What Goes Into
a Well-Bred Puppy

We believe families are not simply purchasing a puppy; they are investing in years of health, sound temperament, trainability, and lifelong breeder support. At Nosam Kennels, we thoughtfully breed our German Shorthaired Pointer and Vizsla puppies from health-tested parents, carefully considering temperament, structure, natural ability, and the qualities that make these breeds exceptional companions and working dogs. Every Nosam puppy receives comprehensive veterinary care, purposeful early development, socialization, and foundational training before ever going home. Our program reflects the time, breed-specific health testing, planning, and hands-on care that goes into responsibly breeding and raising well-bred GSP and Vizsla puppies we are proud to stand behind. We welcome families to apply by thoughtfully completing our puppy application. Our ideal families choose Nosam Kennels intentionally because they value responsible breeding, proper puppy development, and responsible dog ownership as much as we do. When our values align, we can provide each puppy with the strongest possible start and the best opportunity for a lifetime of success.

A Thoughtful Beginning

At Nosam Kennels, raising well-bred German Shorthaired Pointer and Vizsla puppies means much more than caring for a litter for eight weeks. Every puppy represents years of decisions made before that litter was ever born, from researching pedigrees and evaluating potential breeding dogs to health testing, proving our dogs, planning pairings, and ultimately raising and evaluating each puppy individually. Our goal isn't simply to produce puppies. It's to preserve the qualities that make the German Shorthaired Pointer and Vizsla exceptional while making thoughtful improvements with each generation.

Proven Dogs. Purposeful Breeding.

We believe breeding dogs should demonstrate more than potential.

The German Shorthaired Pointer and Vizsla were developed as hunting dogs, and preserving that natural ability is central to our breeding program. Our dogs are proven through recognized venues including AKC Hunt Tests, NAVHDA, conformation, and other performance events. Nosam dogs have earned hunting titles and evaluations from Junior Hunter through Senior Hunter and NAVHDA Natural Ability prizes, and our dogs have also spent seasons working as hunting guide dogs for both novice and experienced hunters.

For hunters looking for their next bird dog, that matters.

We don't rely solely on pedigree or assume a dog can hunt because of its breed. We want firsthand information about natural bird drive, search, cooperation, trainability, temperament, stamina, and the ability to work with a handler in the field.

But the letters behind a dog's name aren't the entire point.

Hunt tests, NAVHDA evaluations, conformation, and performance events give us additional information about the dogs we're breeding. We combine those evaluations with health testing, pedigree research, structure, temperament, and our own experience hunting, training, and living with our dogs when planning the next generation.

Our goal isn't to breed for one ribbon, one weekend, or one type of hunter.

We want to produce versatile GSPs and Vizslas with the natural ability to hunt, the structure and stamina to do the work, the trainability to develop into capable hunting partners, and the temperament and off switch to come home and live with their families when the day is over.

Looking for Your Next Hunting Dog?

Whether you've hunted over pointing dogs for years or you're looking for your first bird dog, we'd love to hear from you.

You don't need a long list of hunting accomplishments to be considered for a Nosam puppy. We're just as happy to work with someone who wants to get started as we are with an experienced hunter looking for their next dog.

If you're interested in upland hunting, hunt tests, NAVHDA, or simply want to explore what your GSP or Vizsla was bred to do, tell us when you reach out. Understanding your goals helps us consider the right breeding and, eventually, the individual puppy we believe best fits what you want to do together.

New to bird dogs? Don't let that stop you. Every experienced hunter started somewhere.

Health Starts Before the Litter

A healthy puppy begins long before birth.

Our GSP and Vizsla breeding dogs complete breed-appropriate health testing and genetic screening before we consider them for our breeding program.

Health testing cannot guarantee that a living animal will never develop a health condition. It gives us more information, helps us make educated breeding decisions, and reduces avoidable hereditary risks.

Our program includes, as appropriate for the breed:

Comprehensive health testing on both parents
Breed-specific genetic screening
Hip and elbow evaluations
Eye examinations
Cardiac evaluations
Pedigree and family-history research

Once puppies arrive, that commitment continues with:

Routine veterinary care
Puppy wellness examinations
Age-appropriate vaccinations
Routine deworming
Individual puppy health records
Proper tail docking and dewclaw removal when applicable
Permanent microchipping

Standing Behind Our Puppies

Health testing helps us make informed breeding decisions, but no breeder can guarantee that a living animal will never develop a health condition. We can thoughtfully select and health test our breeding dogs, provide appropriate veterinary care for every litter, and stand behind the puppies we produce. Every Nosam puppy is covered by our 2-year health guarantee against certain hereditary and congenital conditions, subject to the terms, requirements, and exclusions outlined in our Puppy Contract.

We encourage families to review the contract before committing to a puppy so you understand what is covered, what we ask of our puppy owners, and the responsibilities we share in giving your puppy the best chance at a healthy life.

Early Puppy Development & Socialization

Our puppy development program incorporates Puppy Culture, Early Neurological Stimulation, age-appropriate socialization, confidence-building exercises, problem-solving activities, and gradual exposure to new experiences. Rather than simply exposing puppies to as much as possible, we use developmentally appropriate exercises designed to help puppies learn how to handle novelty, frustration, change, and new challenges. Want to see what that looks like in practice? We use a variety of Puppy Culture exercises throughout our litters as the puppies develop. Read more about how we use Puppy Culture and the specific exercises we incorporate into our puppy-raising program.

Early neurological stimulation
Daily handling from an early age
Confidence-building exercises
Exposure to new people and environments
Different surfaces, textures, and footing
Household and environmental sounds
New objects and age-appropriate obstacles
Age-appropriate puppy socialization
Grooming introductions, including baths, nail trims, and force-dryer exposure
Crate introduction
Potty-training foundations
Engagement and attention-building exercises
Confidence-building activities
Age-appropriate problem-solving
Opportunities for independent exploration
Early Recall foundations

Our goal isn't to eliminate every challenge a puppy may encounter later in life. It's to give them appropriate opportunities to learn, recover, explore, and build confidence while they're here.

Crate & House-Training Foundations

We begin building the foundation for both crate training and house training before our puppies ever leave us.

We introduce puppies to crates during early development and help them learn that the crate is a normal part of their routine. We also introduce puppies to a dog door and encourage them to leave their sleeping and play areas to potty, helping establish good bathroom habits before go-home day. However, an 8-week-old puppy is not fully crate-trained or house-trained—and we don't want families going home expecting that. Moving into a new home means learning a completely new environment, schedule, doors, crate, people, and routine. Accidents, nighttime wake-ups, and an adjustment period are normal.

Our goal is to give your puppy a strong foundation so you aren't starting from zero. From there, consistency and continued training at home help turn those early foundations into reliable habits.

Building the Foundation for a Bird Dog

German Shorthaired Pointers and Vizslas were bred to hunt, and we believe those natural instincts should be encouraged from the beginning. While our puppies are still with us, we introduce age-appropriate experiences designed to encourage the traits we want to see in a versatile bird dog: prey drive, curiosity, confidence, independence, retrieving instinct, and a desire to work with people.

Depending on the individual puppy’s age and development, this may include:

Early bird and feather exposure
Opportunities to chase and develop prey drive
Retrieving foundations
Encouraging natural pointing instinct without pressure
Recall and handler engagement
Exploring new terrain and outdoor environments
Positive, age-appropriate introductions to the sights and experiences associated with future field work

At this age, we are not trying to create a finished hunting dog. We are giving natural ability room to develop.

We want our puppies to leave us with enthusiasm for birds, confidence in the field, and a strong foundation their new families can continue building whether their future includes hunting, AKC Hunt Tests, NAVHDA, or simply enjoying life as the versatile sporting dog they were bred to be.

More Than Raising a Litter

Responsible breeding is about more than producing puppies and sending them home.

We observe them. We handle them. We evaluate their temperaments.

We watch how they interact with people, their littermates, new environments, training, and different experiences.

As they grow, we learn who they are: their confidence, engagement, independence, curiosity, energy, temperament, natural ability, and individual strengths. That information allows us to thoughtfully match each German Shorthaired Pointer and Vizsla puppy with the family, lifestyle, and goals where we believe that individual puppy can thrive. Families do not choose puppies based on the order in which they joined our list. We thoughtfully match puppies with families after we've had the opportunity to get to know them.

Our goal isn't simply to help you bring home a puppy.

It's to help you bring home the right puppy.

Preservation, Showing & Responsible Breeding

The same standards we use when choosing dogs for our own breeding program apply to dogs carrying the Nosam name into future generations. We place our companion puppies on AKC Limited Registration. We place puppies intended for conformation, breeding, or preservation-focused homes separately under an approved agreement and co-ownership with Nosam Kennels.

Full Registration isn't automatically provided simply because someone may want to breed their dog someday.

Before we approve a Nosam dog for breeding, we require appropriate health clearances and proof that the dog has been evaluated beyond simply being a beloved family pet. Specific requirements depend on the dog and agreement and may include conformation, hunting, performance, or other recognized titles and evaluations.

That doesn't mean you need to already be an experienced breeder to approach us about a show or breeding prospect.

We are happy to work with new and aspiring breeders who genuinely want to learn and are willing to put in the work. We can help committed owners navigate health testing, showing, performance events, and the process of proving their dog.

Our goal isn't to gatekeep responsible breeding.

It's to make sure dogs carrying the Nosam name into the next generation have been properly evaluated, health tested, and proven before they're bred.

The Beginning, Not the Finished Product

No responsible puppy-raising program can create a finished dog in eight weeks.

We can provide a thoughtful beginning. Our goal is to send home healthy, well-socialized German Shorthaired Pointer and Vizsla puppies who have opportunities to learn, explore, build confidence, and develop positive foundations their families can carry into adolescence and adulthood.

Preparing Families for Puppy Go-Home

Responsible breeding doesn't stop with preparing the puppy. We also want our families to feel prepared for the transition from our home to theirs.

While your puppy is growing with us, we provide information and resources to help you understand their development and prepare for life with a German Shorthaired Pointer or Vizsla.

Families receive guidance on topics including:

Feeding and nutrition
Crate training
Potty-training foundations
Puppy training and development
Continued socialization
Grooming and nail care
Exercise and age-appropriate activity
Breed-specific needs and expectations
Preparing your home for a new puppy
Puppy supplies and go-home preparation
Continuing the foundations we started before your puppy comes home

Our goal is to make go-home day the continuation of your puppy's development not the first day you begin figuring everything out.

Clear Expectations From the Beginning

Every Nosam puppy is also placed with a written puppy contract that outlines our responsibilities as the breeder and the new owner's responsibilities. Our contract includes important requirements surrounding the puppy's health, care, training, registration, breeding rights, and long-term well-being.

Lifetime Breeder Support

A responsible breeder's commitment doesn't end when a puppy leaves for their new home.

When you bring home a Nosam German Shorthaired Pointer or Vizsla, we remain available as a resource throughout your dog's life. Whether you have questions about training, development, feeding, behavior, hunting, dog sports, or simply navigating life with your new puppy, we want our families to know they can reach out. Most importantly, we remain responsible for the dogs we produce.

If circumstances ever change and a family can no longer keep their Nosam dog, we want them to contact us. Our commitment to our puppies doesn't end when they leave our home. We breed them. We raise them. We stand behind them for life.

Your Dog Is Always a Nosam Dog

We love receiving updates and watching the puppies we produce grow into adults. Those updates aren't only enjoyable for us; they also provide valuable information about the health, temperament, working ability, structure, and longevity of the dogs produced by our breeding program. That information helps us continue evaluating our breeding decisions and working toward healthier, sounder, more capable German Shorthaired Pointers and Vizslas in future generations.

Stay Connected with the Nosam Family

Bringing home a Nosam puppy also means joining a community of owners who share many of the same experiences.

Our private Facebook group gives Nosam families a place to stay connected long after their puppies go home. It’s a space to:

Share photos, updates, and milestones
Keep up with littermates and siblings from other litters
Celebrate hunting, hunt test, show, sport, and training accomplishments
Ask questions and share experiences with other Nosam owners
See what dogs from related bloodlines are doing as they mature
Share training progress, first hunts, funny moments, and everyday life
Stay up to date on kennel news, upcoming events, and opportunities to get involved

We especially love seeing where our puppies go and what they grow into—whether that means their first bird, first hunt test title, a weekend adventure, or simply becoming an incredible family dog.

For us, the relationship doesn't end when your puppy goes home. The Facebook group gives our families an easy way to stay connected with the larger Nosam community and with us for years to come.

We Encourage Owners to Enjoy Their Dogs

German Shorthaired Pointers and Vizslas were bred to be active, versatile dogs, and we love seeing our owners explore what their dogs can do. That may mean hunting, AKC or NAVHDA events, conformation, dock diving, Fast CAT, obedience, agility, or another dog sport. It may also simply mean providing an active family life filled with training, exercise, and opportunities to use their natural abilities.

Not every Nosam puppy needs to become a competition dog. What matters to us is giving each dog the opportunity to live an active, fulfilling life appropriate for the breed. Most importantly, we are here to help you get started.

AKC Registration & Microchip

Every Nosam puppy comes with prepaid AKC Limited Registration and a pre-registered AKC Reunite microchip.

We handle the registration and transfer process for you, so you won't have additional AKC registration or microchip transfer fees after your puppy goes home. Limited Registration still allows your dog to participate in many AKC events, including hunt tests, obedience, rally, agility, Fast CAT, and other eligible performance activities. However, offspring produced from a dog on Limited Registration are not eligible for AKC registration.

Puppies intended for conformation, breeding, or preservation-focused homes are placed separately under an approved show/breeding agreement and co-ownership with Nosam Kennels. Full Registration is not automatically included simply because a buyer would like to breed their dog in the future. We require the dog to earn a title and pass all required health clearances. Full registration allows for breeding and AKC registration of future litters.

Coming Home With You

Your Nosam puppy goes home with more than a collar and a health record.

The care, development, and breeder support behind your puppy continue well beyond go-home day.

You'll receive:

Prepaid AKC registration
Permanent AKC Reunite microchip and registration
Puppy health records
Veterinary health certificate
Our puppy-raising information and resources
Feeding and care guidance
Training and socialization recommendations
Professional photos and video updates throughout puppyhood
A comprehensive guide to how your litter has been raised
Lifetime breeder support

And perhaps most importantly, you'll bring home a puppy whose first weeks have been intentionally planned, closely observed, and thoughtfully invested in.

AKC Breeder of Merit

Nosam Kennels is proud to be recognized as an AKC Breeder of Merit for both German Shorthaired Pointers and Vizslas.

The AKC Breeder of Merit program recognizes breeders who commit to preserving their breeds through health testing, participation in AKC events, responsible puppy placement, and continued involvement with the dogs they produce.

For us, the recognition reflects many of the same principles that guide our breeding program every day: producing healthy, sound dogs; proving our breeding dogs through appropriate venues; carefully placing puppies; educating our families; and remaining responsible for the dogs we bring into the world.

Continuing to Learn

Responsible breeding is never "finished."

We continue our breeder education, follow developments in canine health and genetics, evaluate the dogs we produce, and use what we learn to make future breeding decisions.

Every litter gives us more information about our dogs and our bloodlines. We believe a responsible breeding program should learn, adapt, and improve over time.

Our goal isn't simply to produce the next litter. It's to make each generation a thoughtful step forward for the German Shorthaired Pointer and Vizsla.