William and Courtney Bastian are the husband-and-wife team behind Claddagh Kennel, where they are dedicated to producing purpose-bred German Wirehaired Pointers and Bracchi Italiani with the health, temperament, structure, and natural ability to excel in the field, in competition, and at home.
Since getting their first German Wirehaired Pointer in 2004 and whelping their first litter in 2007, William and Courtney have devoted themselves to preserving and promoting versatile hunting dogs that are as capable as they are beautiful. Their breeding program is built on thoughtful planning, hands-on experience, and a deep respect for each breed’s history, function, and purpose.
At Claddagh, breeding decisions are made with great care and intention. Only dogs that demonstrate sound temperament, appropriate health testing, correct breed type, and proven ability are considered for breeding. Titles are valued as one important way to validate quality and credibility, but they are never viewed as a substitute for real hunting experience, instinct, trainability, and the ability to live successfully as a companion.
William and Courtney personally hunt their dogs on upland birds and waterfowl and believe versatile dogs should be true hunting companions—capable in the field, sound in mind and body, and well suited for life with their families.
Claddagh dogs are bred for purpose, performance, and preservation.
William has trained, trialed, tested, and hunted dogs professionally since 2010. He is widely respected for his ability to develop natural talent into polished performance while maintaining the qualities that make a dog enjoyable to live and hunt with. His training approach is calm, positive, and consistent, allowing dogs to build confidence, independence, cooperation, and reliability.
Over the years, William has trained and handled dogs through all levels of AKC Hunt Tests, AKC Field Trials, and NAVHDA testing, including Natural Ability, Utility, and Versatile Champion. He has produced more than 300 titled dogs and numerous exceptional hunting companions for their owners.
William is an AKC Senior Hunt Test and Field Trial Judge and also judges for NAVHDA. He has judged throughout the United States and Canada, including several Pointing Breed National events. As a breeder, owner, trainer, and handler, William has proven dogs across NAVHDA, hunt tests, field trials, and conformation, demonstrating the versatility, soundness, and purpose behind the Claddagh program.
Living in Montana, William spends much of the upland season pursuing Sharptailed Grouse, Hungarian Partridge, pheasants, mountain grouse, while also traveling to hunt Chukar and other upland species. His experience on wild birds continues to shape the kind of dogs Claddagh strives to produce.
Courtney is the heart behind Claddagh’s breeding program and brings a unique combination of scientific knowledge, practical canine experience, and a trained eye for structure, movement, and breed preservation. She worked as a veterinary technician for 10 years, specializing in canine reproduction, rehabilitation, and sports conditioning, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology and Animal Science with a special interest in canine nutrition.
Courtney has long believed that true versatility begins with a dog that is structurally sound, mentally stable, physically capable, and purpose-bred for the work it was designed to do. She studies pedigrees, performance, and breed type from dogs around the world, always striving to preserve the qualities that make both the German Wirehaired Pointer and the Bracco Italiano functional, beautiful, and true to type.
She has handled dogs in conformation, agility, obedience, rally, hunt tests, field events, and NAVHDA. Her passion for structure and movement plays a central role in Claddagh’s breeding decisions. She believes correct conformation is not separate from performance, but foundational to it. A dog built correctly, with proper coat, balance, and sound movement, is better equipped to hold up in the field and perform over a lifetime.
Courtney is also well known in the bird dog world as the voice behind The Bird Dog Babe Podcast and as the founder of HerUpland, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, opportunity, conservation, and mentorship for women and youth in upland hunting, bird dog training, and the sporting dog community.
At Claddagh, versatility is not just a phrase—it is the standard. Whether breeding German Wirehaired Pointers or Bracchi Italiani, William and Courtney believe dogs should possess the instinct, trainability, temperament, structure, and soundness to do the job they were bred for.
Their German Wirehaired Pointers are bred with an emphasis on true versatility, harsh functional coat, sound structure, cooperation, and the grit and style needed to perform on fur and feather, on land and in water.
Their Bracchi Italiani are bred with equal focus on preserving correct breed type, sound temperament, functional movement, hunting instinct, and the noble character that makes the breed such a distinctive and rewarding companion in both the field and home.
Above all, Claddagh is committed to producing dogs that are honest representatives of their breeds—capable hunting partners, competitive in the appropriate venues, and cherished family companions.
William and Courtney are active members of NAVHDA and have long supported breed clubs, training groups, and sporting dog organizations through volunteering, judging, mentoring, and education. Over the years, they have served on local and national club boards, helped organize field trials, hunt tests, specialties, and training days, and contributed to opportunities that promote responsible breeding and versatile hunting dogs.
They have also volunteered at numerous nonprofit events and other sporting dog education opportunities, where they enjoy sharing knowledge with the public about bird dogs, breed purpose, and preservation.
NAVHDA remains an important part of how they evaluate natural ability, trainability, and breeding decisions, and they strongly believe in proving dogs through meaningful, purpose-driven work. They are also proud supporters of conservation and organizations dedicated to wildlife habitat, hunting heritage, and public access.
Claddagh is very much a family endeavor. Their children, Burke and Blayre, are growing up surrounded by dogs and the lifestyle that comes with them. From helping care for the dogs to interacting with puppies, they play an important role in the family-centered environment in which Claddagh puppies are raised.
Since welcoming their first GWP in 2004 and whelping their first litter in 2007, William and Courtney have remained committed to preserving and promoting German Wirehaired Pointers and Bracchi Italiani that are beautiful, functional, and bred with purpose.
After all…
“Life’s Too Short to Hunt Over an Ugly Dog.”
Noteworthy breeder accomplishments include:
2011 NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder’s Award
2012 NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder’s Award
2013 NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder’s Award
2012 GWPCA Top Producing Dam – Halleberry
2012 GWPCA Top Producing Sire – Timo
2013 Eukanuba Breeder’s Stakes Sporting Group 3 Placement
2013 GWPCA Top Producing Sire – Timo
2014 NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder’s Award
2014 NAVHDA Utility Breeder’s Award
2014 Eukanuba Breeder’s Stakes Sporting Group 4 Placement
2015 NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder’s Award
2015 GWPCA Top Producing Sire – Timo
2016 NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder’s Award
2016 GWPCA Top Producing Sire – Bisto
2017 NAVHDA Natural Ability Breeder’s Award
2017 GWPCA Top Producing Sire – Bisto
2017 GWPCA Top Producing Dam – Dora
2020 GWPCA Top Producing Sire – Merit
