My Chocolate Lab (Dakota), now 12, is right on the edge of being too old for serious upland hunting. His legs and hips just can�t handle the work anymore, and I hate to push him too much nowadays. He�s been a GREAT hunting and family dog for a lot of years. Here's a photo of Dakota from about 5 years ago when he was in his prime...always was a bit of a ham!

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So, I find myself thinking ahead about a new dog. Pheasants will be the main quarry, with some other prairie grouse and maybe quail mixed in. Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming and the Dakotas mostly.

I�ve always been a Lab-man, but have also long admired the looks and energy of German Shorthaired Pointers. And regular posters on this forum � like Cheesy � seem to do very well on pheasants with GSPs.

I did download the following GPS description for the Internet:

�One of the most energetic breeds, the German Shorthaired Pointer is a hunting dog by nature. Protective, clever, eager and willing to please, they are very fond of their human families. Happy-go-lucky, they love nothing more than to engage in some type of constructive activity with their owners such as a long walk, jog, hike, hunt, or a game of Frisbee. This breed is not suited to life in a kennel. Faithful, spirited and friendly, they like and mix well with children. Dominancy and energy levels vary slightly from puppy to puppy even within the same litter, however those bred for working in high performance field competitions usually require more activity than the average Shorthair, but are all still very high energy dogs who need a lot of daily exercise. Best suited for an active family. When they lack in exercise they can become high strung, and frustrated. The GSP will not listen if they sense that they are stronger minded than their owner, however they will also not respond well to harsh discipline. The GSP needs an owner who displays a natural air of authority. Firm, but calm, confident and consistent with rules they must be made to follow. They crave order and need structure in their life. If this breed lacks in either exercise or leadership they can developed separation anxiety and possibly become destructive and nervous. Well adjusted, stable minded GSPs who receive enough mental and physical activity along with a balance of consistent leadership will get along with other dogs and cats. This breed likes to bark and they can be reserved with strangers. Socialize well. They will be in their glory if they are actually used for what they were bred for and taken on hunting trips.�

Is that a fair assessment of the German Shorthaired Pointer?

Can a GSP be a good family dog as well as a serious upland dog? How would you compare the typical GSP to the typical Lab?

Any practical input or advice at this point would be very much appreciated.

"Don't let the things you can't do, stop you from doing the things you can do."