Upland

When we are evaluating a dog, one of the most important things we look for is a dog with a great nose. A dog with a great nose will produce birds no matter the weather conditions. They will point from farther distances and will not flush. 

Secondly, we put an emphasis on a dog's ability to search. We want a dog that you practically have to drag out of the field—a dog that continues to hunt even when you haven't seen a bird all day and keeps the same pace as when you first let them out of the dog box. Nothing is as refreshing as seeing a dog change the way it searches depending on cover. A dog should be able to range big when chukar/sharp-tail grouse hunting and adapt to hunt much closer for pheasant/ruffed grouse. We understand this skill is one that improves with age, however, we are evaluating it at a young age. 

We prefer a pointing dog that throws a hard, tight, and intense point. We do not put a ton of pressure on whether the dog is standing tall or crouched because every point is situational. 

We strongly look for dogs that can run on hard tracks. Living in pheasant country, pheasants will run through short grass to slough bottoms to fence lines before the bird gets pinned. You need a dog that is gritty enough to run that track no matter how far it goes and what it goes through. 

I am yet to own a wirehair who doesn’t retrieve. The retrieve is what finishes everything. All of our dogs retrieve with an impressive amount of intensity.