GSP ??

[bigv]

Having debate with a pal. He is a big upland hunter and debating a dog. I'm a lab guy so don't know a ton on pointers etc. So he likes gsps. But due to allergies they cannot have in house. I told him that I think they may get too cold to be an outdoor dog up here in dakotas. So you guys that have them, do any of you keep them outdoors? How do they do? Obviously he has a plan for either a nice house or build into garage or something.

 

[3geese4me]

I would like to add a question, could a GSP be a decent dog for retrieving ducks? I'm not talking about retrieving in the cold, more along the lines of late September into mid-October...

 

[Allen]

A GSP is NOT an outdoor dog in ND and I don't know anyone who leaves one out in the cold that is anything short of a douche.

They will hunt in cold weather, especially if you put a jacket on them (neoprene ones are great). But they will absolutely get cold if left to sit at temps in the lower 40s. So unless your buddy is planning on putting a dog door into a heated garage (kept in the 60s), I'd have to say that you are correct.

Mine has a tendency to curl up on the floor where the sunlight comes through the window, or in front of the fireplace. That's in a house where the heat is kept around 70-72 degrees.

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3geeseforme, Some GSPs will retrieve ducks and geese from water. They aren't natural retrievers like a lab, but they are trainable. About half of the GSPs I know are fine in the water, the other half are just more tentative around it. I might suggest a Weimeraner ahead of a GSP in that case. They can be pretty good water dogs when given the chance and training.

 

[nxtgeneration]

My dog is only 1/2 GSP with the other 1/2 being Irish Setter. Her build and coat are all GSP. When I let her out to go to the bathroom or play outside she always ends up at the door within a few minutes wanting in and alternating which foot she picks up off the ground because they are cold. She may be a little bit of a baby but strictly from her coat I couldn't see her lasting very long out in the cold. Just like Allen's dog mine loves to lay in the sun light, especially sunny days when the suns shine in the glass screen door.

 

[jpv]

My 9 year old GSP is and has always been an outside dog. He’s outside year round. I built him and my retriever an insulated house and put one of them dog house heaters in it and a door and they’re just fine. I don’t know how warm that heater keeps their house but I do know I turned it on hi one time when it was below zero air temps and way below zero wind chills and he wouldn’t even go in the house it was so hot in there he just sat outside and barked until I came to the conclusion that’s what he was barking about and went out and turned the thermostat down. Keep it on medium now from late fall-early spring and my dog do just fine.

 

[Big Iron]

I have a GSP- she lives indoors. I would never even consider living arraignments to be 100% outdoor. As Allen stated- a dog door with access to a warm garage is as cold as I'd go.

GSP's do fine hunting in the cold- as long as they are moving around there will be no issues. When it turns below 10 degrees, I'll put a vest on her. When it gets way below zero- I don't chase birds any more.

 

[rapala_09]

Never mind the mess, I was in the process of adding outlets and insulating at the time. I've added a heater, insulated, and sheetrocked since the picture. I am currently in the process of taping. But this should give you an idea of what I did for my springer. I had a custom stainless top bent and welded for this as well that will give a nice surface to clean fish on or whatever. I also stained it with outdoor deck stain, which I would highly recommend. Whether its snow, rain, or aggressive drinking.... it gets wet in there from time to time.

Not that I minded having him in the house....But he is a pretty energetic fella and is much happier outside where he runs and runs and runs. Outside of the dog door, I poured a 6 x 16 concrete pad and put a powder coated kennel to keep him more contained when I don't want him to have the run of the yard.

It is a little more work to ensure that he gets all of the attention he deserves, with him being an outside dog. But it encourages me to get out and be active with him anyways.

Sorry for the long post, But I have a pretty good amount of time planning out the kennel/garage setup to make him comfortable. I think a GSP would do just as well in a situation like this.

 

[nxtgeneration]

Mine also would climb in the warm drier every chance she got when she was a pup

 

[bigv]

thanks...kinda what i thought. So I win. Maybe I'll turn him onto a Drathaar or Wirehair.

 

[3Roosters]

My 9 year old GSP is and has always been an outside dog. He’s outside year round. I built him and my retriever an insulated house and put one of them dog house heaters in it and a door and they’re just fine. I don’t know how warm that heater keeps their house but I do know I turned it on hi one time when it was below zero air temps and way below zero wind chills and he wouldn’t even go in the house it was so hot in there he just sat outside and barked until I came to the conclusion that’s what he was barking about and went out and turned the thermostat down. Keep it on medium now from late fall-early spring and my dog do just fine.

Might I suggest attaching a thermometer to the inside where you can see it? It would take the guess work out of the inside temps at the different settings.

 

[Big Iron]

PS-

GSP > Labs (in case you didn't know already)

 

[shorthairsrus]

How easy you guys forget ------- Mocha --- how many weeks did she live outside in bismarck - eating garbage and mice for a living during the coldest month of the year.


Allen - -coats kill that is a fact ---- a GSP will outrun outgun outlast any lab in the field period. DONT USE A COAT YOU WILL BURN THE KIDNEYS. Allens dog may stop and have a breather -- the shorthair will keep going even when your on break- the coats are made out of material that doesnt breath and burns them up. They dont need a coat- period. the energy system in a GSP is always going.

I have hunted them side by side - the lab is in the kennel period while the Gsp will run till they kill themselves. Hunt for 7 days straight - bring a lab and shorthair - doesnt matter how cold --- the lab will need to rest -- Guaranteed. They just dont have the engineering to last for days in the field like a shorthair. They can outswim a shorthair -and they can swim cold water - if your a duck hunter get a lab. If your going to hunt upland - bring a series of flushers and a couple shorthairs to run the group. Plan on resting your flushers and leave the shorthairs work. Allergies - labs have a oily coat - GSP do not - depends i suppose as to what type of allergy.

We are talking about a GERMAN engineered animal. If you buy one -- all i can say is hang on for your life. Its like comparing a corvette vs a golf cart. Talk to people that own shorthairs.

Socialization - a must. Heated garage preferred-- socializing them inside your home is better -- Treat em like you would treat your corvette-- they just ran 10X what your flusher did - limit arthritis.

 

[bigv]

I can't necessarily argue that even though Im a lab guy. I have trained, owned and bred labs (only bred twice) for years now. And I can tell you that I've had labs and been around a few labs that no pointer could touch in the field. I will not agree that a shorthair or other pointer is a better hunter for upland. That comes down to the individual dog..not the breed. I will agree that there is a good chance a leaner pointer may last longer in the field than a bulkier lab. Probably true. However, I've worked for and hunted a couple guided operations. The two in my mind did not want guides bringing pointers...only labs. I never did ask why. So I ask now. I wonder if it's because they may get lost in cattails on point or something and slow down the group? And time is money?

 

[jpv]

Might I suggest attaching a thermometer to the inside where you can see it? It would take the guess work out of the inside temps at the different settings.

This has definitely been on the to do list

 

[shorthairsrus]

I can't necessarily argue that even though Im a lab guy. I have trained, owned and bred labs (only bred twice) for years now. And I can tell you that I've had labs and been around a few labs that no pointer could touch in the field. I will not agree that a shorthair or other pointer is a better hunter for upland. That comes down to the individual dog..not the breed. I will agree that there is a good chance a leaner pointer may last longer in the field than a bulkier lab. Probably true. However, I've worked for and hunted a couple guided operations. The two in my mind did not want guides bringing pointers...only labs. I never did ask why. So I ask now. I wonder if it's because they may get lost in cattails on point or something and slow down the group? And time is money?

Guides are usually hired by inexperienced hunters to an area or just inexperienced in general. Whatever on guides they can do what they want ----- the bottom line is you take the perimeter-- You "hire" a pointer to run the show so to speak----- if you have them trained proper - they will either point your bird for you to walk up and take or they will pushem into the thick and that is where you lab is in working the $hit. Use the lab for retrieve in the sht too. If you have the whole bunch trained to work with you

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Not to be taken to seriously is my comment to allen ------ my dog in the winter does need boots sometimes - especially if the ground is hard vs snow.

 

[Kurtr]

Average of over 2000 pheasants since 2006 hunted behind lots and lots and lots of dogs dont care what it is i have even hunted behind beagles. the dogs with manners were better than the ones with out. If i would get a different breed it would be a wirehair or drathar they have impressed the hell out of me. I would never keep a short hair out side. Oh and close working beagles are tough to beat in thick cattails fun listening to them go. Worst dog ever was an english pointer but i put that on the owner

 

[shorthairsrus]

Kurt -- I know i am tooting a horn here and half what i say is BS when it comes to a shorthair is bs. but i would like to see the basis behind not running a flusher up the middle: Example:

Ravine - we do alot of this out west -------

-- the brush is in the middle and on the sides The pointer being agile has to work the sides and keeping the birds in check --- I want them pinned, pointed or running towards the flushers ---- running a bird up and away or running in general is not an option. From what your saying is have a shorthair up the middle and have her point into the thicket and then i am supposed to walk down and flush the bird -- while a springer sits on the outside and looks at me like what did you hire me for. Then when the bird flushes - i dont see it because of the brush -----no thanks. Maybe its just that i started hunting in the early 70s that i dont get it.

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plus i want that flusher to retrieve in the thicket -- they r without a doubt a better retriever in the thick

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Alot of people hunt behind poorly trained and poor pedigree shorthairs and they form an opinion. Hunt behind a good dog you will be happy. Last hunt this Friday -- -gonna be a good one

 

[Sum1]

One downfall of GSPs is they are not very snugly. There like snuggling an anorexic woman.

 

[Kurtr]

Over thinking it pheasants are not that smart. Have people on the sides and ends with guns. We walk scare them up they kill them. Now waterfowl hunting that takes some thinking

 

[shorthairsrus]

We hunt with a group of dogs not just one dog eos. Like I said for the guy who started the thread talk to owners of shorthairs not to someone that owns another breed. Ford vs Chevy. Drive em both