POWDER RIVER SPORTING DOGS, LLC

Griffon Testimonials

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Here are some testimonials from past litters.

 

bulletIn late 2003 I purchased a male started dog from Brian Johnston of Powder River Sporting Dogs. Charlie (our Griffon) is a wonderful, intelligent dog. He is eager to please, which makes him very easy to train. He picks up new commands and tasks quickly and is a joy to have around. Brian made the purchase of Charlie very easy and he is, in my opinion, a good and conscientious breeder. He communicated very well both before and after we acquired Charlie. Brian is obviously concerned ,not only about breeding an excellent Griffon, but about the welfare of the Griffons he sells. I have no hesitation in recommending both Brian Johnston and his Griffons.

William

 

bulletI must tell you Brian has been a wonderful breeder and a truly nice person.  He took good care of the litter and gave me great information the entire way through whelping and has contacted me a few times to check up on my pup and her progress. The pup I have is about 6 months old now and she is tremendous.  I keep her as an indoor pet as well as a field dog.  She is already retrieving and has been hunting now a quite a bit. She makes a great companion and she works well also.  I had my pup house broken and following basic commands in about 3 weeks (about 12 weeks old).  This is a tremendous breed. The only problem I really have with her is that she loves water too much.  She tends to have a fit if she can not shower with me or if she hears the bath tub water running she has to be in it. In the field however she is fantastic at diving into water and after some work....retrieving.
I would be happy to answer anything more you may want to know about her or my experience...just ask away.   I highly recommend Brian and powder river sporting dogs.  Great breed.

           Rob

bullet Wow! What a great dog.  My friends are jealous because she is showing strong hunting instincts plus she is a tremendously social dog.  When she greets me her whole body wiggles. She is 6 months old now and has mastered come, sit, kennel, potty, and is working on heel. She is a very fast learner. I'm not just saying that because she is my dog, she is ( it makes training easy). I love her and I can't imagine living without her. My husband incidentally is quite fond of her as well. She and I have explored a lot this winter. I've gone to places I haven't been since I was a kid. Yesterday while looking for vacation land she flushed her first partridge, by accident of course but is was fun to see her try to find it.  I couldn't be happier with her. I will send pictures at some point. Especially since your grampy and all. I will stay in touch.  God Bless, Florence, Benny, and Lucy

 

bulletI purchased a male pup from Brian in September of 2003. I've had Labs, Brits and English Setters over a period of years and liked every one of them.  I trained every hunting dog I've owned. My last Lab died and I started to look for another pup when I heard of a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon. I had never seen the breed so I went on the internet to check it out.  I went on a job in central Oregon and saw a Griffon in a pickup at a convenience store.   I asked the owner how he liked the dog.  He said the dog retrieved ducks and pointed ringnecks and chuckars.  He gave me the breeders name that he had purchased the dog from. As luck would have it the breeder only lived about 20 miles from where I was working.  I gave the people a call to see if they had any pups for sale. They had no pups but invited me out to see their dogs.  I was impressed with the dogs.  I went back on the internet and run across Brian at Powder River.  He stated on his website that he breeds his dogs to be very birdy. That's an understatement. I've never had a pup that was intelligent, birdy and easy to work with as this pup from Brian. I would recommend anyone who is interested in a Griffon to talk with Brian.  You can't go wrong. You'll get a dog that does it all and will be one of the best buddy's you've ever had.~~~~~~~~~~Tom~~Coos Bay, OR.
 
bulletI would be happy to talk to you about the dogs. We went to the Griffon breed 2 years ago, looking for close in pointing dogs that don't shed much. We live in a colder climate so the nature of these dogs fits our environment. (They are both somewhat lethargic on hot days). That is exactly what we got in these dogs.

The female Griffon (Heidi) I purchased from Brian has done very well. She is 11 months old now and is pointing and retrieving very well. I also have a 2+ year old male Griffon purchased from a breeder in Champion MI. The breeders of the male are "show" people. The male has excellent confirmation and has a very strong drive to please. He is now steady to wing and shot. I guided and hunted at a local preserve with the male last season. I also had him in Montana (into wild birds) and I duck hunted here in Michigan with him last season. We shot somewhere close to 200 birds over him. I have attached a picture of him at 14 months.

Comparing to 2 dogs, Brian's female has much more prey drive. At 10 months she is steady on point and she'll find more birds faster than my male. I have never had any problems with her moving too far out away from us and I have only had to introduce her to an electric collar. She received light stimulation once or twice when not responding to a whistle and I have had no problems since then. I haven't tried to steady her to wing and shot. The trainer I train with doesn't believe dogs should be steadied until after the first full bird season. She whoa broke very easily and required one 10 min session of force breaking to retrieve to hand. I am looking forward to her first full season in the field.

Because she has much more prey drive, she is more challenging indoors. Both dogs are kenneled at night and during periods throughout the day when no one is home. The male spends significant time in the house with my wife and kids. Heidi is very docile and loves to play with the kids, however, she can't be left unwatched indoors. I believe she will get better as she grows up but we see a clear difference at this age. She has chewed up a few pair of shoes and a piece of furniture when the kids left her by herself (for which I blame the kids). She also chases my daughters indoor cat relentlessly, where as our older male dog generally leaves the cat alone.

I train both dogs once a week with friends at Just-a-muc Gun Dog Training Center using pigeons early in the year and pheasants starting about August 1. I whoa broke her on a training table and trained her to come on a whistle using a pulley system at 6 months. The owner of the Training Center has said he hasn't had many pups at the center who can do the things she can do at her age.

The last thing I would say is that I do spend significant time training. We see dogs at the training center who can't do a thing because their owners don't work with them but for 10 minutes, 2 times a month. The pup of Brian's that I have has great drive which is maybe the most important trait. If you get one you clearly have great stock to develop an excellent pointing dog.

Norm

 

bulletI wanted to let you know how satisfied I am with your kennel, service and my
new pup.

From our first conversation, straight through pick-up you always had time
for my questions. If I left a message, someone got back promptly. I had
contacted two other regional WPG breeders during my initial investigation,
including an on-site visit to one. Your kennel and service stood out. The
web site is very informative. You run a first rate operation.

The pup is a treat. She is smart and shows great drive. At 10 weeks old,
basic commands are a snap. She went into the shallow part of the creek at
first sight and shows a love for water. She socializes well with other dogs
and people. It's easy to see the pups are treated well during those critical
first weeks. She'll be a top flight hunter and is a great addition to our
family.

Feel free to use me as a referral. I'll send you some photos.

Best Regards,

K.C.

 

bulletWe thought you might enjoy seeing Star at a year old. She has fit right in with the family and enjoys being in the house and the pool- which is not like any hunting dog we've owned before! My wife is trying to take over our hunting dog and turn her into a house pet. Star seems to agree with her right now but Clay and I have plans for her this fall. We are looking forward to hunting the Iowa pheasant and water fowl. Star will have to leave the Shepherds at home with my wife and get used to the outdoor life with the men of the family.

She sure is a lot of fun and we thank you very much for such a good dog. She has a lot of drive and a lot of natural ability. We have never seen such a soft mouth and a willingness to please. She did very well in her obedience classes. We'll let you know how the hunting goes.

-Scott 

 

bullet

Brian,
 
 Our little guy arrived last night.  He is happy and healthy ,a little smelly and amazingly energetic !  We met his sister and her new owners at the airport, they are bigger than we thought they would be and so cute.

 Thanks so much for sending us such a friendly, handsome and Smart little puppy.   Love the face washes .  He comes when we call him and brings back toys and sits sometimes when we ask already.  Good nose,  he doesn't miss a thing !
 
 Only one or two little accidents in the house so far !  Don't know if this is due to diligence on our part but he seems  to learn very quickly.     I know it's early days yet.
  
 Hilarious encounter with a full length mirror had us rolling on the floor laughing.

 Our 22 year old son stopped by this morning to meet him and he loves him already. They will be hunting partners  down the road.
 
 We have named him Beckett.  Lil Beck so far.

 Thanks again.  Will send updates and pics as he grows.

  Paul  and Moira

 

bullet
Hi Brian:
Just a quick note to say thanks. Cody is the best dog, not alone is it the best companion for my wife, but for me she is my hunting partner. I have never trained a hunting dog before, but she has done a great job on me. At 10 months old she has had at least 80/90 birds shot over her. She was in the field at 6 months old just having fun and she is still having fun. I never used a shock collar and never will. Her ability to find the birds is incredible. I' am already looking for a good Grouse Hunting spot for next year. I may even be coming out to ND.

 

 Thanks again Brian she is something else.
 
 
Best Regards:
John & Jo

 

Brian,
 
    Connie and I wanted to update you about our dog (Toolie-short for Talula) we purchased from you about 1.5 years ago. Toolie is a small female with a high level of intelligence and vigor. From the time she came to us, Toolie was pointing birds and locking up on dummies and pheasant wings. Finally, Connie let me put Toolie with a local trainer who works primarily with pointers. He keeps telling us, we were fortunate to have found such a dog-intelligent, soft, attentive and with such a good nose; (of coarse I think this has to do with the breeding!). I hope to hunt with Toolie this coming fall after the both of us are trained! That would be Toolie and me; Connie, of coarse does not need to be trained because Toolie and Connie are inseparable when they are at home-haha-Connie and her shadow!
 
More to come,
 
Kevin and Connie

 

Hi Brian,  

I just wanted to let you know the puppy I purchased October 2006 is a great hunting dog with a spectacular nose and enthusiasm. We lived in Brainerd at the time, but since have moved to California . When in Brainerd we trained at the local Springer Breeder, Pine Shadows. Every time we went out starting at 10 weeks old, we had many compliments on how lucky I was to have such a talented dog by the Springer Club Members. I really didn’t know how good I had it, until we hunted with a few other dogs this season. Not only is she a great hunter but a wonderful addition to the family. The girls can’t get enough of her and vise a versa. We just finished our first season and we hunted 65 pheasants, 35 ducks, and 22 Valley Quail. Codie is great dog and I have had at least a dozen people ask for you info.  

Thanks once again,  

John
 

Hi Brian,

              I have been meaning to drop you a line to let you know how Louie has been doing and to send you a few pictures of him. They were taken last year in SD.
              I can't speak highly enough of him, he is the best dog I have ever owned. I am also quite taken with the breed. After a few days of hunting he decided that he must be a pointer and has been pointing out the birds ever since without any pointer training!
              My bird loss ratio has been greatly reduced as well, if he sees them go down then he will find them no matter what. I have had more enjoyment out of last falls hunt than the last 20 years of hunting combined I just can't think of even one negative to report with the exception of perhaps the breed does not handle very hot weather too well, which is usually not a problem.
             I have talked my wife into letting me purchase another male pup from you. I wanted to ask what your breeding schedule looks like for the future. Preferably next spring or perhaps this summer? Please advise.
            One of the big problems that we had last fall is wearing the dogs out, I found that I could actually use two dogs to keep them fresh and rotate them.
              Thanks again for a great dog, Jeff A

 

Hello Brian, just a note to let you know that Pepper is Awesome, she is not only a great Bird dog but a great companion as well. We are in are forth season of hunting roosters in Kansas. She is a fantastic four legged tracking machine, wow what a nose. The memories that she has given me are unforgettable I am sure folks probably get tired on me talking about her but I can't help it she is truly amazing. I just wanted to say thanks again for a great dog, I waited 20 years for this dog she was worth the wait. 
 
Take care Brian, and thanks again
Derek from Colorado

 

Hey Brian,
     Just checking in with you to let you know how well Jocey is doing. She is 2 1/2 yrs old now and hunting like a champ. I attached some pictures we took this past weekend hunting pheasants. Everywhere we go with her people say "What kind of dog is that?". She is such a good girl. We love her dearly. Hope you and your family had a nice holiday.

 

Jim and Joy

 

Brian,  I just want to let you know how happy I am with the puppy I got from you last year.  I have had him just over a year now.  He is truly the smartest dog I have ever owned.  He picks up on everything.  I have never been a hunter nor did I ever plan to be but I still choose this breed knowing that I am very active outside and assumed that one of these dogs would be happy with me as I am so active.  I knew that he would be able to enjoy the outdoors and get lots of exercise as I am so active.
 
When Woolington turned 1 in Feb I began to rethink my original thoughts.  I decided that it would be great for him to do what he was breed to do.  I found an AKC HT judge that only lives 3 miles from me.  He has GWP which I now have one of those as well.  I got her 3 months after I got Woolington.  
 
Gerdie my GWP is a great dog as well but I much prefer the traits of the WPG.  I will never be without one.  I hope that you continue to breed as I am not ready to get a puppy in your May litters but will be planning on getting another puppy from you next spring.  I see that you are only down to 2 females now.  The differences between the 2 breeds is remarkable.  If I only had the German I would love her and think that she was the greatest but to compare her to the temperament of a Griff.  There is no comparison.  
 
Well back to the hunting.  We had to wait for the weather to break.  Woolington has had 4, 1 hour sessions with myself and Bill (the AKC HT judge).  Gerdie has been with him for 30 days.  When he meant both dogs he told me that I would be able to train him myself but may need a little help with her.  She is coming along fine to but keep in mind she is being worked with 4-5 days a week.  She has high drive but has some issues with attention to the handler.  
 
Woolington on the other hand in 4 sessions we decided that I was more then likely not ready but we just wanted to see how he would do at a HT.  I planned on taking both dogs but the female is in heat. So she had to stay home.  HE WAS REMARKABLE!!!!!  He received 
8 hunting
9 ability to find birds
8 point
8 trainability
 
I feel kind of bad.  We were partnered with a GSP.  We got all of the birds.  The other dog did not get any.  On my part it may of been beginners luck.  But not for my dog.  He knows what to do and how to do it.  I would recommend to anyone wanting a Griff to get one from you.  Your dogs are exceptional.
 
Thank you for the chance to have a Griff.  You are fortunate to have Utes and I feel very fortunate to have one of his offspring.
 
Thank you Lisa       

 

Brian, our pup from the May littler is now 7 months old and is simply an incredible guy. He has both coat and conformation, and is a hit everywhere we take him. I do plan to start him on field trials next year as he is quick to track as well as a wonderful companion.

I cannot thank you enough for sending him along to us. Your dogs are outstanding in every respect. I'll send some pics soon as I clean him up from his outing this weekend in the snow and mud.

Thanks again and Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Dory

 

Brian,
 
I wanted to write to you and let you know how AWESOME the pup I got from you a couple of years is!  She is an amazing hunter and superb companion.  Sophie has blossomed into one of the best dogs I have ever had.  Her natural instincts are terrific.  She is two years old now and this is her third season.  I say that as she was hunting at three months old that first year!  haha.  Even as a pup her points were sometimes so hard and intense she would just pee.  She is a very methodical and intense hunter with a great nose.  She has become a very mannered dog with a great attitude and all the fundamentals I want. She retrieves points rock steady and backs nicely.  She also has one of the best personalities of any dog I have ever had as well.  I can't say enough about my little girl Sophie.  I love her to death. 
 
I just thought you might like to know and I hope you plan on breeding for years to come because I wouldn't think of buying a pup from any other breeder at this point!  I hope you like to pictures I have attached! 
 
Sincerely, Scott
 
P.S.  She is a HELLA GOOD chukar dog which is what I hunt most.  And really good chukar dog's are hard to come by sometimes.

Hi Brian,  

We purchased Baxter, one of Molly’s puppies, 3 years ago and we Baxter is the best hunting dog and the best companion we could ever ask for! 

 We are wondering how much longer you would be breeding Molly.  As we are interested in getting another one of her puppies.  If you think she’ll have more litters we would wait, but if not, we may be interested in getting one of the current male puppies.  

Please let me know.  

Thanks Brian,

Wendy

 

Brian, Thanks for the note. I currently have a griffin from you that is maybe 6 years old. I have had many dogs in my life but he might be the best  I have ever had. The most loyal animal I have ever seen. He is a great hunter but he is also my running buddy. I run Marathons and train on country roads with DOC. When I take a morning off he will carry around my running shoes all morning. He will also go on multiple runs in a day with other family members. He is not on a leash and will run 20 miles if I put in 10. I am sure he has run over 100 miles in one day. Keep me on your list. Good luck with your current litter. I will pass on to a friend that has a Griff in Topeka. Thanks, Greg 

 

 

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