The Boss
The smoke cleared from the end of my barrel. A drake Wigeon duck had fallen from the overcast sky. Archer vom Blitzhaus, affectionately known to me as “Wigeon”, was already in the water swimming head on for the downed bird. He couldn’t get there fast enough – his drive was so strong to get to the bird. His body shook violently as he swam and he let out a high pitched whine until he finally reached the bird. As he brought it back to me I knew I had something special in my keep.
I picked up Wigeon as an 8 week old pup from a young fellow in Spout Spring, VA, outside of Lynchburg. I was getting ready to move into an apartment by myself after a miserable experience with a bad roommate. I wanted a companion, as well as a hunting dog that I could mold and shape into a hard working machine. In the end, I got something much more than I could ever have imagined.
Wigeon was a cute pup, the color of chocolate brown and gray ticked, with a little white spot on his nose. Fellow brother Gifford rode down with me to pick the pup out of the litter in April of 2010. When asked what his breed is, I respond “He’s a German wirehair pointer” to make things easier. His actual breed is called the Deutsch Drahthaar, which translates to German Wirehair. The Germans have been breeding their own line of these dogs that has continued in the U.S. through natural ability testing and breeding.
That pooch and I spent every waking moment with each other when I wasn’t at work. We formed quite a bond and a very trusting relationship. Obedience was the first step, and he was a quick learner. The next step in our training was enhancing his already natural abilities as a hunting dog. We spent countless hours in the field and water working on everything from searching to retrieving to pointing and still to come, blood tracking (of wounded game). Wigeon’s drive to seek out and find any type of game is unmatched. If dogs could be diagnosed with ADHD, he’d have it. But I wouldn’t
I picked up Wigeon as an 8 week old pup from a young fellow in Spout Spring, VA, outside of Lynchburg. I was getting ready to move into an apartment by myself after a miserable experience with a bad roommate. I wanted a companion, as well as a hunting dog that I could mold and shape into a hard working machine. In the end, I got something much more than I could ever have imagined.
Wigeon was a cute pup, the color of chocolate brown and gray ticked, with a little white spot on his nose. Fellow brother Gifford rode down with me to pick the pup out of the litter in April of 2010. When asked what his breed is, I respond “He’s a German wirehair pointer” to make things easier. His actual breed is called the Deutsch Drahthaar, which translates to German Wirehair. The Germans have been breeding their own line of these dogs that has continued in the U.S. through natural ability testing and breeding.
That pooch and I spent every waking moment with each other when I wasn’t at work. We formed quite a bond and a very trusting relationship. Obedience was the first step, and he was a quick learner. The next step in our training was enhancing his already natural abilities as a hunting dog. We spent countless hours in the field and water working on everything from searching to retrieving to pointing and still to come, blood tracking (of wounded game). Wigeon’s drive to seek out and find any type of game is unmatched. If dogs could be diagnosed with ADHD, he’d have it. But I wouldn’t