First off let me disclose that I'm a good friend of fido98. My yellow lab is getting very close to the end of his days and I am thinking about getting a puppy to help soften the blow to my kids. I have always been a Lab person, but, fido keeps telling me that I should get a GSP. I have to admit, fido's pup is a very pretty dog, but, I am nervous about the energy level. How would it compare to the energy of a lab puppy?

What do you want to do with the dog and how much time do you have?

They're both high energy dogs, so you'll need to spend plenty of time with them.


...then I could move into my "do you actually want to hunt, or just play fetch" diatribe, but I'll hold off on that for now.

Deja vu of a conversation I thought I had about 10 minutes ago....

...well, I didn't want to disappoint anyone.

Let me remind fido what you call an Aggie fifteen years after graduation..........Boss

Hey boss, at least you know I am truely hard at work at 10:30 at night. Just waiting for my computer to Sync

I have a pair of gsp's and live them. My boy dog Gunter can do it all. He retrieves doves ducks and geese but he dont really sit still. My girl dog Lilly was the runt andpushed around a lot and she don't retrieve but both are very birdy and great companions and any dog I don't care the breed you will get out of it what you put into it

I'm right there with ya, Allsome. Honestly, I'm leaning towards a GSP and will likely take the leap this Summer.

Fido, can I ask you some questions re: career? dmills@gvtc.com

I'd really appreciate it!

Lab without a doubt. GSP's are ok, but in my experience, labs are much better all around dogs.

For an all round dog go for a Lab, if you want a birddog go for the GSP. But why would you get a GSP when you could get a Pointer. If you just want a dog to pick up dove and play with your kids get a lab.

My son and I bought a pair of GSP's last November. They are a blast but the energy level is extremely high. We had a difficult time with all of the rain keeping them in but the weather has turned and now that we walk them every evening, the energy level has gone down. I have had both, and the lab took forever to get out of "puppy stage".

My vote is GSP. Check out the parents first. The puppy stage does not last long in a GSP.

if you have always been a lab person, you will miss having a lab. I couldn't imagine my household without a lab or a golden

<--- Picked up a GSP/Lab mix last year; getting the best of both worlds. She was the runt, but loves to run, play fetch, and is a fun family dog.

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If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you can read this in English, thank a Soldier.

those are two very different breeds. if you get a GSP from good lines you are looking at a hunting dog verse a dog that is a retrieving dog. What I mean by that is the GSP is breed to find things with his nose and is therefore always searching a field for scent. A lab is breed mainly for eye sight and marking ability and is therefore more apt to stay next to you a watch for things.

A good example of this is i went to the in-laws for easter and my BIL was tilling up his garden. His trusty lab took every step he took. up one row down the other. I show up with my dog and she is working the tree line and pasture next to the garden looking for game. She was not going to run off but she sure wasn't going to walk right next to me every second. sure I could have put her on heel and made her walk next to me but that is not what she was bred to do.

I wouldn't trade my dog for anything but she comes with a different set of rules than a lab. I want her to be independent. I want her search a field not next to me. A buddy just got a DK which is the german version of the GSP and he is realizing that when the dog is outside it is more interested in what could be in the bushes that staying with him and you have to watch that as a pup. Now take the dog inside and it is a different animal. it is as loving and playful as you could want from a dog.

All of that said talk to breeders. Talk to owners of pups from previous litters. This is a long term investment so do your homework and find a good breeder that will help you along the way.

A well breed GSP should be able to retrieve well enough for any person that doesn't run field trials. If you are really worried about retrieving ability, pick a breeder that does a lot of retrieving work and is not satisfied with a dog that will find birds but not retrieve them.

[This message has been edited by Banks_Hunting (edited 4/8/2010 11:50a).]

I have a GSP that is 12 years old. The dog is a better hunter than I am and will hunt all day and not quit like a pointer. He has never failed to retrieve anything I have shot. He hunts ducks, dove, pheasant, quail, and unfortunately a few snakes. They are natural hunters and great companions. The old guy is laying at my feet under my desk as I type. The only issue I have to work with him on is sitting next to me patiently during a dove hunt. He is ready to go quarter the field at all times.

Labs are great but if you want an all around hunter GSP is the breed to get.

Mine is going down hill fast. He can no longer run and jump into the back of the truck. One eye went grey last month, and he has slowed way down. Don't think he'll be around much longer. It is going to be be really hard when the time comes.

Elhew..don't bad mouth GSP's I own them and English Pointers, they both have good and bad points , they both also make great pets athat hunt.



Col. A 1976

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But why would you get a GSP when you could get a Pointer?

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Thought this was a bit of an ignorant statement. Just my .02.

But, like Sean said, what do you intend to do with the dog? I have a GSP. I got the dog in grad school when I was in Arizona. I had all the time in the world to work with him. Trapped pigeons, went out with the NAVHDA folks, and had a prof. quail guide helping me along the way.

Now I live back in TX (can't afford to quail hunt), have a one year old and another on the way (don't have time to quail hunt).

All that said, if I am ever in a positon to get another bird dog....I wouldn't get anything but a GSP.

But, if I were to just get a pet, a lab is hard to beat. You can't work out in the garage or change your oil and let your GSP hang out. They like to run...

Lighten Up.
And its not an ignorant statement.
First - Shorthairs are excellent dogs for what they were designed for, as a birddog they are close working dogs with alot of heart and pretty good noses. They are the IDEAL Pheasant dog, they work close and thus the roosters flush near the hunters. HOWEVER what makes them good as Pheasant dogs hurts them chasing bobs.
There is a reason that Pointers and Setters win the vast majority of open class field trials. They have more range and more bottom than Shorthairs do, thus on average Pointers and Setters will find more Bobs than will a Shorthair.
My point is that if you want a Birddog for hunting in this state why not get a dog that best suits your needs? Same thing with the Lab arugement, they are the best there is when it comes to retrieving and as a companion so if someone just wants a dog to pick up a few doves in September and then be a pet the rest of the year, why not get a Lab?
My humblest apologies if my pearls of wisdom hurt someones feelings.

And I am not trying to badmouth anyones dog. And of course there are some exceptions to every rule, I sure have owned a pointer or two that was a terrible bird dog.

I just thought it was a blanket statement.

Pointers, although registerable, are not typically considered versatile. Correct? I assume there is a good reason for that. So what if Allsome wanted to hunt upland game and waterfowl? That's all I was getting at.

And if he just wants a pet, then I would have to say that a typical lab or GSP would make a much better family dog.

Thats right, Pointers are not very versitle. I think the real solution is for him to just get one of each. Then the problem is solved.

If you are looking for a versatile dog ( point, retrieve, and track) then you should look at NAVHDA and JGHV breeds. I lean towards the jghv becuase there are actual standards there. Those two groups offer a long list of breeds that will accomplish all of these tasks. I know the NAVHDA group meets out at Spanish oaks which is outside of Austin and there you could meet a bunch of different breeds(visla, gsp, GWP,WPG, and some pudelpointers).

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Now I live back in TX (can't afford to quail hunt), have a one year old and another on the way (don't have time to quail hunt).

All that said, if I am ever in a positon to get another bird dog....I wouldn't get anything but a GSP.

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First- Poor people dont belong quail hunting.

Second- I agree with Elhew07, an english pointer is the best dog you can get for bird (quail) hunting.

Third- For what you need a lab is ideal, great retriever and great pet, there is no reason for you, or anyone for that matter, to get a GSP.

birddogman must have gotten beat by a GSP in a field trial.

Dude must have lots of friends with a personality like that!

“A doctor can bury his mistakes but an architect can only advise his clients to plant vines.” F.L.W.

If I lost to a GSP I would kill myself, and my dogs.

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First- Poor people dont belong quail hunting

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If I lost to a GSP I would kill myself, and my dogs

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Not your typical OB poster. I think you might find the GB or rivalries is more up your alley.

Wow. Well this got out of hand quickly.

Field Trials

Love hearing guys brag about field trials. Biggest waste of time/energy in the world. But I am glad your 2" ***** is larger than someone else's 1.5" *****.

GSP's kill puppies. my mom's 8 wk old mini schnauzer pup was killed by two of them when i was in high school.

no, im sure not all GSPs are like that...those dogs were bred purely for hunting...i dont really mind the breed, just not too fond of it after that experience.

Everyone knows I'd say get a lab. I think all lives are a little better with a labrador in them. However, the same could be said for any dog in general. Just get something the entire family can and enjoy and love and in return it'll reward you with nothing but love and loyalty and hopefully a few downed birds.

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WAR EAGLE!
GIG 'EM!
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What if you threw Vizsla's into this question?

Can a GSP handle cold? What about swimming in cold water?

I have a year old GSP and love her. She was the runt of the group and is still. The energy level is high, but I take her on a run (she runs and I ride my bike) almost every evening. A 30-45 minute fast paste run does a great for the energy.

I had to face this same question when deciding on what breed to get. I wanted a smart hunting breed which usually means high energy levels. I absolutely love my GSP and she makes a great pet, but if you are looking for a dog to be primarily a pet, I would go with a lab. Especially if you don't have the time to give the GSP enough exercise. Really ask yourself what you do with the dog before you get either.

Thoughts on Brittany Spaniels? They point, stay closer, are hardy, make great inside dogs,...

Had one but she died at 16 months before I could arrange a quail hunt. She loved water too.

Let me give a bit of advice to anyone who wants to own a bird dog.

There is more difference within a breed than between breeds in pointing dogs!

do you research, find a reputable breeder, and go see the parents of the pup in the field. The sire and bi*#h will give you the best indication of how the pup will turn out. I repeat, go see the parents perform in the field and make you decision based on the characteristics you are looking for. If the parents posses them, then the breeding has a great chance of producing a pup with similar characteristics.

You can find closer working dogs in all the pointing breeds, and you can find dogs that will work 800 yards from you. This applies to all the breeds!!!!

Do your homework, and you will be a happy dog owner. Stop making generalizations people.