Other than the GSP my grandfather had 40 yrs ago I hadn't really seen all that many of the breed. And when I did it was with someone that hunted. So when I wanted a dog to hunt with I looked for a GSP. and thenI found out how great they are.  Seriously I can count the number of GSP's I saw before I brought Cocoa home on both hands alone. I know of only 4 other GSPs in town but have seen many more of them since we started the training process with her. Mostly at the trainers facillities. Maybe the people that do know that GSPs are generally bred for hunting are just surprised that a non hunter has one since they may have had a similar amount of exposure to the breed that I did. I was a little surprised that the dogs were used to pull stuff and agility tests also but I don't think that is any less of a job than hunting is. They need a job of some sort whether its running , chasing squirrels, dock jumping or hunting. People that really don't know much about dogs other than their specific breed that they own just see GSPs as hunters so why would you have a hunter if you don't hunt is the first thing out of their mouths. My dad has a goofy little mini poodle for a house pet and asked why I let the 3 furballls I have in the house. they are energetic and they shed and take up way more space than Pepe' does. I just laugh and carry on . I don't try to make excuses or anything

I'm trying to get my daughter into competative shooting and the first thing people ask is what we hunt for. What does that have to do with shooting skeet or trap. Not a darn thing but it doesn't make me mad. But I don't try to educate them on it eiither.

Just be patient with those people. Treat them with the same respect that you would want to be treated with  no matter how much of a but head they are and do like I do.  Just try to make room on your bed with your spouse and 3 other furry people.

JIm

GSPs were bred to be Uber (SP??) dogs.  They are a versatile breed, so IMO a GSP that chases squirrels, hikes, bikes, mushes, hunts, does agility, flyball, is good with the family, etc. is doing exactly what it was bred to do, be a versatile family dog. If they hunt, well, that is part of the picture, but not all.  So, a well rounded GSP is following it's breeding.  I think most of the GSPs on this forum are certainly well rounded and versatile, even if not all of them hunt. 

I will also say that GSPs that do not hunt, but have a job and lot's of activites can and will be just as happy as their hunting brethren. After all, I think the most important thing to a GSP is their family.

 I feel the most spectacular trait of our GSPs is when they lock on point on a critter or birdie You know that can happen on any walk in the backyard, neighborhood, out in the woods, field, or on the beach when we are with our GSPs not hunting GSPs are not couch potatoes. Many GSPs donot let their owners be couch potatoes. GSPs hunt all the time off leash in the woods and wild even if you do not hunt personally. The minute I let Rocky out the back door his nose is to the ground hunting some smell and scent up of some critter or birdie. So if any one else ask you if your GSP hunts or if you hunt him. You can say," My GSP is a natural born hunter and points, flushes up every bird or critter he sees or smells." Go to Fleet Farm, buy him or her a dummy and a bottle of pheasant scent then you can simulate almost the real hunting thing You donot have to be a hunter at all give your GSP the experience of doing what he was breed to do. I even have goose and pheasant dummies for Rocky to retrieve off water. He goes absolutely nuts when he sees these birdie dummies, so I hide them in the garage in a cupboard till the time to use them.  So many many ways you can enjoy the hunt part of your GSP while not being a hunter. I am not a hunter, but my husband is so Rocky does get to pheasant hunt  3 or 4 times a year.