German Shorthaired Pointer! General Chat

Well, when I leave and get my own place, I will hopefully be in a position (eventually - we're talking a few years yet) to get another dog.

I have decided that if I don't go with a dally, a German Shorthaired Pointer is definitely on the list of possibilities!

Have been looking them up and think they look like fab dogs! Have got a bit more looking to do of course before I go for it as I've spent years upon years reading about dallies and would love another one but not convinced as to whether to get a GSP.

Oh well won't be happening for a good while yet (mum says we don't have space for two large sized dogs in the house! Tut! honestly ) but it's something to look forward to!

Lol GSPs are lovely, but way too bonkers for me (I'm one to talk eh! Herding dog fanatic that I am) They look great, but that character

Already have one dog with a high hunting drive and a stubborn streak Never again!

(Get a standard Poodle and have her kept in a hunting clip don't even look like Poodles and are the best characted working dog you'd want )

I love the wirehaired ones! LOADS!

My old neighbours used to have a GSP.. He was lovely but a bit distant!

Gordon Lover - you forget I have a dally ;-) I was looking for a dog with the same sort of character as a dally because by the time I can get another dog, Takara will be older and hopefully pretty well trained (she's already getting there) so I'd love to have another mad pup, I can't get enough of it now!

However, it's funny you should say about the standard poodle, that's the other dog I was looking at! I had just been reading about them! I just don't think I could be doing with the expense of all that clipping! Apparently they need to go to be groomed every 6 weeks and I'm sure I couldn't do it!

I don't know what it is that draws me towards apparently brainless dogs, I suppose it might be the potential that I can see in them or perhaps it's just the challenge!

Great choice Lottie!!!!

I think that with being a Dalmatian owner you have a very good grounding to be a GSP owner. I think that you will appreciate the fact that they need lots of occupying...both mentally and physically and that training from the start is a necessity. They are high spirited and nuts, but definitely not brainless...but it is easily managed if you put the work in - as with Dalmatians I expect- and they are extremely loyal and faithfull. Some of them can be a little aloof with strangers, although not all (my Murphy is definitely a people lover) but I think that is because they are 100% devoted to their own family.They have a really quirky sense of humour and are such clowns....but extremely sensitive.
I think that you have done brilliantly with Takara so I am sure you would be well prepared for life with a GSP....

Theres several GSPs at my ringcraft class and they are lovely!! SOOOO friendly, they love everyone, and absolutely stunning dogs!!

Dont think i could deal with the poodle trimming either lol!

Love the breed, right up there with more Dallies or "English" Pointer if I had the room, but not sure I could cope showing in different groups! I get enough stress between the breed ring and Veteran these days
But..... yes I would love one and may have one in the future if circumstances permit.

Thanks Het It's nice to know you think I've done well!

Dalmatian are the same, Deccy will back me up when I say people believe they are brainless but they're not, they just need so much stimulation and absolutely love training! Takara loves to learn something new and gets bored if I don't teach her something new! I'd love another dog like that and a GSP is certainly a possibility!

Deccy, that's a good point about the groups! Obviously it would depend on my circumstances anyway as to whether another dog (especially one that needs so much stimulation) would be a good idea, but hopefully once I have finished studying I will be able to put more time into dogs!

It's very difficult to think of having a different breed when I've experienced a dally, even my mum who has always been strictly a labrador person (and wanted a lab when we got T) has been persuaded and says if she were to have her own dog, it'd be a dal!

Het, look out, I'll probably be bothering you for a while finding out more!

Darling, it's Kate Gordon lover makes me feel so old.

I have herding dogs (more bonkers I cannot imagine ) and stubbornness for presence of brains is no problem. After all, the fights I have with Tam can be hair wrenchingly exasperating.

My Setter though has put me quite honestly off any and all hunting dogs for pretty much life. Don't get me wrong, I love her, but sorry, she is quite honestly mad. 3 years in a training class (competition level!!!) and the silly cow still can't be let off the lead cause when she sees a bird flying in the distance she goes effectively deaf and won't come back till SHE'S ready. The scary thing is almost every setter I know is like that. So nope, no more hunting drive for me. That and her obsession with dog and any other type of poo is disgusting

Dallys aren't brainless They are very often seen in Obedience and Agility rings over here, they just have a tendancy to let their enthusiasm get the best of them

And what is it with people and poodles If you clip a poodle short (1-2 cm) you only need a brush through every week for the next 2-3 months. Clipping that way is easy, a short blade and just clip against the grain for 30 minutes and you are done. Unless you want to show it's actually less work than alot of other breeds.

Good luck though Lottie

Thanks for the info Kate (I couldn't remember your name before!)

I must admit, Takara is very good for recall, she'll turn on her heel as soon as I call her (most of the time!) and she's not really shown much interest in chasing animals. So although she's a bit bonkers, she's not got that same instinct that hunting dogs have.

I know dallies aren't thick (they're just too clever!) but other people warned me not to get a dally when I was getting T because they were stupid. I'm so glad I didn't listen to them and have now proven them wrong!!

Thanks for the info on poodles too, they sound like such lovely dogs but when I read about them it said they needed clipping so regularly and that put me off immediately but thanks for putting me straight on that.

To be honest, it's pretty likely that I'll go for another dally but a GSP (and maybe a poodle ;-) ) is on the list of possibilities! I'd obviously go and meet some first anyway and check they're the right dog for me!