Just wanted to hear some pros and cons of the breed. What do you like about them and some of the stuff you don't. Been doing some research on them and probaly like most breeds been getting mix reviews. Just seeing what you guys think.

Pros:
Easy to find well bred one and because of that..
Cheap
Handle Tx Heat well.
Can be used to many varieties of game.


Con: Not to well for freezing temps for waterfowl.
Poorly bred ones can be destructive, too much energy to live with, bad temperaments. That goes for any poorly bred hunting dog

I just got a rescue GSP at the end of last year and have a few observations to add. Mine is a FANTASTIC dog despite her shortcomings.

Pros: Great family dog. She loves people and wants to be around us all the time. She also has A LOT of energy. She could play fetch in the TX heat all day long and not blink an eye. She'll forget to drink water so we practically have to make her drink. I just found out she likes swimming so that will be her summer "conditioning" program. She's VERY VERY smart! Learns fast and figures things out quickly. Hopefully the more I get her on birds, the smarter she'll be hunting.

Cons: If you don't get them exercise and VERY TOUGH chew toys, they'll find something to "take it out" upon. Mine has chewed up all the house dog's (shih-tzu) old toys. She is very curious, so she'll get her nose in ANY and EVERY thing! She's run through the wife's garden and that's been a source of frustration.

As far as the hunting: I had her out on Wild birds in KS last year (pheasants). She did allright all things considered. Mine hunts in range for the most part. She doesn't like standing still. So I'm working extra hard to get her ready for dove season and sitting still beside me! I definitely "lucked out" (my dog's name is Lucka...we kept her name when she came to us) in that I have a relatively good family dog and a trainable hunter. She will jump on the counters to get get food if we leave any out at night. Can't correct this (since we can't catch her in the act) except to put everything away at night! She doesn't get along with the family cat, so they pretty much avoid each other. Other than that, we've had a good experience with ours. Had her for about 6 months now.

What I like: They are a good all around hunting dog, usually good with kids & family, can even be protective & can have some great noses for finding birds.

What I don't like: They are a little clingy, tend to hunt too close IMO, can be very hard headed & I'm not trying to start something here but in my experience, they don't handle the heat too well because of their size. Which brings me to the last thing I don't like about them, their size, just too big for my liking.
Every body likes something different, so get what YOU want, not what someone else likes.

They can be a bit hyper, I think that's the way it is with some pointing breeds. Because of that, I really prefer a Brittany for dove and pheasant. But if you want a dog to cover some ground - a Shorthair or Pointer is hard to beat!

CC: You're spot on about hard headed. Mine gets that way from time to time too. Mine is on the small side (about 35-40lbs) which is nice. I couldn't agree more though about getting what YOU want and like. Ultimately, you're gonna be more tolerant of a dogs misbehavior if it's a dog YOU want. My wife and step daughter wanted a Lab and I thought they were just too big for my tastes and I don't think I'd be as tolerant of little "issues" if I had gotten a dog I didn't want.

The Pros and Cons listed above are pretty spot on.

Mine is a great family dog, best I've ever had, great with the kids. He also needs to be exercised daily, lots of energy.

Only thing I would have done differently is that I would have gone with a female rather than a male. I had focus issues with my male at an early age.

Great dogs… probably the best all around hunting dog I have ever owned.

Pros: extremely intelligent, great nose, very biddable (one command dog), always wanting to please, wonderful family dog, has “the switch” (i.e. from around the house-family to full-on hunting mode), protective, strong and durable frame, short coat (minimal shedding and easy/fast drying clean up), when in hunting mode they are very driven.

Cons: clingy aka “velcro dogs” (as in… you’ll be glad your bathroom has a door on it!), high energy level and needs lots of exercise. They can be a little on the OCD side too about balls and such but a lot of hunting dogs can be that way. don't handle the "wet" cold too well. Can be so driven or focused when in hunting mode that they can come across as hardheaded.

I have 2 and I love them to death. They're great all around dogs. As stated above they can be hard headed and clingy. But they have the heart of a champion in the field. At home if socialized and trained properly they can be great house dogs as well

Good dogs with nice disposition. Not much need for a bird dog these days since there are no birds unless you want to plant them. Sad.

My family used to own Von Weidenbrook Kennels in IN. Raised and trained GSP for years. Great all round dog (family, kids, hunting). Even had some that were great duck dogs. Had very few that were crazy and hyper. Easy to tell good pups from bad and I'll help you pick one if you have a litter to choose from.

BIG CONS: The are generally a wider ranging than most pointers. There also a bad at chewing and digging as any Lab. Any age!

Are you serious? Not the pointers and GSPs I've been around. Heck, maybe my pointers have all been runoffs and I just didn't realize it!
Now I do know of one GSP male that actually did run off any chance he got, but you can't count that. If he could get a patch of brush between you and him, he was gone.

Lots of Energy.. A pro and a con.. depending on the season..lol

I decided 8 years ago I wanted a GSP, got one out of good stock from a pointer and setter man, put him in a lot of birds....hunted way to close and when he saw we were getting close to the truck he would break and run to the truck, not enough desire. 2nd GSP bread very well, hunted hard but if not kept in birds would loose interest and start trailing other dogs. Developed a $1500 throat problem and at 6 is loosing control of his back legs. 3rr GSP from a good breeder in Mo. Hunts to close, gets car sick ever time and had eye problems last year with weed seeds getting in her eyes. Three strikes and I'm out. I tried I mean really tried to have a good GSP but it wasn't in the cards. I know there are many a good one out there I just haven't had the good fortune to find one. So, nothing but Pointers and Setter from now on!

With all the rain we had that spring there was plenty of dogs getting seeds in their eyes. Don't see it being as big a problem this year.
If you don't mind me asking what was the throat problem?

He had a clogged slava gland that caused baseball size liquid buildup in his throat. Even after the surgery it didn't all go away, looks like he has a big old adams apple!

If the little ones ever see a pup such as this, you’re toast....

stoptoflush that makes me think of another question. Are GSP's prone to any health issues in yalls opinion?

I think the health issues were just the luck of the draw. I know many folks who swear by GSP's. I believe I'm just not meant to have one. The Pointers and Setters I've had over the years have all been easy keepers.

Pros:My GSP is very energetic but I like that because when we hit the field he will go alllll day. I have never had a better dog. Great family dog, very intellegent and easy to train, is always hunting something (birds,rats, squirrels, flies, etc.) easy to keep up, nothing sticks to their fur and they rarely ever need a bath unless they jump in some stanky stuff. Mine was very wide ranging whenI first got him (up to 600 yards or more) but I worked on bringing him in a bit because I prefer him to hunt a little closer. He came from heavy horseback field trial lines. he is only about 48 lvs. which I like because it's easier to put up with in the house. I have used him for dove, quail, and pheasant so far and plan to introduce some duck hunting and blood trailing this year.

Cons: Sheds, clingy but I don't mind that.

It really comes down to what you want to do with the dog. I wanted a versatile breed that i could do everything with but I also dont duck hunt much so it has been a great fit so far.

Good luck in your search!

I wouldn't have anything else...who said they were hyper...?

I agree, especially since that's my girl . She's 3.5 now and is really a dream to live with.

Pros:

Cute as pups


Willing to help out wherever needed


Easy to ship

Nice!!!

GOLDSTEIN You forgot to mention the laser eyes.