ned1
Member
cold anyone advise me on what would be the best dog? i quite like the german shorthaired pointers, but would she live in with my lurcher and two young children?
gun dogs
- Thread starter ned1
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echodomino
Well-Known Member
German Wirehaired Pointers are good dogs but they can be very headstrong, I have been told that the GSPs are worse than the GWP. They would be fine with your Lurcher and the children, my brother and I grew up with GWPs no probs. They are active dogs but loyal and intelligent. They do make good workers.
We have Hungarian Wirehaired Vizslas which are a much easier breed to live with than the Germans as they are more laid back and more eager to please you, as opposed to themselves. They make more thorough working dogs as they are steadier. They too are fantastic with other dogs and children (grew up with these too).
Are you looking just at Gundogs as a group or are you hoping to work too?
We have Hungarian Wirehaired Vizslas which are a much easier breed to live with than the Germans as they are more laid back and more eager to please you, as opposed to themselves. They make more thorough working dogs as they are steadier. They too are fantastic with other dogs and children (grew up with these too).
Are you looking just at Gundogs as a group or are you hoping to work too?
GinaB
Well-Known Member
If you want somehing easy to work with that will keep going all day and is a good family dog, really you can't beat a lab but I am very biased as I happen to own two which are used as gundogs
kirstyhen
Well-Known Member
What job are you wanting it to do on the shooting field, and what sort of experiance with Gundogs do you have?
Labs are nice easy dogs, do most jobs around the shoot, and everyone knows they make good family dogs. Get a nice working bred one though!
(I know GinaB, I recommended a Lab!
)
If you have the energy, you can't beat working a good Spaniel through cover.
If it's your first Gundog, unless you are specifically looking for a HPR, I wouldn't recommend a Pointer, but that's just my opinion.
Labs are nice easy dogs, do most jobs around the shoot, and everyone knows they make good family dogs. Get a nice working bred one though!
(I know GinaB, I recommended a Lab!
If you have the energy, you can't beat working a good Spaniel through cover.
If it's your first Gundog, unless you are specifically looking for a HPR, I wouldn't recommend a Pointer, but that's just my opinion.
GinaB
Well-Known Member
kirstyhen
Well-Known Member
Only because most people don't realise how much work a Spaniel can be!
People are always telling me that if I cut down on Otto's food or had him castrated he would be calmer, and perhaps he would (although if I cut down on his food he would also be skin and bones!) but he's a Springer, and therefore will always be a busy dog!
Plus, you're pulling me towards the dark side.... Not that I would ever pick a Lab over a Springer!!
People are always telling me that if I cut down on Otto's food or had him castrated he would be calmer, and perhaps he would (although if I cut down on his food he would also be skin and bones!) but he's a Springer, and therefore will always be a busy dog!
Plus, you're pulling me towards the dark side.... Not that I would ever pick a Lab over a Springer!!
Ginger_Thing
Well-Known Member
Flatcoated retriever! Lovely, happy, friendly dogs, great with kids (will wash their faces for you
) but very waggy and may knock a tiny child over.
Apparently they're harder to train than labs for gundog work, but as I've never had a lab, I have nothing to compare so just get on with it! I think mine's doing pretty well for an 8 month old, and we're so besotted with the breed we're getting another at the end of April, so OH and I can train/work one each
Apparently they're harder to train than labs for gundog work, but as I've never had a lab, I have nothing to compare so just get on with it! I think mine's doing pretty well for an 8 month old, and we're so besotted with the breed we're getting another at the end of April, so OH and I can train/work one each
chelljacobs
Well-Known Member
I have 2 GSPs and they are excellent! But they are not for the novice gundog owner. They have an amazing amount of energy and are very intelligent! They are great family dogs and love to be with you, they require a lot of attention and do not like to get bored.
Mine get on great with each other and my sisters Lab, who lives with them, with all the families dogs that they meet at parties also. They can be boisterous when playing, but more with each other than towards us or others.
My youngest 10 months, can be pushy, so I would supervise her with young children (we don't have any children around so shes never really had to spend a long time with them, but the time she has spent, she has been very calm once she's said hello). My eldest 3, is much calmer and I would never worry about her with anything.
Both are exercised a lot and my youngest comes to the stables all the time with me, they eldest comes to work often during the day, leaving the younger at home with the Lab to play all day.
They are much harder work then our previous labs, retrievers and spaniels, but I would never have a different breed since owning them. They have the most amazing characters and you fall in love from the second you meet them. Training is a must! As with most dogs, but I was always told that an early recall is very important, and Ive never had any problems with mine. We live in a quiet country village with a large garden and plenty of fields; they dont live fully indoors either, they have their own room with a run. Again exercise a must for this hyperactive breed!
I hope this helps, a long post, but make a wise decision and speak to some breeders if you really would like a GSP. If not I do like the Flat Coats, but have also been a Golden girl myself!!
C x
Mine get on great with each other and my sisters Lab, who lives with them, with all the families dogs that they meet at parties also. They can be boisterous when playing, but more with each other than towards us or others.
My youngest 10 months, can be pushy, so I would supervise her with young children (we don't have any children around so shes never really had to spend a long time with them, but the time she has spent, she has been very calm once she's said hello). My eldest 3, is much calmer and I would never worry about her with anything.
Both are exercised a lot and my youngest comes to the stables all the time with me, they eldest comes to work often during the day, leaving the younger at home with the Lab to play all day.
They are much harder work then our previous labs, retrievers and spaniels, but I would never have a different breed since owning them. They have the most amazing characters and you fall in love from the second you meet them. Training is a must! As with most dogs, but I was always told that an early recall is very important, and Ive never had any problems with mine. We live in a quiet country village with a large garden and plenty of fields; they dont live fully indoors either, they have their own room with a run. Again exercise a must for this hyperactive breed!
I hope this helps, a long post, but make a wise decision and speak to some breeders if you really would like a GSP. If not I do like the Flat Coats, but have also been a Golden girl myself!!
C x