German shorthair pointers GSP?

[jaredpost]

So I'm looking at getting my first bird dog and I really like the GSP I met at the sportsman show. They seem to be pretty good dogs from what research I've done so far. I haven't done much bird hunting in the past but want to start. Interested in hunting both upland birds as well as some ducks.

Does anyone have any experience with this breed? Are there any drawbacks with this breed over another?

thanks

[shoot-em-dead]

They are very energetic and love to run. I had a blast with mine.

[dontgetcrabs]

They are great dogs! They can be a little hyper at times, but they will never quit hunting.   

[Buckmark]

Great dogs, the only breed i will ever own for hunting (i owned 1 lab, good dog just not a GSP), like said before lots of energy and you need the time to help deal with that daily. From my experience a female is a bit more mellower, not always but usually, i though have always had males that range from great to total crack heads, my last GSP was a big male and i mean big, tall long legs and his walk was faster then most people's rythum, His nickname was Carl Lewis.
When he was younger i would let him out of the truck a few miles from where we would hunt and have him follow us up the road so he would be in hunting form ie walk slow enough so i could stay up with him. I had other tricks that i wont post.
My crack head GSP would climb out of his 6ft kennel, chainlink.
In the house though they can be real mellow, just lay around.

[jaredpost]

Is there anything I should look for in a breeder? I am thinking of going to visit the people I met at the fair to meet the dogs they are going to be breeding. Are there very many breeders in the area? What kind of prices are typical for a good quality dog? Boy or Girl? I don't have a huge preference but I was leaning towards a boy. Other than being a little bigger, is there any downfall to getting a male dog over a female besides the mellow factor?

thanks for all the quick responses

[shoot-em-dead]

Males tend to stay with it longer in the feild- not always, but usually. They also cannot get knocked up during hunting season.

[Birdguy]

JP, look into the pedigree. I am sure there are folks more knowledgeable then me on this site but I have a buddy who trials GSPs and he has had great luck by knowing the history. His latest addition he really wanted the versatile type so he insisted on german import lines. He has been very pleased. I believe the dog scored a 112 on his natural ability test last fall and I think that is the most points possible. He has had several GREAT dogs over the years and had GSPs since the 60s. This is the first one he has had good success in the water with. This pup will chase a duck on the pond until he out swims it! I am not saying others will not but really look into what you want the dog to do and be sure the breeding is what you are looking for. If you PM me I will try to get you more info from my hunting partner. Awesome dogs and I am sure you will enjoy it.

[Viszla]

A good place to start is to look up a local GSP breeders club and call up some people.  Be ready to be on the phone for a while as these people are way into their dogs and love to talk but you can get a ton of info though.  Someone can usually point you to a good breeder or to someone that knows a good breeder.  Make sure you ask a breeder if their dogs are OFA certified.  You don't want a dog with bad hips.  If the person doesn't have a clue what  an OFA cert.is, do not get a dog from them.  You could also go to some hunt trials and talk to people there.  I have a vizsla and absolutely love the breed, might be worth checking into.  Not sure about GSP's but male vizslas tend to be a little more personable than females for some reason.  Otherwise I don't think it matters much whether going male or female, especially if you're not going to breed it.

[Rowdy]

Dufur kennels in Spokane.  My current pup is from a breeder in Wisconsin but all my future Shorthairs will be from Dunfur.  Dan Hoke is the guys name and he has some really good dogs.  If you get a pup from him you wont be disapointed.

My current GSP, is all business in the field and a regular house pet at home.  He's not destructive and very smart.  GSP's are great dogs but you do need to make sure you have the time to run 'em.  I make sure to get my pup out at least every other day for a good run.  They're not a "take for a walk on a leash" type dog.  They need to hit fifth gear every couple days, if my guy doesn't he gets real anxious and will pace around the house. 

They are great dogs but do yourself a favor and research the parents, talk with breeders, go to field trials and hunt tests, try to get as much information as you can.  GSP's are a versatile dog that can hunt anything you want but you need to start with a pup that comes from a line of dogs that do what you want.  I have hunted ducks with mine and he was good at it but I wouldn't expect him to sit in a blind in freezing weather, their short coat just wont be enough for that type of hunting.  I mainly hunt chukars with mine which he is dynamite even in low temps because he's always on the move. 

If you get one make sure to post some pics, everyone loves a puppy.

 
Jake

[OneNightAtDeerCamp]

I've had mine for 14 years.  He is retired now, but what a great dog he has been.  From my perspective, make sure you see the mother and father.  Watch for super hyper.  They are certainly a dog that needs a job to do.  If you hunt a dozen days a year, that won't do it for them.   Make sure you can spend the time with the dog, especially when he's young.  Make sure you teach him manners too.  I had a friend who got one from the same breeder I got mine from.  He didn't teach his dog manners and was forever chasing him, yelling at him to not jump on people, etc.  They can be really hyper dogs, and can also be the greatest dog you'll ever have.   I've heard that every man gets one dog in their life that just "gets him".  My GSP has been mine.

[MissinCaliBlacktails]

GSP on duck is gonna have some issues with the cold and sitting still. There more of an upland game dog  I think labs are more versatile. I hope I don't start a war here.  

[TEX-X]

labs are more versatile?     show me a lab that'll keep up with my shorthairs....    yes you can get a pointing lab.... but my dogs will cover twice as much ground in half as long....  and every one of my dogs i have duck hunted with.... if you're looking to duck hunt in cold cold weather and also upland hunt get a GWP...  I have hunted duck behind a few GSPs  they get the job done....  look into the parents like said above..... and their was a comment about german import lines up top... I have a dog that has Moesgaard  (sp?) in him... and he's a damned good dog even though he's a little on the small side...  the pedigree is an integral part of picking a dog..... but a piece of paper or a NFC in front of the dam or sire of the pup  doesn't exactly mean he will hunt.... if you find pups that aren't papered or are papered but the generations before weren't field trialed get out and run the parents....  the parents traits could shed some light on good and bad traits that have been passed on....  Rowdy seems to know his stuff... at least look into the breeder he's pointing you in the direction of... 

[MissinCaliBlacktails]

I don't know the one I duck hunted with would not sit still. Drove me crazy, and it froze its ass off.I'm just saying If you are going only for upland then get a GSP. But my chocolate lab consistently gets me limits of chukar/pheasants and is awesome in the duck blind.

[TEX-X]

a dog that won't sit still (to me) is a deficiency in training and is problem that can be corrected...  if a lab is more versatile than a GSP then why aren't they recognized by NAVDHA as being a versatile breed?  i'm not saying labs aren't great dogs and aren't as good of a hunter if not better than a GSP i just have a soft spot for the GSP  no hostility intended

this argument if very regular... especially on the dog boards... different strokes for different folks

[jaredpost]

Thanks for the reply's everyone. I picked up a GSP this weekend. I have pictures up in the thread called "the new pup". Got some wings tonight from Dave and she is already chasing it and bringing it right back. Looks like she'll be a great bird dog.