import to become an American Dual Champion.
So Scout has Bodo as his grandfather, on his sires side and KS DC Hof dog Ybold Rothenuffeln as his great grandfather on his mother's side. It's quite remarkable when you think about it. Take a look at Scout's sire's pedigree:
Now when you take Scout's sire's pedigee and add it to Scout's dam's pedigree you really get something worth looking at. It would have been a shame if Scout's sire would have been bred to just any old dog. In this case the two dogs pedigrees complimented each other famously.
So the first cross to set these fine lines were between Tonya and Scout. They pretty much share the exact same lines with Scout bringing in Bodo. So let's look at this cross:
I have a hard time explaining what I see in this pedigree, which is the pedigree of our Daisy and her brothers. Let's go to the 5th generation and work forward. In the 5th generation there are 32 dogs. A quick look will give us: 7 American Dual Champions, 5 German KS Champions, 2 Field champions, and a Show Champion. The dogs who are not titled are Branko Vom Lenachtal and Fuerstein Pottmes who produced KS Arco V.D. Sieben Brunnen who we see in the 4th gerneration. Remember the Pottmes kennel is where we get our black GSPs.
Romy V.D. Hansaburg who is the grandmother to DC Bodo. Bonnie Blue Von Hainholz who is a Master Hunter who is the grandmother to FC Tara Von Hainsholz. Then we have Freigeist Bekannte v. Laden CD/JH who is the mother to DC Hof Treeker V Grunbaum MH. Then there is TT Trekker's Vom Terz who is a Master Hunter and the son of DC Treeker V Grunbaum. Next we have a Born Ranch girl, Born Ranch Your Spirt. The Born Ranch kennel produced wonderful dogs, and is our Jill's line. Spirt's sire is Andrew Vom Feisigberg and here is his pedigree:
A wow factor of it's own. Then there are two Stradivarius dogs, Maximllen and Symphony, who's pedigree looks like this:
Bonnie Blue Von Hainholz MH is repeated, then there is Hillhaven's Happy Times Holly, who pedigree is so good you just have to take a look:
Every single dog in the 5th generation is an outstanding stand alone dog. It's simply astonishing the quality of dogs in the 5th generation, and they were used with great success as they produced dogs for the 4th generation.
The 4th generation is simply remarkable as well. We have the sire of DC Bodo who is KS Arco V. D. Sieben Brunnen, and Bodo's dam Nixie v. Heunenbrink. DC KS Ybold Rothenuffeln is there twice, DC Trekker is there twice, FC Razorhavin's Revolution out of DC Ziel Vom Fainschmeker and DC Stradivarius Arabesque is there. Just some wonderful dogs.
As we move forward we continue to see wonderful dogs until we get to Tonya, Scout, and then Daisy. They are very good dog who love to hunt, great in the water and who are very loving dogs themselves. The cross with Tonya and Scout will be made again in hopes to get even better or more diverse dogs. Also inbreeding will be done in the hopes that the great genes in the dogs that made up the dogs we have now will come forward and a line of versatile dogs made up of the dogs from the past will be set.
The dogs from these lines are being bred to the dogs we already have. So far we are seeing good results. A little early to tell for sure, but it's very exciting for us to watch everything come forward and manifest in our pups and then older dogs. It's a labor of love but we are hoping to preserve these outstanding lines that gave us such wonderful dogs of the past.
