Can you talk me out of getting a GSP

[corndog1]

What do you guys and gals think about a GSP for a guy like me? I hunt pheasants three or four times a year and duck and goose hunt up to forty days a year but mosly in fields and also we get done early a lot with plenty of day light left for chasing upland birds. I guess I'm curious how a gsp would do in the blind and how it would do retrieving waterfowl.

 

[Threedognight]

GWP would be a better fight.

 

[TheJason]

I’d go waterfowl hunting with a couple of GSPs. That should help answer your question.

 

[Hunt&FishCO]

My 3y/o GSP “Q” has been on about every hunting adventure you can imagine. First ye he primarily was my coastal duck & dove hunting buddy; we’ve done Pheasants, Quail, Chukar, deer/moose/elk sheds, helped on big game recovery, fly fishing, you name it.

Notable drawbacks: Needs to be run A LOT , 7miles/day minimum; definitely not a Lab and high maintenance in the off season. Not sure what your home situation is like but my wife is not of fan of him being left at the house when I go on +2 day big game hunts.

 

[cwitherow]

I’d ask if you’re really sold on a pointer with how much waterfowl vs upland you’re doing. If so, I’d then ask about home life, etc.

That said, each breed has general characteristics but so much is each breeder.

 

[TheJason]

Not sure what your home situation is like but my wife is not of fan of him being left at the house when I go on +2 day big game hunts.

My wife and girls petition for me to leave the dog home.

 

[brymoore]

You need a lab.

 

[corndog1]

You need a lab.

This is hard to disagree with. However, I had to retire my lab a couple years ago due to seizures and have just been walking out to pick up my birds the last couple seasons just thinking if a shorthair could do that much it would open up a whole new world of big prairie upland bird hunting.

 

[mdunc8]

Don’t overlook goldens. Ours is perfect around the house and has been good in the field despite my limited training knowledge and even worse hunting ability. Her parents were pheasant hunting machines. I talked with a couple folks from Alaska who also bought a few dogs from the same kennel and apparently they’ve been great for waterfowl up there.

 

[Slam]

I'm assuming you are considering a GSP for pointing reasons? If so, and it sounds like you are looking for an all around hunting partner "versatile", you should give a serious look at the Drahthaar. I have had them for the past 20+ years, hunting, home guard and family companion...very satisfied.

Take a look:http://www.vdd-gna.org/

 

[brymoore]

This is hard to disagree with. However, I had to retire my lab a couple years ago due to seizures and have just been walking out to pick up my birds the last couple seasons just thinking if a shorthair could do that much it would open up a whole new world of big prairie upland bird hunting.

I’ve owned a few shorthairs that hunted pheasants. One was a great pheasant specialist. All were great swimmer and retrievers. However, they were amateur water retrievers when they competed against labs.

A springer spaniel might be another option.

 

[OntarioHunter]

There is a reason why Labs have been the top selling AKC breed the last thirty years straight. Both as a hunting dog and companion/family dog they just can't be beat. Generally speaking they are great dogs ... there are exceptions of course.

GSP have a reputation for high maintenance, especially in their early years. Genetically they seem to be relatively "clean." Your Lab with seizures, while not unheard of (we had one that lived fine with it and no meds to age 14), is uncommon. Hip issues have been just about eliminated through selective breeding. Goldens took a beating genetically after the post-Farley surge in popularity. Gene pool was not capable of handling the demand. Seizures is currently one of several issues with that breed. Though Labs are the most popular breed, their gene pool has been large and diverse enough to handle it thanks to historic popularity as a hunting dog and reintroduction of European blood lines.

I have a French Brittany I picked up nine years ago as a distraction after the death of my wife and son. She was my first pointing dog. She joined my fifth and sixth Labs. Wonderful little dog. Tons of personality, pretty tri-colour, nice size for home and travelling, and a great close working hunting dog. "Puppy" is a little weak on retreiving (except ducks in water ... she'll fight for those!) but that could have been fixed with a little effort. No point in it with two Labs in the field. Her dad was a great retreiver and excelled at bringing in geese half his size. I see from his Christmas letter her breeder has several slots open for at least one litter this spring. PM me if you're interested. Curiously, he is also responsible for hooking me up with my current Lab ... he owned her dad. So both my current hunting dogs came from the same little town on the edge of ND/SD border. Lab Ellie is absolutely fantastic for uplands (a great close working pointer) and good enough retreiving waterfowl, although still reluctant to pick up geese from the field (fine bringing anything in on water ... go figure).

Personally, I like to be close to my dogs when working uplands. I'm usually in Montana late in the season after the birds have been shot up. Generally they won't hold long enough to catch up to a running pointer for a shot. This year the crusted snow through November made it even worse. I had to use Ellie almost exclusively as she is seldom more than fifteen yards away ... and no electronics. Puppy works close for a pointing dog but not close enough in those conditions.

 

[JLDemo]

Have you considered a pointing lab? I had the pleasure to hunt behind a few in the past few years and flat out impressed. The dog made the transition from upland to waterfowl without a hiccup.

 

[2rocky]

I think I would talk to GSP breeders and trainers and ask them for their unvarnished opinion...

I think if you can do 3-5 miles a day in daily walks or runs, a pointer could be a good dog for you. I've decided on short haired dogs only after Border collies and Labs...

 

[Threedognight]

I have had a couple GSPs, and they are hunting machines but not well suited for what you want them for. Try duck/goose hunting with your dog whining, and shacking because it’s want to run. That GSP whin gets real annoying, and they can’t seem to control it. That’s my experience yours my vary. Best suited for you maybe a pointing lab If you feel the need for a pointing dog.

 

[NR_Hunter]

I’ve owned a few shorthairs that hunted pheasants. One was a great pheasant specialist. All were great swimmer and retrievers. However, they were amateur water retrievers when they competed against labs.

A springer spaniel might be another option.

I'm not a dog expert, but I gotta second the springer option. Don't sleep on springers.



As to the OP, I'm sure the right trainer could get about any dog to any thing, but by the sounds of how much waterfolwing you do, a pointer might not be the best option.

But... if a dog makes you happy, and its fun to be around, tough to go wrong with any breed.

 

[Hunt&FishCO]

I have had a couple GSPs, and they are hunting machines but not well suited for what you want them for. Try duck/goose hunting with your dog whining, and shacking because it’s want to run. That GSP whin gets real annoying, and they can’t seem to control it. That’s my experience yours my vary. Best suited for you maybe a pointing lab If you feel the need for a pointing dog.

Interesting - I’ve found my GSP to be fairly patient in the blind (no whining). He’s extremely observant. Only will whine when I’m getting the leashes out.

Our other dog (collie mix) is notorious for whining.

 

[OntarioHunter]

Personally I think the "need" for an upland pointing dog is greatly exaggerated. Flushing dogs are just as much fun to watch and just as productive ... more productive if the birds are jumpy. I must admit my pointing Lab is the best of both worlds. Tough enough for the worst conditions, can handle cold water, long legged and lean she can last all day chasing pheasants, rock solid on point, very close working (+++), unbelievable marking downed birds, anxious to please. Take out the pointing bit and she'd still be outstanding.

I think the mistake many people getting into this game make is thinking retreivers are only good for that. Wrong! Flushing dogs are fun to hunt over. It's exciting when they get birdy. At some point the rooster is going in the air, you just don't know exactly when or where. Suddenly up it goes and you have to ID it and get on it before the bird is out of range. That kind of shooting separates the men from the boys! Much more so than walking up on a dog on point, adjusting your feet, tipping back your hat, pulling off sunglasses, changing barrel selection, and waiting ... and waiting. Finally up goes the bird. An idiot can make the shot.

 

[TheJason]

It's all in what you're looking for in the experience. I have no doubt several guys with some flushing dogs will kill more pheasants than I will solo with my Drahthaar. There aren't many things I've done in the field that are more fun that watching a dog work in to birds and lock up on point. The bird count is irrelevant.

YMMV.

 

[Frenchy]

I'm a Golden guy (they seem to check all the boxes for me), but I have toyed with the Idea of getting a pointing dog that would also do well in the duck/goose blind. If I were ever to go that route, I would look at the drahthaar and Griffon breeds. I've hunted with a Griff and Been around a few Drahthaars. Both seen to have lots of drive and and instinct for birds while still being calm enough to sit patiently in a blind.

I've also been around a few GSP's and for me.....they are not my cup of tea. Definitely an athletic dog that is fun to watch work a large upland field. But as a house and family dog. They have all been a little too neurotic for me. And NONE of the GSP's retrieved worth a damn.