ChipFTAC01
Houston, TX
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Posts:58
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| 02/11/2009 6:45 PM |
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The trauma of new puppyhood has sufficiently worn off that I'm thinking of adding another member to the household.
Officially my list of breeds I'm considering is:
Brittany
Chesapeke Bay Retriever
English Setter
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Longhaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Irish Setter
Gordon Setter
Pointer
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Afghan
Bloodhound
Harrier
Otterhound
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Giant Schnauzer
Great Dane
Neapolitan Mastiff
Newfoundland
Airedale Terrier
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
Dalmatian
Poodle
Bouvier des Flandres
Old English Sheepdog
In all honesty, the only dogs that are really on the list are the pointers, the Setters and Brittanys. Most of the rest of them are, "Man, those are cool looking dogs." But seriously? I don't want to clean up after a Dane, of feed a Mastiff or sweep up after an OE Sheepdog.
Anyways, the point of this post is to ask about people's thoughts between the GSP vs the DK and the GWP vs the DD. Any experience between the two dogs (the German versions versus the American versions)? I live in Texas, so I hunt upland birds, I'm not a duck hunter.
Here in Texas there are a number of good breeders of all 4 breeds/types. Just wanted to pick y'alls brains.
Thanks. |
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pixie bee
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Posts:4448
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| 02/11/2009 8:15 PM |
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If you are strictly an upland hunter and do no versatile then go with a GSP. Or you can get a 1/2 DK 1/2 GSP. DK breeders will often request you test in the German system to solms,older dog breed test.
Wirehairs are good but maybe to hot in Texas? |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Mydogiscrazy
Chapel Hill NC
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Posts:323
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| 02/11/2009 8:22 PM |
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get a black standard poodle.
let me know how that combo works out. |
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ChipFTAC01
Houston, TX
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Posts:58
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| 02/11/2009 9:43 PM |
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I think the GWP would be fine in Texas. Actually, the guy that originally got me interested in GSPs got a DD a couple of years ago that he swears is the best dog he's ever had. This is a guy who has had a kennel full of shorthairs and pointers for the last 50 years.
My dogs are mostly inside dogs outside of walks and romps around in the backyard. Once hunting season hits it generally starts to cool down (at least by Texas standards). |
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ChipFTAC01
Houston, TX
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Posts:58
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| 02/11/2009 9:44 PM |
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Posted By Mydogiscrazy on 02/11/2009 8:22 PM
get a black standard poodle.
let me know how that combo works out.
Are you saying if I bred them or because of pack issues?
I don't think I've ever actually known someone who had a standard poodle. I've heard/read they are super smart and quite the tricksters.
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lauralee
Plainfield, CT.
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Posts:449
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| 02/11/2009 9:57 PM |
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I would say any one of the 3 choices would be good:
1) German Shorthaired Pointer
2) German Shorthaired Pointer
3) German Shorthaired Pointer
OH, and I almost forgot my favorite choice is a: German Shorthaired Pointer!!!!!! |
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ChipFTAC01
Houston, TX
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Posts:58
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| 02/11/2009 10:04 PM |
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| Nice. Actually when I started my notes to organize my thoughts and research into what kind of dog I want, they are the only breed that got two rows in Excel. One for a male and one for a female. All of the other dogs I know I would want a male in, but I'd consider getting another female GSP. |
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lauralee
Plainfield, CT.
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Posts:449
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| 02/11/2009 10:24 PM |
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There you go,,, sounds like a good decision!! Why fix it if it ain't broke!!
GO GSP's!!!! |
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
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Posts:7835
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| 02/11/2009 11:07 PM |
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I train with a few folks who have standard poodles and they are very smart, but do not seem to be as quick as the shorthairs. They also seem to be more challenged with focus at an early age. Personally, I am not crazy about them. Of course, I don't want to take care of the coat either.
Out of your list, I would quickly eliminate the dogs that have a high maintenance coats. Also, I would eliminate the high drool dogs like the Newfs and Mastiffs. Not crazy about the Dals as they can be a bit on the agressive side, so I would take them off. The Rhodesians are nice, but can be very challenging to train, so they are gone off my list too. Don't like the sensitivity and nervousness of the Pointers, so they are off my list too.
Chesapeke Bay Retriever
German Shorthaired Pointer
Harrier
So for me this would be my short list. Of these three, my order of preference would be the GSP, Harrier, Retriever. Why didn't you consider the Vizsla? They are allot like the GSP only a little smaller. Anyway, you have my preferences for what they are worth.
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
   
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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pixie bee
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Posts:4448
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| 02/12/2009 5:21 AM |
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I know some Brits that are very nice hunting dogs. I don't know any setters but I hear many good things about them, altho I believe more research may be needed to find a good hunting setter.
It seems to me you have all the breeds covered, it's just a matter of what you like.
The only real difference betweens all the hunting breeds is the way they hunt,some more laid back some more charging, some close ranging, some not so close. Do research and know more of what you are looking for.
So, unless you have a more serious approach to dog choosing, pick the dog you like and be happy.
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Kerplunk105
Bucks County, PA
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Posts:713
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| 02/12/2009 5:48 AM |
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| I love the Vizslas. That was going to be my next dog until I adopted Leena. |
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Elizabeth
Leena RIP 11/08-9/17/09
Bliss, the Labrador
Tegan, the Weim/Labrador
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Trey
SW Iowa
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Posts:516
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| 02/12/2009 6:12 AM |
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Having delt with both american bred and german bred gs, and gw's, my opinion (for what it is worth) they are the same dog with a different registry (and yes I fully understand the breeding retrictions).
As to the other choices, if you just want something different then you already have, I would go with the ep, or if you don't mind coat the es, or a small munsterlander. jmo |
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Rugergundog
Saginaw Michigan USA
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Posts:395
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| 02/12/2009 6:22 AM |
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I would suggest if you plan to upland hunt go with a Brittany. Though it is a versatile dog its by most standards more of a up"land" dog. The hunt style is a bit different than the GSP and a great compliment. I own a GSP and Britt and enjoy the way they work together. One main difference i pick up on with my Britt vs GSP is the senting method. My GSP uses more of a hound type smelling process....nose low to the ground as if in tracking mode. My Britt (and others ive seen) use more of a nose higher picking up scent in the air. Britt works a bit closer the GSP covers the ground as a burner.
Other than a GSP Britt combo i would just go with two GSP's as they are common and its easy to find a great dog from a great breeder at a affordable price. |
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Saginaw Michigan
Brittany- Ruger
GSP- Kilian |
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pixie bee
MH
Posts:4448
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| 02/12/2009 6:52 AM |
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Rugergundog,
interesting what you say about your GSP and scenting. That is bred into a dog. This is where research comes in handy. As your dog gets older and learns to use the wind better he may raise his head. Some don't, EPs are bred to hunt with a high head. I think most EP guys would drop if their EP put their nose to the ground.
When I research breeders I check into the type of nose they breed.
I feel to many breeders do not even consider this aspect when breeding.
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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Pointer Fan
Westminster, Colorado
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Posts:954
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| 02/12/2009 7:59 AM |
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Stick with a sporting breed. My son has a Newf from good bloodlines. They are almost the polar opposite of a GSP. Have to be forced to exercise, drool constantly and shed tons. Need a lot of grooming time plus he just had the second knee repair job on the dog at a cost of $2500 a knee. All that said it is a sweet dog but I love my relatively low maintanence GSP.
How about a pudelpointer.
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Texas Belle
Austin, TX
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Posts:7835
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pixie bee
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Posts:4448
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| 02/12/2009 8:43 AM |
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You can't train nose but you can bring out the best in a dog by exposure. Dogs will learn to scent better, at least the good ones do, with experience. Once Ringo gets on a few runners he will learn a whole new game. You'll love it. It's great to watch a dog work runners.
When both my dogs have a high head,even a crank, I know they are scenting a distant scent or a scent waifing in the air or they are scenting deer. If it's deer tho they start a stalking mode. I am thinking of putting this on video, it's great to watch a bit boring but I enjoy it.My dogs don't really crank like an EP. My dogs don't point with high head.
Most of the scenting is done with their heads level with their shoulders or lower. I prefer this type of scenting.If there are no birds in the area and are searching they will look more like they are running around and looking for something but not an intense type search look. Heads will be held at little lower then normal height until they start to scent something.
You really got to see a dog search to know what it all looks like. The more dogs you see the more you begin to appreciate the search. The speed, the head the nose and the dog's overall posture and movement. The only thing I love to watch more is a good water search - the best part of ANY versatile test!
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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TessaGA
Georgia
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Posts:2387
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| 02/12/2009 8:47 AM |
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I too apologize for the hijack...Tessa as well has her head up all the time. Once she zeroes in on what she's looking for, her head goes lower. I have done a few ground tracks with her, some go well, most not so, as she keeps lifting her head.
GSP or Brittany would be my choices. |
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To live without dogs would mean accepting a form of blindness. [Thomas McGuane]
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ChipFTAC01
Houston, TX
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Posts:58
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| 02/12/2009 10:34 AM |
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Don't worry about the hijack, it's an interesting discussion.
With regards to why I'm not looking at a vizsla, I've just never been a fan. I have several friends that have them and in general, they seem to be of a fairly similar personality and temperament as most GSPs. I've only hunted over one and I thought the dog was fine in the field, but I think it is more of a look thing. I think it's their eyes, something has always bothered me. Maybe the way that they are set in their heads? Regardless, they're just a breed I've never had much interest in.
The comment you made about EP's having nervousness issues. I don't know much about EPs. Can you elaborate? |
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Bxr-Linda
Oregon
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Posts:171
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| 02/12/2009 10:35 AM |
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At the risk of sounding like a complete fool....
what is a DD and DK?  |
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