At Claddagh Kennel, our goal is to produce German Wirehaired Pointers and Bracchi Italiani that are truly versatile hunting companions – dogs with strong natural instinct, stable temperament, and the ability to excel in the field while living as valued members of the family.
We do not add dogs to our breeding program until they’ve proven themselves as outstanding hunting dogs, meet the breed standard, complete all required health testing, and demonstrate ability in advanced sanctioned hunt/field and NAVHDA testing.
We believe testing programs through NAVHDA and AKC are excellent tools for evaluating natural ability, trainability, and overall working potential.
Because our puppies go to homes across the country, we require all puppy buyers to run a NAVHDA Natural Ability tests (ages 6 – 16 months). This helps us better understand what each breeding produces and guides our long-term program decisions.
Puppies are not always available, and we place dogs based on fit, not first-come, first-served. We breed infrequently, and some families remain on our list for 2-3 years, because a puppy been available does not automatically mean it’s the right match for every home.
In addition to puppies, we occasionally have:
If you’re open to a started or finished dog, please mention that in your questionnaire – availability can change your timeline significantly.
If you’re serious about a Claddagh dog, we strongly recommend visiting to watch our dogs work in the field. We want you to see their hunting style, temperament, and overall structure firsthand – and to handle them, including coat texture and condition. We’re proud of what we produce and want you to feel confident about your decision.
The best way to contact us is via email: claddaghkennel@gmail.com
Your first step is completing our PROSPECTIVE OWNER QUESTIONNAIREso we can learn your goals, timeline, and what kind of dog will best match your home.
We are not the type of breeder that sends a puppy out the door and disappears. We value frequent communication and provide lifetime mentorship and support
Email us at claddaghkennel@gmail.com or call 406-544-7581 to Inquire
To get on our waiting list for a future litter, request our puppy questionnaire, email claddaghkennel@gmail.com
*Fully health-tested parents, including: Hips, Elbows, Thyroid, CERF, and Cardiac
*Proven hunting/performance titles on sire and dam
*Our dogs are hunted heavily each year on wild birds (ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, pheasant, and Huns)
*Lifetime support and mentorship for training, testing, hunting, and day-to-day living
*Educated, experienced breeders with Biology/Animal Science degree and 10+ years as a veterinary technician (special interest in nutrition + canine athletics), plus ongoing continuing education
*Heavily discounted professional gun dog training, exclusive to our puppy/dog owners
*Puppies are raised in the home with intentional socialization (visitors, varied environments, exposure to other dogs/animals)
*Puppies are evaluated by a panel of outside experienced evaluators at ~8 weeks old
*Puppies receive bird exposure and are evaluated for early field traits
*We only breed when we want something from the litter for ourselves.
*Puppies are dewormed, vaccinated, microchipped, and registered before going home (typically around 8 weeks of age)
