I have always hunted without a dog which is ok. But i am looking into a GSP and was wondering if i should look into a started, finished or a pup any thoghtswould be helpfull. I have had family dogs in the past and dont do well with training them. One more question can you have a good bird dog and family dog all rolled into one. I have talked to some people that said that to have a good hunting dog it cant be a family dog.
Thanks

Adam, of course a house dog makes an nice hunting dog, a: quality time,B:you can work on obedience and retrieving. I'm sure that alot of people will disagree, but you send me a pup, and you send someone else a pup, i'll keep in house, they don't you will see the difference between the two, in 1 mo. or even 2. Honestly. Here's a good GSP www.dellingersdogs.com, This man is a retired vet. Hes located next to gainesville Georgia, i've helped out on several of his gsp, and brits. Nice, nice gun dogs. Thanks Jonesy

First, a house dog can be a good hunting dog. My dog is a house dog(completely spoiled) and he is a great hunting dog.

Second,
get a pup. Half of the fun is training him and watching the results. A GSP is a great dog. That is what I have. Don't be worried about not being able to train him. They are very trainable dogs and if I could do it so could you. Alot ofthe learning curve for a hunting dog comes from instinct. You just have to sometimes point themin the right direction.

Good luck!

Adam, your options could be unlimited, reason being a started dog will already be exposed toalot of things, all dogs are awsome, you need to figure out some things for yourself. What I mean is mainly the ground you'll hunt, different breeds are better in different things. Some are better than others in all things. I will agreean excellent choice i feel for theaverage hunter, is either a shorthair, or brittany. These are both great all around dogs. It is just a matter of what you want, a vizsla is another good all around breed. I would go to a gun dogkennel, and purchase, myself, because the dogs and pups are going to be worked from the start. Lot of breeders don't do that, they say they do but most of time don't. I've worked client dogs from so &so's kennel supposed to have this and that done, and the dog falls apart. Why cause it was not done. There are lot of good hands doin dogs all over, I can possibly help, doesn't matter. I will give an honest opinion. Cool?? Jonesy

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.