Codydawg,

You should get a PL in all seriousness. If you do not like your Brit's roaming, you probably will not like any pointing dog breed with the exception of a griffon or a PL. A pointer needs to be independent to some degree as they are suppossed to bring the hunter to the bird. A retriever is all about control. Personally I don't think that you could put the kind of control on a dog necessary to be a field trail retriever and still have the indpendence required for a really good pointer. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am. Different strokes for different folks. Personally, I find the lab's constant needs for affirmation/attention annoying as hell and I cannot stand a dog that is always underfoot and pestering me to play. Most pointers are more aloof or snobbish or whatever. They just don't act like labs.


As for the GSPs, there are some really wonderful dogs being bred out there like SharpShooters, etc. Traditional or heavily trialed NAVDHA dogs seem to be pretty even keeled temperment wise. I know my GSP lays around the house like a hound.

Some of the real "American Field Type GSPS" are hell bent for leather and are like you describe. It seems like Rawhides Clown bred dogs are especially knot-headed. Some field trial dogs like Rabidou's dogs or Rugerheim are very nice dogs, with teh Rugerheim being dual type dogs that can do it all.