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🐾 Welcome to Our Bird Dog Blog

All Things Vizsla & German Shorthaired Pointer – Straight from Real-Life Experience

This blog is dedicated to life with sporting dogs—especially Vizslas and German Shorthaired Pointers. With over a decade of hands-on experience owning, training, hunting, and living alongside bird dogs, we share practical advice, honest insights, and stories from the field and home.

Here you’ll find helpful articles on puppy raising, training tips, health and nutrition, breed characteristics, hunting and performance work, and everyday life with high-drive dogs. Everything we write is based on real experiences with our own dogs, not just theory.

Whether you’re a first-time bird dog owner, an experienced handler, or simply love these incredible breeds, our goal is to provide valuable, easy-to-understand information to help you and your dog thrive.

Grab a cup of coffee, explore the posts, and enjoy life with bird dogs as much as we do!

Why puppy evaluations matter?

Everyone chooses to purchase a puppy or a certain breed for distinct reasons. Are you looking for your next hunting dog? Perhaps you decided you want to take up field trails or maybe you're an avid hiker/biker/etc. Perhaps you want a well-bred dog for your family. Being intentional about choosing the right breed for your lifestyle and home does not just end there. Once you have selected your desired breed for x,y, and z reasons and decided on a breeder you will need to choo

Sierra Combs

Feb 98 min read

Puppy Culture at Nosam Kennels

Nosam Kennels is proud to offer such an exceptional program with our litters! As breeders, we strive to provide our litters with an enriched environment as this has been proven to develop a more confident and easily trained dog. Our goal is to set each puppy up for success! However, Puppy Culture takes that a step further! For us it was an obvious decision to add this invaluable tool to our program to further our puppies' development and well-being! As a dog trainer, I under

Sierra Combs

Feb 95 min read

Five things we do to raise better puppies

Quick Guide about How Puppies At Nosam Kennels are raised

Sierra Combs

Feb 96 min read

Intro to Dog Shows: A Beginner’s Guide

What to Expect at a Dog Show: A Beginner’s Guide Dog shows can look a little intimidating from the outside, with gleaming coats, precise movement, and handlers who seem to know an unspoken language with their dogs. But at their core, dog shows are simply events that evaluate how closely a dog matches its breed standard, while celebrating training, structure, and temperament. Whether you’re attending your first show or thinking about entering your dog, here’s a simple breakdow

Sierra Combs

Jul 24 min read

What to Expect When Bringing Home a German Shorthaired Pointer Puppy

Bringing home a German Shorthaired Pointer (GSP) puppy is the start of a long-term partnership with one of the most intelligent, athletic, and driven sporting breeds. GSPs are versatile hunting dogs, loyal companions, and highly active family members that thrive when given structure, purpose, and consistency. At Nosam Kennels, we believe success begins long before a puppy leaves our care. Reputable breeding, intentional selection, and early development all play a critical rol

Sierra Combs

Jun 284 min read

What to Expect When Bringing Home a Vizsla Puppy

Bringing home a Vizsla puppy is an exciting milestone, but it’s also the beginning of a long-term commitment to a highly intelligent, athletic, and emotionally connected sporting dog. Understanding what to expect helps set both you and your puppy up for success from day one. At Nosam Kennels, we believe that a strong start begins long before a puppy ever leaves our care. Responsible, reputable breeding and early development play a major role in shaping temperament, confidence

Sierra Combs

Jun 283 min read

A Comparative Look at AKC Hunt Tests and NAVHDA Hunt Tests: Which is Right for You?

Sierra and her first AKC Junior Hunter Jager Hunting with dogs is not only a thrilling sport but also a deep-rooted tradition for many enthusiasts. For those looking to put their four-legged companions to the test, AKC (American Kennel Club) Hunt Tests and NAVHDA (North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association) Hunt Tests are two of the prominent avenues to showcase your dog's hunting skills. Let's delve into a comparative analysis of these two evaluation systems to help yo

Sierra Combs

Mar 18 min read

What Is AKC Scent Work? Why So Many Dog Owners Are Falling in Love with Scent Work

AKC Scent work intro

Sierra Combs

Feb 283 min read

The Myth of the Pick of the Litter

Pick of the litter in purebred dogs. Let's uncover this myth,

Sierra Combs

Feb 214 min read

How to Verify Dog OFA Results and Spot AI-Generated Fakes

When you’re looking to learn about a dog’s health, especially regarding genetic and orthopedic conditions, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) results are a key resource. These results help breeders, owners, and veterinarians understand a dog’s risk for certain inherited diseases. But with the rise of AI technology, some people have started creating fake OFA results, which can mislead buyers and harm breeding programs. This post explains how to find authentic OFA resu

Sierra Combs

Feb 196 min read

Understanding Gun Broke vs Noise Tolerant: Your Guide to Training Bird Dogs

A simple and straightforward guide to introducing hunting dogs to firearms correctly, and addressing whether dogs are inherently gun-shy.

Sierra Combs

Feb 176 min read

Things You Need to Know. First-Time Puppy Buyers

At Nosam Kennels, we are happy to set the standard for families and hunters as a reputable German Shorthaired Pointer or Vizsla breeder. Choosing the right breeder is essential to ensure your puppy is healthy, well-tempered, and ready for a life as a hunting dog or family companion. Below, we break down what goes into ethical breeding and how to identify breeders committed to producing healthy, versatile, and well-adjusted gundogs. HEALTH TESTING: A responsible breeder is o

Sierra Combs

Feb 108 min read