Hello,

I've followed this forum for a while and have learned a lot from you all, thanks for that.

I'm planning to get my first pointing dog within the next year or so and was hoping for some advice regarding breeds. After a lot of research I've decided on either a GSP or a Vizsla. I plan to hunt with the dog, but I also want a companion I’ll be happy with for the other 9 months of the year….a dog I can take fishing, camping, hiking, and to the cliffs when I go rock climbing, without the constant fear that he’ll take off to go hunting on his own. How independent is a GSP? I’ve heard people on this forum, and others, say that their GSP’s would rather hunt than eat, and to a GSP, you’re just the guy that feeds them and takes them hunting. Whereas Vizsla’s are more attached to their owners, sometimes to the point where they don’t want to let you out of their sight. For this reason, I was thinking that the Viz might make a better “pet” during the off-season…a dog that will just hang out with me on the bank of a trout stream, or on a hiking trail, without having to be leashed all the time, or have me constantly calling him back. I can see how this level of attachment might be a disadvantage to someone who wants a pure hunting dog, but I don’t plan to compete with this dog, I don’t need a diehard hunter, I do want a good hunting dog, but most of all I just want a dog that will point some birds for me in the fall, and will be my buddy for the rest of the year.

My only problem with the Viz is that they’re a lot more expensive (which isn’t such a big deal) and I’ve heard that it’s much more difficult to get a good Vizsla than it is to get a good GSP, unless you’re known to the breeder and have experience with Vizslas.
I know this will sound like blasphemy to some, and I apologize but here it comes…is it possible to get a GSP that isn’t ALL about hunting ALL the time? Or am I better off with the Vizsla?

Also, any comments comparing the "trainability" of these two breed with regard to a first-time pointer owner is welcomed. I do have experience with dogs, I've had beagles, golden retrievers, and mutts in the past. But this will be my first hunting dog.

Thanks for your help.