Let me start by saying I *love* German Shorthairs but after I got my first choc. lab, I think this will be a breed I stick with for the remainder of my life. Well aside from my coonhounds, but heck the labs even run with the hounds and will tree. A younger lab in any size home is gonna be a handful honestly, especially if you have a very well motivated dog from a hunting lineage. My black, Raven is 2.5 years old now and she's the perfect house dog. She's calm stays by my side, never gets into anything...but in puppyhood they can be a nightmare at times. Both will be an energetic dog though as i'm sure you know. usually you can get a good quality lab for less than a gsp too, at least in my area you can, gsp breeders are few and far between. Size wise you are close to the same range. My choc.(english stock) was 57lbs at 8 months, however Raven is an american stock and only 50lbs at her 2.5 year age. My labs love kids to death even when tortured by them. And my choc. is a squirrel dog, duck dog, grouse dog, dove dog, amatuer coon dog, etc. I think they are the most versatile sporting breed available. But my best advice unless you find the traits of one overwhelming, just go look at some pups and when you find the *one* you should just have a feeling about it. Go with what your gut feeling.