The Heartland Chapter serves the midwest and is probably the largest membership group in the WPGCA.  So whether you already have a club dog and need help with training, or if you are new to the breed and  just want to meet a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon nose-to-nose, chances are there are chapter folks nearby who can accommodate you.   Here are some of the things we do:

Breed Testing
In recent years, our Spring and Fall tests have been held near Baraboo, Wisconsin at the Mazomanie Wildlife Area. One of our members, Ken Hurtig, has been very instrumental in the planning and development of the dog-training grounds there. Thanks to Ken and other dedicated hunting enthusiasts, we have access to an excellent facility for testing and training. The Spring Test, generally held in mid to late April, draws a larger crowd in part because the Fall Test in September competes with some folks early season bird hunting.

Although most of the dogs that you’ll see running in our tests have been bred through the WPGCA, and are being tested as part of our breeding program, the tests are open to any versatile hunting breeds. Anywhere from 12 to 20 dogs might test on a weekend, so depending on numbers, a test may be a two or three day affair. A typical test weekend begins with club members and visitors gathering at the America’s Best Value Inn on Highway 12 in Baraboo, Wisconsin. (You’ll know that you’re in the right place by all the bushy-faced dogs trotting about.) There’s generally a pizza party where old friends make new ones and swap stories about dogs and bird hunting and the up-coming tests. By 7:30 AM the next morning, folks are gathering at the test grounds about 25 miles away, where test chairmen Jim & Donna Crouse are busy getting everything ready for the day’s events.

For anyone who is considering joining the club and getting a club WPG, attending one of these tests is highly recommended. You get to see a lot of dogs in action and judge for yourself the quality, hunting style and temperament of our dogs. Club members are always welcome to explain the testing process to you and to make sure that you get a first-hand introduction to our griffons. On Saturday evening, we have a club dinner at the nearby Farmhouse Restaurant. Visitors are welcome to attend. There’s typically a fund raiser silent auction and a raffle, a brief business meeting and most important, a review of the test results. For any prospective club member, it’s a great opportunity to get acquainted with people who will help you train your future pup and probably become your hunting partners.  See recent Heartland Test Photo Gallery here

Judges Seminar
In some years, like 2008, the Chapter also hosts the Annual Judges Seminar, which is put on by the WPGCA Education and Research Foundation. The target audience for the seminar is the group of judges and apprentice judges for our testing program, but others are welcome. The seminars cover topics related to any topic relevant to our goals of breeding, developing, training and hunting with quality dogs that are true to the breed standards of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.


Exposure/Training Days
The Heartland Chapter also sponsors exposure and training days to help versatile gundog owners prepare for tests and to get the most out of their dog’s hunting potential. From April through September, training days are usually held monthly near Marshall Michigan. Contact Jim Crouse for details. We typically meet about 7:30 AM at the Country Kitchen Restaurant at the Marshall MI exit on I 94 and then spend the day training nearby. John Pitlo has also been hosting a training weekend in early August in Bellevue Iowa. Besides the dog training, folks camp out or stay in area motels and just have a fun weekend devoted to the dogs. See Exposure/Training Days Photo Gallery here.

The Heartland Chapter serves the midwest and is probably the largest membership group in the WPGCA.  So whether you already have a club dog and need help with training, or if you are new to the breed and  just want to meet a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon nose-to-nose, chances are there are chapter folks nearby who can accommodate you.   Here are some of the things we do:

Breed Testing
In recent years, our Spring and Fall tests have been held near Baraboo, Wisconsin at the Mazomanie Wildlife Area. One of our members, Ken Hurtig, has been very instrumental in the planning and development of the dog-training grounds there. Thanks to Ken and other dedicated hunting enthusiasts, we have access to an excellent facility for testing and training. The Spring Test, generally held in mid to late April, draws a larger crowd in part because the Fall Test in September competes with some folks early season bird hunting.

Although most of the dogs that you’ll see running in our tests have been bred through the WPGCA, and are being tested as part of our breeding program, the tests are open to any versatile hunting breeds. Anywhere from 12 to 20 dogs might test on a weekend, so depending on numbers, a test may be a two or three day affair. A typical test weekend begins with club members and visitors gathering at the America’s Best Value Inn on Highway 12 in Baraboo, Wisconsin. (You’ll know that you’re in the right place by all the bushy-faced dogs trotting about.) There’s generally a pizza party where old friends make new ones and swap stories about dogs and bird hunting and the up-coming tests. By 7:30 AM the next morning, folks are gathering at the test grounds about 25 miles away, where test chairmen Jim & Donna Crouse are busy getting everything ready for the day’s events.

For anyone who is considering joining the club and getting a club WPG, attending one of these tests is highly recommended. You get to see a lot of dogs in action and judge for yourself the quality, hunting style and temperament of our dogs. Club members are always welcome to explain the testing process to you and to make sure that you get a first-hand introduction to our griffons. On Saturday evening, we have a club dinner at the nearby Farmhouse Restaurant. Visitors are welcome to attend. There’s typically a fund raiser silent auction and a raffle, a brief business meeting and most important, a review of the test results. For any prospective club member, it’s a great opportunity to get acquainted with people who will help you train your future pup and probably become your hunting partners.  See recent Heartland Test Photo Gallery here

Judges Seminar
In some years, like 2008, the Chapter also hosts the Annual Judges Seminar, which is put on by the WPGCA Education and Research Foundation. The target audience for the seminar is the group of judges and apprentice judges for our testing program, but others are welcome. The seminars cover topics related to any topic relevant to our goals of breeding, developing, training and hunting with quality dogs that are true to the breed standards of the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.


Exposure/Training Days
The Heartland Chapter also sponsors exposure and training days to help versatile gundog owners prepare for tests and to get the most out of their dog’s hunting potential. From April through September, training days are usually held monthly near Marshall Michigan. Contact Jim Crouse for details. We typically meet about 7:30 AM at the Country Kitchen Restaurant at the Marshall MI exit on I 94 and then spend the day training nearby. John Pitlo has also been hosting a training weekend in early August in Bellevue Iowa. Besides the dog training, folks camp out or stay in area motels and just have a fun weekend devoted to the dogs. See Exposure/Training Days Photo Gallery here.