Talk to me about German Shorthaired Pointers

[mdwest]

So.. anyone here big into or knowledgeable about GSP?

My wife and I have owned a few different breeds of hunting dogs.. mostly golden retrievers and labrador retrievers.. and know those breeds very well.. we lost our lab recently (very aggressive lymphoma).. and are ready to settle in with a new puppy.. and are considering GSP..

There is a breeder not too far away (less than 2 hours) that specializes in true german blood lines.. all of his dogs are VDH certified (German version of AKC), are genetically tested, come from trained/vetted/champion hunting blood lines, etc.. etc.. I trust the quality of the dogs there.. in addition to him being very open with paperwork, testing, etc.. the reviews of the kennel are exceptional.. not one dissatisfied buyer from what I can tell.. and most buyers leaving reviews are hunters that are buying the puppies to be hunting partners..

Our first priority is for the dog to be a companion.. We have a typical north texas yard (not large). The dog would largely spend its days inside... We have a property about 2.5 hours from here that we spend a lot of time at though (at least a weekend or two every month, most of the year) thats 700 acres where we deer, dove, hog, and turkey hunt.. theres lots of room for the dog to run and explore there..

We'd like to train the dog and have it hunt with us.. but thats honestly secondary... our last lab was the best dog we've ever had as a companion... but was a horrible hunter despite spending about $6K and the better part of a year training him.. and we were totally ok with that.. he just didnt go hunting with us... but.. he was an incredible pet..

So.. I know at least based on what the internet tells me, to expect a GSP to be a little more high energy than a lab or a golden.. We're ok with that.. our last lab was substantially higher energy than your typical lab.. but outside of that, I know little about them..

Educate me.

We're going to look at a 14 week old female liver colored and a male liver colored GSP tonight.. both have already started some very basic testing for play/prey/food drive and hunting aptitude and are supposedly demonstrating strong positive characteristics..

 

[Hififile324]

I have a german Shorthair pointer! Best dog I ever! This dog is a problem solver and an amazing hunter. He was house broken in under a week. Not one single issue with him. The issue may be with you if you don't have the energy to keep up with them. Jet powered, agile, problem solvers. Also very affectionate. Send me a PM if you need a breeder recommendation.

 

[BourbonTrail]

Never owned one, but I worked in a dog kennel when I was younger and lots of GSPs and other gun dogs came through the place.

My 2c:
- They are high energy like a Border collie, but with a bird dog personality.
- Smart & trainable
- Compared to a lab they are slightly less home oriented and slightly more field oriented (but cleaner than a lab)
- Cold weather is not their friend
- Less aggressive than a Wirehair or Drahthaar
- More utilitarian than a Pointer (from what I’ve read)
- Medium ranging (from what I remember)

They have always been high on my bird dog list.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I have a german Shorthair pointer! Best dog I ever! This dog is a problem solver and an amazing hunter. He was house broken in under a week. Not one single issue with him. The issue may be with you if you don't have the energy to keep up with them. Jet powered, agile, problem solvers. Also very affectionate. Send me a PM if you need a breeder recommendation.

Thats a beautiful dog!!

 

[deewayne2003]

My grandfather raised GSP and Brittany Spaniels for quail hunting; the drive and concentration of a GSP when pointing a covey of bobwhite is something that has to be seen first hand to be appreciated.

 

[bakerb]

I would love a GSP. I have a German wire hair and they’re different in ways, but similar in others.

I had a very high drive active lab. He was nothing compared to the drive and activity of my wire hair. We have an acre and a half underground e fence and my wire hair is in it 24/7. My wire hair runs laps. Hour after hour. Hot or cold.

My wire hair is more affectionate than the labs I’ve had. He is a Velcro dog. He’s an outside dog. But if he rides with me in the ranger or stays in a hotel room on a hunt, he HAS to be touching me.

Like said above. My wire hair is smart. A problem solver. And getting better and better at the hunting and using the wind

Worst thing about him is he’s hard to keep. Doesn’t matter how much food I offer him. He always looks skinny. He just runs it off

My next dog will be a liver and white GSP. I think they’re beautiful.

Good luck with your choice

 

[Tucketed]

I have owned two GSPs. Both many moons ago. Lots of energy and need regular runs. Smart, affectionate. Also owned a number of Labs which as you know are lovely dogs except for shedding. Labs grow up quicker and GSP take a few years. Currently we have a Pudlepointer which is an incredible dog, we rate him the best of all, great hunter, great house dog, loves children and extremely intelligent. We have 3 pudlepointers within our family and you might check them out. Usually a wait list and only sold to folks who will hunt them. Good luck, dogs are such incredible creatures.

 

[Altitude sickness]

We owned GSP’s for years. Then stopped going on our annual South Dakota bird hunt and didn’t stay with the breed.

They can make great pets. And house dogs.

Mine stayed outside in their cozy kennel.

You certainly do not need “world champion bloodlines” to make a great hunting dog or pet.

Mine simply had trials titles and were machines. But the “champion sales spiel” is a little over played.

Maverick at 6ish months old.

 

[Jagerrand]

I had GSP's for years. I was very active in NAVHDA, which I highly encourage you join to help with training and understanding what the breed is capable of. I also raised a few litters years ago. I would be happy to talk to you about GSP's. Feel free to reach out via pm.

 

[uplander01]

I've had Labs, Rat Terriers, a Draaht, been around a lot of Brittany's, and English Setters.......currently have a Spinone and couldn't be happier. A much easier dog to have around the house, they are big though, shed a fair bit, and can be very stubborn. They also don't take well to a strong hand, it just hasn't been needed, they are intuitively biddable. He's in his second year, going to find out if he can hunt this fall. All in all, I would for sure have another one, we are thinking a second one in a year or two. One great trait is they have a high prey drive but are a bit more leisurely going about it, kind of like his old man (me). They are also not a problem with other dogs and pets, as well as people. He does bark for awareness but he's not a maniac or a loose cannon at all and he still has his balls. The Draaht I had was every bit like a Malinois or Shepard, she was truly a Centinel, I miss her, but I don't think I'd have another one. Her prey drive was so over the top she didn't point at all she just wanted to kill everything on the ground. The only thing that saved her from multiple catastrophes with bear, badgers, and coyotes was the fact if I yelled or blew the whistle for her to come back she did every time. The one thing I couldn't keep her off was porcupines, and that was a blood bath a couple times.

On another note guys......if you love dogs, the new movie "Heart of the Beast" is one of the best movies I've ever seen,...but I would advise not going to it in the theater, unless you relish crying in a public venue.

 

[mdwest]

Labs which as you know are lovely dogs except for shedding.

And our most recent lab was SOOOOOO much worse about shedding than most.... He would leave an entire dog of hair in the house weekly... I literally would vaccuum at least 3-4 times a week and completely fill the dyson with his hair... we tried different foods.. adding an oil supplement to his food.. brushing him regularly.. it didnt matter.. we could improve it a little.. but he still shed like a mad man.

 

[slam8031]

we have a GSP and a wire hair. Fantastic dogs as has been mentioned. My GSP is the definition of ADD--i have him run behind my side by side at 23 mph for 2 miles before we train--any slower and he runs around the machine--any faster he gets distracted--regardless of temp and regardless of conditions--the wire hair is the calmer of the two--but both are incredibly clingy. When combined with my boykin spaniel you need a larger chair...

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have hunted over GSPs and they are okay. Problem is I don't like to hunt the early season when too many fair weather hunters are about with their goofy kennel raised dogs. Late season when snow is on the ground and wind blowing hard works better ... but not for shorthairs. Also, birds are spookier late in the season and GSP range to the next zip code. No matter how good a pointer, the birds won't hold till hunter shows up. I have the ideal bird dog: a pointing Lab. Ellie works close and hunts uplands like a cat. If she goes on point and it's a rooster, he's only got about 20% chance at best of not landing in the pot. And she is the happiest most loveable dog I've ever owned. Loves EVERYONE. Nice thing about Labs is they pretty much come ready to hunt right out of the chute. When I see a Lab in the field wearing e-collar it's because 1) the dog is stuck in a kennel instead of living in the house with the hunter or 2) the hunter is just in a technogeek addict. Your Lab that wouldn't hunt is an anomaly. And that is an understatement. Finding one that won't show YOU how it's done is rare indeed.

Another breed to consider is French Brittany ... not the American variety. French Britts are smaller and work closer than their long-legged more wound up American cousins. And they are prettier. Tri-color black-white-brown is not uncommon. My little fifteen year-old "Puppy" is a sweetheart. Not as outgoing as Ellie but friendly. Very much attached to me. She won't hunt under anyone else, not even my daughter who was raised with her. I dropped them off and then drove off to take my grandson to sitter. Puppy went running down the highway after me! Camps at the bathroom door whenever I'm taking a dump or in the shower. Lays on the floor as close as possible to my head. Formerly she laid next to my heart in bed but in recent years prefers to lay on hard surfaces. Something to do with arthritis maybe. In a few days we will leave for what will probably be both dogs' last hunting season (Ellie the Lab is eleven). Puppy will be limited to short time in the field but she's still alert and surprisingly mobile. Anyway, if your wife sees a Fr Britt, the searching will be over! Pretty dogs, affectionate, great hunters, and really just the right size, especially for travelling. A bit high maintenance but nothing like GSP. I wouldn't have a wirehaired German dog on the place. Never let my dogs hunt around them. I have seen too many ornery ones.

Honestly, I don't know why anyone would own any dog but a Lab. Sure, I've seen other fancy breed pedigreed dogs that simply would not hunt. It happens. But very very rare for a Lab. If you are considering a Lab for uplands, and they are great for it, I advise steering clear of English Labs. Legs too short and bodies too bulky. Get a long-legged long-nosed American Lab. Lots more endurance.

Incidentally, I have been raising hunting dogs since 1964 (all but Puppy have been Labs) and never owned an e-collar. For a long time I hunted with three dogs at once and they were always under control.

 

[bakerb]

Also. If you’re hunting the dog in Texas in thorns and such. My wire hair is much harder to keep unscathed than a lab. Hair is much thinner than a lab. He gets raw spots and cuts when hunting much easier than my thicker coated labs.

A few days of pheasant hunting the reeds in South Dakota and he’ll be raw on his face, legs and his cojones

My labs on the other hand will have raw spots around their eyes. But everything else will be fine. Lab coats protect better than the wire hair

 

[MRBlack]

Best dog I’ve ever had. Very loyal and require lots of affection. They are very high energy and have lots of drive, so they need a job and lots of exercise. They’re intelligent and good with kids too. He has adjusted to a new baby with zero issues. He has a good nose and is a good quail dog too.

 

[BryceM]

Give some thought to a GWP. I’ve owned several. I talked to Susan Butcher of Iditarod fame. She raced with a team of 50/50 GWP/huskies. “Wirehairs for their go, huskies for the cold.” Like everything, there are good ones and dipshizles. My old dog is awesome, the pup, no so much potential. Looking for another puppy soon. They seem to like water a bit more than the GSPs. They’re maybe not so chill as a Brittany or similar, but they can be OK as home dogs. I haven’t seen so much aggression, but I’ve mostly had females.

 

[Tintin]

Ours has been a great companion.

As others have said, high energy - when we lived in suburbia we had him down at the local oval or long walk twice each day.

He's 10 now, so slowing up a bit.

Very loyal, loves people, kids, other dogs. Can be bit aloof, as in happy doing his own thing.

Smart as a button.

Hunting drive a plenty, he runs into the gun room as soon as hears me go in there and whines if he's not involved in any activities involving firearms.

 

[Wyfox]

I'm on our 2nd GSP, she's about to turn 2.
Very high energy, we try and run her everyday. Think sporting Belgian Malinois... type of energy.
Extremely smart, training was very easy.
They have the nickname "velcro dog" for a reason, always in your business, loves cuddles, wants to be in your lap.
If you have the time to devote to them they are an amazing breed! Mine is from Uodibar line out of Hondo, Texas.

 

[JPbowhunter]

Don’t do it! You’ll never get another breed.

I’ve had three, currently don’t have any dogs but when I get another it will be a GSP. I use them for birds and deer and they work great but more importantly they’re exceptional house pets and great with kids.
They do take longer to mentally mature than some other breeds but that’s just part of the charm.

I would note that they're quite different from wire haired pointers. My brother used to have them as do a few guys I know. I find them to be far more stubborn and they can be more aggressive. Like most things it’s how you raise them that really matters.

Get a GSP and never look back I say.

 

[BlueFlyer]

Get a GSP and never look back I say.

Fantastic dogs, Remi is easily the best dog we have had. Affectionate, scarey smart, clean and just fun to be with.
Yes high energy, loves to swim and fetch. If she cannot hunt game she will hunt anything else, rats possums, lizards, whatever. But saying that I need to get her off our bed this morning to go for a walk.
A pleasant surprise is that they don't shed much. Far less hair than what our Jack Russel produced.
Your circumstances sound to be prefect and very similar to ours. City life and regular country escapes.