I think that's a total fallacy. Housedogs can make great hunting dogs. The people you talked to probably keep their dogs kenneled. I ran my dog today and got many compliments. Words like "that is the kinda of dog I want." or a gentleman with two dogs, "Wow, your pup is a hunting machine." She is a total housedog, spoiled rotten.

As to a choice of dogs, GSP's are nice. Depends on what your hunting. If hunting mainly waterfowl, my choice would be a lab. If doing both waterfowl and upland, a versitile breed like the GSP. If just upland, a E. setter, E. pointer if hunting big fields. Springer if hunting thick heavy cover. I have a Llewellin setter, close working, small (about 35lbs),naturally birdy. She will run in open fields, and get into the thorny blackberries bushes. But she'll point in these bushes and I can't see her or get to it.