Breed choice

[mtmn35rem5]

Looking for recommendations on a good upland dog. Here is the scenario.. The girlfriend and I live in Seattle during the week. On the weekends we usually go out to my cabin in Kittitas. 50 acres of sage and some trees, would be a great spot for training. I have hunted behind some great English pointers, wimerainers and setters. Now I really want a GSP, she is concerned that it is to big and high energy and won't get the needed exercise during the week. We do run every morning but it certainly wouldn't be able to roam freely during the day. Someone else mentioned a Braque Francais as being like a GSP only a little smaller and maybe a little more house friendly. What does everyone think?

[mtmn35rem5]

I probably should have put this in the "bird dogs" section...

[10mmg]

might want to look at the visla. long running but a bit smaller than the gsp

[andersonjk4]

might want to look at the visla. long running but a bit smaller than the gsp

   I've had both.  Vizsla's are great house pets and great bird dogs.  In my experience they aren't quite as versatile as GSP's if you want to do anything besides upland hunting.  They are slightly less high energy than a GSP and don't shed quite as bad as GSP's, but they can be very destructive if left alone and they get bored.  Mine was a digger and a chewer.  But the sweetest dog ever.  Miss her all the time.   

[MR5x5]

Have owned a many different models.... am currently running 45-50lb English Setters.  Per their breed description - fantastic in the field, couch potatoes indoors, that said they need and get daily exercise, but I suspect you know all such dogs need exercise or all bets are off.

[metlhead]

She'd fall in love with a small muesterlaender and you would never get to hunt it. Same with a spaniel. Total momma's dogs they'd be. From experience.

[BUCKHUNT]

I think a lot will depend on the individual dog, but your situation doesn't sound too bad if you want a GSP.

I live on the westside and have a shorthair who is just under 2 years old. He absolutely has an off switch and sleeps all day while my wife and I work long hours. That being said, he is hunting hard or training just about every weekend, and we worked a lot on discipline and routine/structure when he was a pup. If you have property like that and are consistent in the off season you'd have nothing to worry about.

He's about 55-60lbs, so not too big for an apartment in my mind; most of the shorthairs I've run into are comparable in size but some do get huge.

My brother in law has a Viszla, who is the same age and has no house manners; but she doesn't hunt which I'm sure is a reason. Good luck with your decision.

[philts100]

I have a 40lbs Vizsla, live in the city and hunt/train almost every weekend. I can’t say enough good things about this particular Vizsla. On the subject of versatility though I will say she is not as excited about deep cover hunting like ditches in the Palouse or large stands of wild roses, big chukar country though or open field pheasant and she is amazing. That being said I’ll happily take that trade for a hunting dog that I can take to a brewery in the city and won’t be running massive circles around the place. When I’m not living in the city I’ll probably go with a hard charging English pointer but as long as I’m stuck here I’m going to keep on with The little red dogs.

[jagermiester]

The French breeds Brittany’s and Braque Francais are amazing dogs in the house. My brother currently has a small Braque and she is the most tender well mannered dog around the house but she sure turns it on Chukar hunting every weekend. She about ruined herself a couple of weeks ago because she wouldn’t quit even though she had a bad tear on her paw she is a truly well bred dog.
My son has a Bracco Italiano she is quite possible the sweetest coolest dog I have ever been around but slow to develop in the field. In the end I believe she will be a very good bird dog but it may be hard to find one.

[kselkhunter]

You'll be fine with a GSP based on your description.  Mine is an organic throw pillow inside the house (amazing how calm he is indoors), and a scent-seeking missile when outdoors.  Very high prey drive in this dog.  But a total cuddler with the wife indoors.  She wasn't sure about a GSP, and I had to talk her into it but she is hooked on GSPs now.  And he was her running partner for years.  We will always have a GSP in our house. 

[mtmn35rem5]

Hey thanks for all the input everyone. I think once I show her this it will help convince her its very doable. Im going to push for the GSP with the Braque Francais as 2nd choice. Lots of love here for the Vizsla as well, I will keep that in mind.

[jetjockey]

My vote is for a Brittany.  Great house dogs, great bird dogs, and on the smaller side. IMO, they have better temperament’s than GSP’s.   

[jrebel]

I have owned a GSP and will never own another.  They are very hyper and need tons of room to run....and they are the dumbest dog alive (please don't let that offend anyone, they are great hunters but dumb otherwise).  I currently own a GWP and a Brittany....both are great dogs.  Our GWP is a huge couch potato and has been her whole life.  She loves to run when out and is super active....but she also loves to cuddle up next to the kids in the house. 

Hands down a GWP would be my pick based on my experiences.   

[Fishmaker57]

Pudelpointer......period. Great disposition, driven hunters, easy to train (incredible instincts) and best of all, they have an off switch! Once home, they are content to relax and just hang out. Only negative thing I can say.......they hate to be alone! Very much a people dog, and need companionship, be that a human or at least another dog.

 

[Special T]

My hunting partner has german wirehair pointers. Ive duckhunted out of a boat in the cold skagit with them, and hunted quail and pheasant in EWa. They were great house dogs, and if you run every day that will be plenty of excercise for them.

Im quite impressed with the versatility of the breed. If you like gsp some wirehairs have a "tight coat" that makes them look more like a gsp with a beard.

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[metlhead]

I can attest to the awesomeness of the wirehair breed, but living in Seattle would be the death of one. Going for walks is cute, but they need a lot of space, every day, without leashes. Mine takes 10 minutes before he really opens up, and will just go for hours.

[jetjockey]

I have owned a GSP and will never own another.  They are very hyper and need tons of room to run....and they are the dumbest dog alive (please don't let that offend anyone, they are great hunters but dumb otherwise).  I currently own a GWP and a Brittany....both are great dogs.  Our GWP is a huge couch potato and has been her whole life.  She loves to run when out and is super active....but she also loves to cuddle up next to the kids in the house. 

Hands down a GWP would be my pick based on my experiences.   

LMAO.  Glad someone said it.  I have not seen many smart GSP’s.  I was talking to a Pro that got out of training and trialing GSP’s.  He said he got sick of dealing with all the dumb ones to find the occasional one that wasn’t completely stupid.

[87Ford]

I have owned a GSP and will never own another.  They are very hyper and need tons of room to run....and they are the dumbest dog alive (please don't let that offend anyone, they are great hunters but dumb otherwise).  I currently own a GWP and a Brittany....both are great dogs.  Our GWP is a huge couch potato and has been her whole life.  She loves to run when out and is super active....but she also loves to cuddle up next to the kids in the house. 

Hands down a GWP would be my pick based on my experiences.   

You are going to offend people with comments like that...

[Special T]

I can attest to the awesomeness of the wirehair breed, but living in Seattle would be the death of one. Going for walks is cute, but they need a lot of space, every day, without leashes. Mine takes 10 minutes before he really opens up, and will just go for hours.

Im not sure about that... My hunting partner runs his dogs off season about 2-3 times a week and hunts them every other day during the season.  If they actually run  every day I think that would be enough to take the edge off a wirehair. he has told me that if he runs them really hard every 3rd day he can get away with it but he has to run them hard.

That said if you want a real upland dog and live in seattle you have to be committed because they do love to run. I personally know several folks with wire hairs and they are a great versatile dog. ESPECIALLY if you are going to do a lot of upland with the occasional waterfowl.

[jagermiester]

I own a GWP and I probably always will. That being said they are like Ferrari’s don’t get one unless you are ready to deal with the tires breaking free. A well bread GWP will have a lot of drive a lot of prey drive and will be very smart which can bring out some emotions.