DEUTSCH DRAHTHAAR UK
The home of the Deutsch Drahthaar in the UK » Hip Dysplasia Schemes in Drahthaars

All breeding stock under the VDD breeder regulations must be certified ‘HD Frei’ as one of the requirements of the pedigree being stamped suitable for breeding. X-Rays are submitted directly to the VDD Central Office who assess the plates and certificates with results are sent back to the breeder.

In the UK, the scheme is run by the BVA. Although it is a club guideline and a KC recommendation, German Wirehaired Pointers do not have to be certified HD free and most breeders do not hip test.

It is, however, a requirement of breeders under the Kennel Club Accredited Breeder scheme (such as our own Kimmax Kennels) that dogs should be hip scored (but ironically does not have a requirement what the maximum scores must be).

As most breeders do not hip score, the reported BVA UK breed averages only apply to scored dogs (which in German Wirehaired Pointers is only 236 dogs between 1983 and 2005, so only about an average 10 dogs a year out of about 400 bred.

The German Wirehaired Pointer average breed hip score is 11 one of the lowest in gundogs and only a handful of breeds have a better score. However, under the VDD system, whilst this would still be certified HD free, it would be shown as a category of ‘Fast Normal’ ie. near normal hips.

This compared to German Shorthaired Pointer at 10, Labradors at 15, Golden Retrievers at 19, English Springer Spaniels at 13, Cocker Spaniels at 14, Field Spaniels at 15, Welsh Springer Spaniel at 18. Weimeraner at 13, Pointer at 11, Gordon Setter at 23, Irish Setter at 15 and English Setters at 19.

The worst results in gundogs ar Clumber Spaniels at 40, Sussex Spaniels at 37.

Comparing international Hip Schemes is difficult but below is a chart comparing the major schemes (this is shown purely as an aid and is not a guarantee).

So if you are buying a Deutsch Drahthaar under the VDD, the dogs parents will be HD Free certified, and they should be generally better than hip scored UK German Wirehaired Pointers.

However, if you are buying a UK German Wirehaired Pointer, DO NOT buy unless the parents are hip scored as the published average is 11 and is only a small sample. Scores from 0 to 77 have been recorded by the BVA for German Wirehaired Pointers.