Boavida Gundogs

24/09/2026

23/09/2026

In the field at the Armbruster

We spent a lot of time in the field at this year’s Armbruster watching the dogs being tested.

Search, nose, pointing, cooperation, steadiness and the ability to handle pressure — this is where you begin to see the breeding behind a Drahthaar.

South Africa presents these dogs with an enormous variety of hunting opportunities. Greywing in the mountains, francolin and guineafowl across open country, waterfowl, pigeons and many other gamebirds all ask different questions of a dog.

Our aim at Boavida is to keep the hunting dog at the centre of our breeding programme.

A pedigree can tell us where a dog came from. The field tells us what we actually have.

The more Drahthaars we train and hunt over in South Africa, and the more dogs we see within the VDD system internationally, the better informed our breeding decisions become.

That is a process we intend to continue for many years

23/09/2026

A fantastic morning spent in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula experiencing ruffed grouse and woodcock hunting for the first time.

A big thank you to Ryan Rogers, who took me into one of his local grouse coverts with his Deutsch Drahthaar, Goldie, and gave me the opportunity to experience this very different style of bird hunting.

Nate Akey hunted his 11-year-old Deutsch Kurzhaar, Tikka, who performed exceptionally well. Her experience really showed in the way she handled the birds, with some exceptional pointing work on woodcock in the thick cover.

Hunting alongside Ryan, Nate and Josh Logan brought another dimension to the experience. The camaraderie, fellowship and willingness of local hunters to share their knowledge, their dogs and their country made the morning something special.

Thank you, Ryan, for the time and effort you put into making it happen. A memorable introduction to hunting the “King of American Game Birds” in his own country.

22/09/2026

What a fantastic event this was in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan!

22/09/2026

South Africa deserves Drahthaars bred, developed and tested with a proper understanding of what the breed was created to be.

That is why Boavida travelled to the USA to attend the VDD-GNA Armbruster.

It wasn’t simply about attending an international event. It was about learning directly from the people responsible for protecting the Deutsch-Drahthaar — sitting in breed seminars, studying Form and Hair, watching the testing system in practice and spending time with experienced judges, Breed Wardens, breeders and handlers.

Last Friday, Claudia assisted with translations while Axel Karlstedt, Chief Breed Warden of the VDD, presented to the Breed Judges, with VDD-GNA Breed Warden Mike Fortner hosting an incredibly knowledgeable group.

For Boavida, protecting the Drahthaar in South Africa means staying connected to the international VDD system and continuing to learn from those who have spent decades preserving the breed.

We don’t want to reinvent the Drahthaar for South Africa.

We want to preserve what generations before us worked so hard to create — and then prove those dogs where it matters: in the field.

That is the responsibility we have taken on at Boavida.

13/09/2026

There is something about a Teckel that makes you wonder how so much character fits into such a small dog.

Bold, determined, clever and endlessly entertaining, they were bred to work — and they seem to approach life with exactly the same attitude. Whether exploring the veld, following a scent or simply making themselves part of everything happening around the house, a Teckel rarely goes unnoticed.

Our latest little ones have been a pleasure to watch develop. Curious noses, busy minds and that unmistakable Teckel confidence are already starting to show.

From this litter, we still have one little female looking for the right home.

For us, that means far more than simply finding someone who wants a puppy. We would love to see her with someone who appreciates what these remarkable little working dogs are all about and will give her the opportunity to become everything she can be.

If you think she might belong in your story, you are welcome to contact Boavida privately.

12/09/2026

Evaluation Day at OR Tambo ✈️🐾

A very successful evaluation day at OR Tambo International Airport with Drew, our young Border Collie working in bird-strike control.

Cheri Watson from Boavida conducted the evaluation alongside Lionel from ACSA.

Drew’s performance has been outstanding. Over the past two months, he has settled extremely well into his working environment, bonded strongly with his handler, and developed into a confident and competent young working dog.

Most importantly, he is doing the job he was trained for — working the airfield, moving birds away from the runway environment and helping to reduce the risk of bird strike.

For such a young dog, his ability and performance in the field have been exceptional. It is extremely rewarding to see him progress from training into a genuine operational role and perform so well.

Well done, Drew — an outstanding start to his career as a bird-strike control dog.