Briar Ridge Kennels - South Carolina Deutsch Drahthaar, German Wirehaired Pointer Breeders

For over forty four years, Briar Ridge Kennels has been raising Drahthaars. We have developed what we believe to be the finest line of gun dogs for the foot hunter in the United States. We sell Drahthaars all over North and Central America for quail, grouse, pheasant, ducks,dove and woodcocks.

While our emphasis is on hunting ability and coat, our Dornenberg Drahthaars have looks you can be proud of. Most all of the pups have roan coloring with liver head and markings. The males usually run in the 70 to 85 lb. class while the females are generally within the 50 to 60 lb. class. We raise only hunting Drahthaars, no field trial or "show" type dogs.

There are many more photos on the web site as well as additional information.

Deutsch Drahthaar, German Wirehaired Pointer

Bill Vannordstrand
1530 Meadowdale Road
Rock Hill, South Carolina 29732

Breeding quality gun dogs for over 44 years.

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Bill,
In response to your email I have attached three pictures of Bubba pointing. The fall was hot and especially dry here. He was slow to show any interest in pointing early and it concerned me at first but once he starting showing interest he has developed solid and no problem at all now. I didn't make it to Kansas this year. Dry and no birds. I thought about going to South Dakota but I didn't feel like Bubba was ready this fall to go that far at his age (9 months) and development.

Overall, I could not be more pleased. He is my fourth GWP and he has an unbelievable desire to hunt and the best nose of any dog I have ever owned and once he started showing interest in pointing he has nailed it. I used a 30' check cord only twice. He has a great personality and is a joy to be around. My friend are alway asking me what my lastest Bubba story is.

Out of the thousands of retrieves he has made during training, even as a young puppy, he has only failed to find one dummy. I have tossed dummies in every situation and cover I could find, even at night. He has never failed if scent was applied. He will not give up. The one he failed to find was in very thick cover and we had a couple of hard frost and when I went to get the dummy I could smell the sour grass. It was too overpowering but he hadn't given up and was still hunting when I found the dummy. I threw one dummy in some dead bulrush that had laid down on the water and I could tell from my position that it disappeared under the bulrush. He went straight to the area and hunted for about 10 minutes. He kept going back to the exact spot the dummy went under the bulrush and acted like he was scenting it. After three attempt of putting his head under water he came out with the dummy. I've been around a lot of retrievers in hunting situations and some field trials and I have never seen a dog that just would not give up. Bubba will not give up.

Thanks for all your help and a great dog.
Dennis Coxwell
Warrenton, GA.

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We purchased a male pup from Briar Ridge about 18 months ago. He has been the most responsive dog overall I have ever had. Responds well to correction, learns very quickly, great with not only kids, but with other dogs as well. I will be a return customer.

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I discovered briar ridge kennels website in a search for wire hairs...the site was basic...but immediately told me what I wanted to know...visited with bill by phone..then visited the kennel...was pleasantly surprised by both bill and his kennels and the presentation of his studs and bitches....only to be sadden that I could not have immediate gratification...no dog to take home THEN....days passed and I received a phone call that a party could not take their male....lucky me....bill called six weeks later....I will bring him or u come get him now....I was gone...spent the next two months sleeping with an caring for a fabulous animal....talented...bright...hung..great looking...he'll of a nose...atten months he has been in the field and water eight of the ten....is doing well....can hear better than most...he just ate my $$$$900.00 earring aids...but my fault for leaving them out..Hans is no only a great hunter...but a very loving friend and terrible funny....hope u all enjoy yours..as I have Hans....b

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I purchased a pup from Briar Ridge kennels Jan2012. now first year in field, doing outstanding! he points, steady to wing, big heart and drive to hunt.. Pleased to have purchased this dog.

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1 year old German Wirehaired Pointer (Deutsch Drahthaar)

We purchased our pup from Bill last September. She had been born in August (in fact on our then 9 year old son’s birthday) and we picked her up six weeks later. We actually flew to Rock Hill and went to Briar Ridge Kennels to pick her up.

What we found was a well-kept and obviously established kennel ran by a man that cares about the dogs he raises. Bill gave us a quick tour and showed us the parents of our pup and the other dogs around his place. Then we got to meet our pup.

There were two left, both females as we had requested. Both greeted us merrily and were obviously happy, healthy puppies. But Quilla (later re-named Daisy by the above-mentioned 9 year old son) stood out to both my wife and I. While both were energetic and friendly, Daisy took to us and we took to her.

She slept during the entire flight home then took right to our kids and our home. Within a couple of weeks (at about 8 weeks old), Daisy was consistently retrieving thrown dummies and by 10 weeks she had mastered “sit” and was catching on to “stay.” I’m no real trainer, and she is the first dog I have taken from pup all the way to actually hunting with her with no other trainer.

She continued to learn very well and is extremely intelligent, driven and passionate about hunting, retrieving and pleasing us in general. Not to mention she is a wonderful family dog and travel companion.

She is now just over a year old and on her first attempt on live, planted pigeons made two beautiful points and held until the birds were flushed. I now take her to a professional trainer once a week just to make sure I am doing things right. He is highly impressed with her and says she is much farther along than he would expect with a dog her age. He also says she is very easy to train and catches on right away. He says she simply “has it” and that her breeding is obviously very good.

She is now consistently pointing planted birds, doing beautiful water retrieves, double retrieves and blind retrieves. Her basic obedience is outstanding and her style and confirmation are absolutely stunning! Today was our dove opener and she got her first taste of that style of retrieving. She performed wonderfully and with another hunt or two should be very solid on them. As I type this, she is sleeping at my feet. She is truly a great working dog and a wonderful part of our family.

Bottom line is that if our dog is any indication of the quality of dogs Bill produces, (and I believe she is) he has gotten it right. I would not hesitate for a moment to buy another dog from him or to send a friend looking for a good, versatile dog his way. As a professional outdoor writer and photographer, I get the privilege of hunting all over the country and with some truly outstanding dogs. I have no doubts that, if I do what I should with Daisy, with some experience she will be a very special dog. If she doesn’t turn out to be just that, it will be my fault not hers.
Glenn Wheeler, Harrison, Arkansas.

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I highly recommend Bill to anyone who would like to own a Drahthaar. He is extremely knowledgeable and more than willing to talk to perspective owners about Drahthaars. I received Whiskey in late October and I can not be more happy or proud of the dog that Bill bred for us. Whisky is a great puppy and has been learning very fast. His coloring is fantastic and I am excited to see him get in the field. I purchased Whiskey from Bill over three other breeders because he is easy to work with and he produces great hunters. I Live in the Chicago land area and Bill was able to ship my dog to O Hare airport which went seamlessly. Bill is the go to guy for Drahthaars.

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I picked up my first pup up in oct. Jager is 4 months old and already shows great quailities. Jager is the 3rd drathaar ive have and at 4 months he is better than the othets when they were 5yrs old. Loves the water no briar patch is too thick. Very soft mouth. And great with kids. With that said i picked up my 2nd pup today. Bill is a very honest breeder he doesnt have a puppy farm his dogs are part of his family. I would recomend him to anyone.

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I puchased a female pup from Bill last year. On November the 20th of this year I took her on her first Quail hunt. She was 13 months old. This dog after the first quail knew exactly what the game plan was. She pointed the second bird and after the shot she brought the bird to me. She did this for several hours without a mistake. That was all it took. Without a doubt these are some of the smartest bred a hunter could ask for. She is also a great family pet. Ralph Wear Salisbury NC

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My wife and I had an excelent experience working with Bill in selecting our puppy (Millie) Moon from Briar Ridge Kennels.

Bill answered all of questions and concers prior to us even selecting the Drathaar breed. We even took a 5 hour drive to Briar Ridge to inspect the facilities and watch Bill handle his dogs prior to making our decission. Bill runs a first class kennel with a great set up. You will never have to worry about this kennel being a puppy mill.

Over the past 25 years, my wife and I have owned English Setters, Labs and Weimaraners. When our Weimaraner passed this winter we were looking for a family/hunting breed with a good disposition and strong hunting and retrieving instincts. Our Drathaar, Millie Moon, is now 5 months old and I am certain we choose the right breed and the right breeder.

Millie has been very easy to train and has a great disposition around people and a variety of domesticated and wild animals we have introduced to her on the farm. My wife is a wildlife rehabilitator and it was imperitive that the new member of our family could tolerate other animals.

On the hunting and training side of things, I have just introduced her to dove and quail. She is showing all the proper instincts at just 5 months of age. I fully believe by late winter she will be a tremendous asset in the field.

If you are considering a Drathaar, I would highly recommend Bill and Briar Ridge Kennels. We found Bill very knowledgable of the breed and a pleasure to work with on selecting our newest member of the family.

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When I started looking for a hunting dog, I wanted one that would be able to do it all, and then I came across Bill and Briar Ridge. I live in Idaho so I needed a hunting dog that could hunt an any kind of weather and terrain. Duke is not only a wonderful hunting partner he is also a wonderful family member. Duke is very friendly to everyone, especially little kids. For only being a little older than a year old, he has awesome traits. Duke is a very smart dog and was a very easy dog to train, not only basic commands but also in the field. Everywhere I take him I get so many compliments on how he is such a beautiful dog with a beautiful coat. I can't wait to get him back in the field to start this years hunting season. Thanks Bill for the wonderful dog and family member you have given me.

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