When my lab leaves, going to try one. Duck dog first, then a shed hunter in off season. What breeders do you guys recomend. Also family dog?????

Both mine are Ritterburgs out of Woodbury, Minnesota. Both are very strong in water and duck work. Good in the upland fields and handle blood tracks well. The pup is a busy guy in the house but is a good boy. Wife loves both so I guess they will be staying.
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Don Lietzau - Dogs 2014 (35).jpg
I would go back to the same kennel in a heart beat. Not saying there are not other places to get a good DD, but it's one of the top choices in my book.
Don

Outstanding. Great looking dogs. Thanks. Quick question? If you get a puppy from a breeder, do you have to test them in the VJP or the VGP. Not sure what the letters are of the test. Do they have to be tested???

Main tests for the DD are
VJP........young dog...looking mostly at natural ability and cooperation
HZP.......Natural ability, cooperation and trainability
VGP.......High level of training. High level of cooperation, top of the line, versatile gun dog.

Most breeders use the VJP and the HZP for a benchmark in how their breeding program is working out. VDD requires passing the VJP and HZP before the pup can be considered into the Drahthaar Breed Program. Some breeders have enough of a track record to feel they have a handle on it so don't feel they need all their pups tested.
Others would like, in a perfect world, to have all their pups handled by expert trainers and tested.
That brings in the uncontrollable factor, human influence. My dog will get training from me and experiences I provide. Someone else gives their dog a completely different life setting. That said, pups from the same litter will not "test" the same. I could go on for ever but basically it boils down to picking a litter and then ask the breeder what he would require for testing. Hope you both can agree.
I met my first breeder and he would not sell me a pup because I would not promise to test. Living in Alaska we have to travel to the 48 so I was not prepared to make that promise. Other breeders have other opinions.
Look for a DD that comes from a kennel that hunts like you hunt. If your looking for a big game hound, look for a kennel that produces top of the line big game hunting dogs. If you are a water fowler, look to guys that produce dogs that are heavy on water ability. All these dogs do a decent job in all types of hunting, it's just that some breed lines are better at certain things than others.
Good Luck
Don

Thank you . That will matter weither i get one of these dogs. I am not a breeder, Duck hunter on Lake Okeechobee, but i will find things to do in off season. I do not want to test. So we will see . Again thank you.