A Deutsch Kurzhaar Story – Bird Dog Trainer for a Day

A.J. DeRosa founded Project Upland in 2014 as an excuse…

Have you heard of the Deutsch Kurzhaar?

We all have our bird dog breeds. For gun dog trainer and breeder David Trahan, that breed is the Deutsch Kurzhaar.

David Trahan is a New Hampshire native and owner of On-Point Kennels in Deerfield. He has harnessed his passion for bird dogs by becoming a professional gun dog trainer and eventually breeder of Deutsch Kurzhaars. These German-system German shorthaired dogs are subject to testing and standards to maintain the rigorous requirements as a breeder.

“I imported my first dog in 1996. I got Tascha von der Wenge from the Wenge line. It was one of those ‘Geez, what am I going to do?’ situations as I had never really imported a dog. So through some friends, it was phone calls, and interpreters, and stuff. And basically what I said is, I want ‘quiet and confidence’ — that’s what I was looking for in a dog. And I got my first German shorthaireds from Germany. She was my foundation bitch.”

Deutsch Kurzhaar fact: the German shorthaired pointer (originally Deutsch Kurzhaar) was developed in the mid 1800s. During that time, the concept of the “versatile” hunting dog became a priority in Western Europe as a practical alternative to the more aristocratic preference. Wealthier hunters would own several breeds, one for each hunting task. But the versatile dogs had to do it all — find and point upland game, retrieve waterfowl, track fur and feathers, and work consistently on varied terrain and weather conditions.

This short film takes us on a journey from the breed to training in the field and ultimately what it is like to be a bird dog trainer. Although it is a demanding lifestyle, being a bird dog trainer is a uniquely rewarding experience.

This Deutsch Kurzhaar film was brought to you by Dogtra: The Worlds Finest E-collars. http://bit.ly/dogtraPU

To find out more about the Deutsch Kurzhaar check out: German Shorthaired Pointer – Bird Hunting Dog Profile

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German Shorthaired Pointer Hunting Dog Videos NAVHDA New Hampshire

A.J. DeRosa

A.J. DeRosa founded Project Upland in 2014 as an excuse to go hunting more often (and it worked). A New England native, he grew up hunting and has spent over 35 years in pursuit of big and small game species across three continents. He has a passion for side-by-side shotguns, inspiring him to travel the world to meet the people and places from which they come. Looking to turn his passion into inspiration for others, AJ was first published in 2004 and went on to write his first book The Urban Deer Complex in 2014. He soon discovered a love for filmmaking, particularly the challenge of capturing ruffed grouse with a camera, which led to the award-winning Project Upland film series. AJ's love for all things wild has caused him to advocate on the federal and state levels to promote and expand conservation policy, habitat funding, and upland game bird awareness. He currently serves as the Strafford County New Hampshire Fish & Game Commissioner in order to give back to his community and to further the mission of the agency. When those hunting excuses are in play, you can find him wandering behind his Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in the mountains of New England and anywhere else the birds take them.

Have you heard of the Deutsch Kurzhaar?

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