Hello everybody, I am, or I think I am the newest member here right now.  Of course, that will probably change by the time you all read this.  Anyhow.  I found this forum as a link on a hunting forum that I was reading earlier today. 

  A little about myself.  I am in my 30's (I know, not trolling for dates..ha ha  ha) and have been shooting ducks about 17 years, and pheasants about 13 years.  I have had some experience with field type dogs having been the owner of a beautiful English setter who is no longer with us. Along the way, I had an opportunity to hunt over a Pair of GSP's, and I fell in love wiht the breed.  I have been wanting to get one now for about 10 years. I am finally in the position to get a new pup, and a GSP it will be.  Seeing that this seems to be dedicated to the breed, what can you all tell me about how they are gnerally in the house?  How do the do with children.  I have a 5 year old, and a 1 year old.      How do they do with other dogs.  I have a fairly active Basset Hound, and a cat that you never see.

I know that they are very active dogs, and I am fine with that.  I would say I have done more research since April, than many people will ever do on dog breeds.  Most of the answers I get are from people that tell me based on somebody elses dogs, so any real time info would be appreciated.

From what I can find, the bloodlines I am getting into are excellent, or, to me, appear to be.    the Sire's side include General Norman, Fancy White Trash, and a few other names I have seen a bit of in the forums. Anything that you might be able to tell me here would be appreciated too.

Thanks in advance.  I know I have asked a ton of questions for a first post, but, I am home in 37 days on leave, and I will be meeting with the breeder and picking outa pup.  You are more or less, my last line of questioning before I commit 100% 

Welcome and be prepared for a third active high energy child pup when you adopt a  GSP. Have your 5 year old warm up his or her ball toss arm. GSP do make great outfielders and can be trained to drop the tennis ball into the pitcher-parent glove after your child bats the ball you pitched out into the field saving you from running after the ball. GSP's do live a foot off the ground for their first 3 years and can be naughty if left alone in the house too long. (read ROBBED LAST NIGHT thread for some examples.} Holiday season will be coming up and GSP's love openning packages.So make sure the new GSP has some packages to open under this years XMAS  tree along with your children and best of luck

They are good with kids, maybe a little "whammy" as my better half calls it. Once mine gets wound up he forgets that he has a back half and bounces it off everything. As far as if they are good in the house I think that depends on the line and how you socialize them.

Mine is usually very in tune with what I'm doing. If I am active so is he, if I'm chilling out he is too. He's a great house dog! However, you SHOULD go and see how the parents act in the house. My bests friends GSP is a tasmainian devil in the house non-stop, regardless of the amount of exercise he is given. I was with him the day he picked out the pup and he's a carbon copy of how his parents acted when in the house. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! If we would have known they were like that we would have passed. He's a smart dog and a hard running machine, but he pretty much can't leave his kennel while at home b/c of his high\destructive energy in the house. Talk to the breeder when you go to look at the pups and ask him, flat out no build-up, if he's a little squimish or his tone of voice changes you may want to beware. He may tell you they are just active dogs with company, but it shouldn't be like a bomb going off when they enter the room. Then he'll say that all dogs have energy and will expend it, it's up to you how they do it, constructive or destructive. bla bla bla

I guess the short version of what I'm getting at is that pedigrees are nice to look at and can tell you a lot if you are familiar with the dogs in it, but you should go and see how the sire and dam look and behave. The difference between my dog and my buddies dog is night and day! I wouldn't sell mine, and he couldn't give his away.

As far as compatibility goes they are usually are great with other dogs, like most hunting dogs they tend to get along well and have a sweet nature. Usually whatever they are raised with, they will get along with (cats, chickens, etc.). Good luck and enjoy your choosing your GSP, take a lot of pictures and get ready to have some good times b/c that's what GSP's are, fun dogs!

Hello & Welcome you made a wonderful decision you are going to be hooked. Don't be surprised how fast your new pup will have you wrapped around her/his paw LOL . They are great!! and I look forward to hearing how your making out along the way.

I did not research the breed before I got Ava. I don't hunt with her either. The more I think about it, I know they say you should research the breed or any breed for that matter to see if it fits with your lifestyle. To be honest this is just my situation, I am so glad that I did not research this breed, I would of never got her just by all the exercise part.  She has made such a huge impact on  my life. I am very back wards LOL  and had a hard time talking to people that I didn't know. She makes it easy for me if someone asked me a question about her, I am so comfortable talking to that person and don't feel all flustered LOL. I have never had so much exercise in my life hahahahaha and being the type of person who thinks working out is so boring, this helps to keep a little gravity at bay hahahaha. It makes me happy to go out on walks and is rewarding just to see how happy she is that I am going on a walk with her.

 I am so glad that I found her. Now that I have Ava, I have never smiled so much. I catch myself  in a dopey daze when we are on our morning walk in the park and she is on the prowl. I am amazed at her patience, how she can stand so still and posed and wait for a squirrel to get a little close to take off to get it and even with birds it's awesome If I were in her place I would of took off long before not wanting to stand like that. If I was a hunter she would really point me out some good ones.

You are in for a great ride!! Enjoy and best of luck to you