RE: all around dog?
Yeah, just about any dog can be a good family dog. Even the dreaded killer (sarcasm implied) drahthaar is a good family dog. I have one draht and another on the ground now -- Getting him in about seven weeks!!!!
I have an old shorthair too - the best house dog you could EVER have. My young drahthaar bitch is a good house dog too. How many dogs do you know that you could let have run of the house at 9 months old, leave her alone for hours on end, and not come home to destroyed stuff?