German Shorthaired Pointers (and puppies)

Dizzy

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#1
Me and t'other half have been discussing the next addition.

We've been working out a compromise.

a) I don't want to own a Labrador - his breed of choice.

b) I'm not keen on buying a pedigree dog when there are lots of gorgeous dogs in rescues. I envisaged my next dog being a young rescued mutt. Something staffy cross, or boxer/boxer mix, or collie type... all breeds he doesn't want lol. I've always wanted to rescue. Bodhi was an oops and she's perfect.

c) He doesn't want to own a rescue, mostly my fault because when he started talking about pedigree dogs I went into 'the good breeder' spiel about health testing etc.. so now he's saying well, you don't know what you get with a rescue. He wants to know exactly where his dog came from. He knows friends who have had bad experiences.

d) We both want the same things out of a dog - energetic, trainable, loyal, fun, not long-haired, good temperament. We can offer a dog an active home where someone is around 90% of the time in one form or another (this is going to be when I move, as soon as I find a bloody job).

e) We both want a puppy/young dog.

I used to live next door to a GSP and walk him on a regular basis. They are a breed I have always admired. And it seems the other half is also quite taken by them. I love leggy, athletic dogs. I love the wirehaired dogs, but he HATES wirehairs!

Soooo it seems if we add a little brother for Bodhi to the home when I move, it may well be a GSP.... I never thought I'd see the day when I would consider acquiring a specific breed, as much as I have admired many.

The only question is where from.... I would definitely get a rescue. But I am not so sure he will....

So we may or may not be approaching breeders. I honestly never thought I'd consider the day, but it was always MY dream to get another dog, and now it's OUR dream, so I guess you have to compromise....

LOLZ... sorry this thread is more to hash this out in my own head than actually get any feedback :p

To make it less boring, here are some puppy pictures :D









 

Locke

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#2
Oh I LOVE GSPs!! My friend had one growing up and he was a little crazy as a puppy, but so tolerant and gentle and fun as an adult.

So exciting!!
 

Dizzy

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#3
Our neighbours dog was gorgeous. But they didn't train him particularly well. I used to walk him, but he could never be let loose....

I've always talked about adding another dog, but it's only recently that he has decided HE wants one too lol... was always going to be MY dog... this is going to be OURS :D

I'm just excited we're actually talking about it seriously instead of pipe dreams for me :D
 

Baxter'smybaby

swimming upstream
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#4
I love the looks of GSP's--seriously think they are one of the best looking dogs out there! Can't comment on much beyond that because I have only admired them from afar--but we do have some GSP owners on the board.
 

Aleron

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#5
GSPs can be fun dogs. They tend to need more socialization than the average sporting breed and can be prone to separation anxiety. There's nothing wrong with wanting a well bred dog from a breeder.
 

Dizzy

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#6
Nothing wrong with it in a lot of respects, it just wasn't my ideal.

But I'd rather get a well bred dog than none at all...

We have at least 6 months to work it out anyway. Longer I imagine as there's few jobs around here. He works from home with his family so always someone in... Bodhi is in doggy heaven here. There's mountains and rivers, and I want to do dog sports and training with new addition.

I have more incentive to get moved now :p
 
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#7
My friend has a GSP and she is definitely not the best ambassador for the breed. She was the runt of the litter, and is white with big almost-black patches. No ticking whatsoever. She's also a little neurotic and OCD... but she is a nice, well mannered dog. The other two GSP's I know that are definitely more typical of the breed are really friendly, energetic, and LOVE to play. I love them, even though one of them has peed on me twice. THAT is saying something.
 
M

MyHorseMyRules

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#9
We just had a GSP puppy join our SAR team, and I got to puppysit him a week or so ago.

Meet Boomer.


We have another GSP on the team, and they seem to be everything you are looking for. I will say they are a bit beyond high energy, so you'd need to work hard at teaching a solid off switch. Also, talk to happyhound. She has two GSPs, and she actually lives with them. So she'd have a lot more to offer on the breed than me.
 

Xandra

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#10
Of the ones I've met they're outgoing, friendly, energetic!

You might want to ask tepig about them (or just look at his dog lol):
http://www.chazhound.com/forums/t140351/

He has a gorgeous GSP :D

Personally, if I were getting a purebred, I would get a well-bred pup from a breeder instead of a what would probably be a badly bred rescue pup (that just seems like trouble, and what's the point of getting a poorly bred purebred if you want predictability?). If I went the rescue (shelter) route then I'd get a mutt.

Have you thought about looking around beforehand?

You could go to breeders and look at their pups and dogs NOW, lol, while you can't actually bring one home. And, as part of the deal, he has to meet some rescue candidates as well, see if that doesn't soften him up. Visiting breeders at this point is probably a good thing to do anyways, you get to know more about the breed, see which breeders you like the breeding philosophy of, if there are differences in their dogs etc.

Good luck! I'm excited for you :D
 

smkie

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#11
MhMr " a bit beyond high energy". :rofl1::D

all I can say is put your running shoes on. Pointer lab mixes are found on rescue sites all the time, Mary was one. You get the best of both worlds.
 

Picklepaige

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#12
Maybe it's just where I live, but around here, I've noticed that German Shorted Pointers in rescues tend to look and act much like their well-bred cousins :)

But, here in good ol' deep south, many breeders breed good, healthy, drivey dogs, but aren't ethical enough to take dogs back.
 

Dogs6

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#13
I hate you. Posting GSP puppy pictures is the cruelest thing EVER!!!

I'm going to be stalking you once you get your puppy. I love GSPs, but I'm not sure they're the perfect dog for me. So once you get it, you better post pictures and updates every day :p

Other than that I don't have much to add.
 

Dizzy

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#14
High energy is fun ;)

I've even found an accredited trainer 40 mins from the house (no mean feat in the UK, never mind the valleys). She does obedience, agility and working trials :D

Whatever dog we get (rescue or not) it's exciting to know things are going to become reality :D

I'm getting broody... already told the other half rather a puppy than a baby ;)
 

nikkiluvsu15

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#15
My friend has 2 Labs and a GSP - she said that while they are "alike", Remi has a lot more energy than Nallah and Morgan. She has actually convinced me that I need to get a GSP at some point - Vizsla is my next dog though, I've been waiting to long already. :p
 
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#16
This is my Twiggy as a puppy ;). As a pup Twiggy was non stop movement but has developed an off switch. She comes from field only lines, though I don't know how US field lines will differ from any European ones. She has also been really easy to train and likes working.

My Jake comes from pet stuff and has had an off switch since day 1. He's a lazy couch bum but can turn it on when he wants.
 
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#17
My parents have a GSP and he's a high energy goofball. The phrase "handful" is used often when they talk about him, but he loves them. It sounds like you have a good outlet for all that energy.

Here's some puppy pics and big boy pics of Gus:







 
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#19
I don't know if you're taking breeder suggestions, but Rob Engelking is a name I'd look up and their kennel is vom riverwoods. Excellent, excellent dogs. I don't hunt over bird dogs, but have seen his in action. Someday when I have time again, i hope to get one of theirs for this purpose
 
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#20
They are such fun dogs. I've noticed they are a bit more sensitive than some of the other hunting breeds, GSPs as well as Vizsla's. And they are very loyal dogs. There's nothing wrong with a rescue or a great breeder, but I know the well bred ones over here are $1000+.
 

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