GSP vs Lab

[teague33]

Hey everyone, I'm new to this forum, and relatively new to upland hunting (started grouse and pheasant hunting in the last five years). I'm also located in Central Wisconsin, smack in the middle of a prime waterfowl area, which is something that I want to start doing as well. I currently own a 2 1/2 year old yellow lab, who is in his third season on grouse, and really starting to figure things out. So it's starting to get really fun watching him work cover. When I bought him, I did my homework found a good breeder, good blood lines, and got an absolutely fantasic dog, both in the house and field.

In the next year I would like to get a second dog, and so my search has me torn between getting another Lab, or getting something in the pointing breeds. My focus has been on the GPS, I've gone out and spoke with breeders, watched their dogs work in the field, spent time around the breed in social situations. (I like to do my research). I've had people tell me that the GSP is high strong and wired, but I've also been told that about Labs my whole life, and now I own dog that has had free run of the house since he was four months old, is gentle with infants and toddlers, and doesn't jump up on people. So I know through careful searching you can find a dog that is bred with great potiental that can be brought out through proper training.

I guess my question is more along the lines of thought on a comparison of the breeds, I've done the web research, but want to hear from guys that have hunted over the breeds.

Thanks in advance for your help

[jimbo&rooster]

Ive got a lab and 2 shorthairs and as far as personality goes they are fairly similar. all business in the field and couch potatoes in the house. My GSPs take a little longer to settle down but once they do they are great. Socialization will play a large role in how they act.

In the field they are apples and oranges. I love to take my lab to the local preserves and shoot pheasants and have shot alot of wild quail over her hunting tree rows. My lab has done a great job with waterfowl doves, and upland birds over the last 5yrs but I always found myself wanting more of a specialist when it came to upland birds. When the time came I settled on a GSP and since have aded a second GSP and an EP/GSP to my kennel. I enjoy the time spent behind my lab but there is nothing like following a pointing dog through cover and watching it slam a point.

I really enjoy working my older GSP and my lab in the field together. My lab works close and my GSP will range, It takes time and training but is worthit when it pans out.

If it was me I would get a GSP, use the lab for waterfowl and use the GSP to hunt birds, and after the GSP has figured the game out spend some time in the off season teaching the lab to work at flushing range and push the GSP to run bigger and work them as a team.
Jim

[teague33]

Thanks for the advice, I know both are great breeds when you do your home work and find a good breeder, and put the leg work in to do the training. This is the kind of problem I enjoy thinking about.

[cutty72]

What jimbo said is spot on.

Love watching my lab work flushing range while my buddies GSP's range out and point them.