I am looking at getting another dog to pair with my 5 year old GSP Roxy. I had contemplated getting a Brittany rather than a GSP this time. I am sold on a pointing breed and would love to hear from some other owners maybe even someone who has had both. I hunt a big variety of habitat including big open CRP as well as small heavy cover cattail sloughs. Thanks in advance for any input you can give.
Advice on my Next dog
- Thread starter GSPnutMN
- Start date
Crossing shot
New member
I have a close working GSP and a far ranging Britt. Good combo.
Dakotazeb
Well-known member
Regardless of what is said on this thread ultimately the decision is yours. The GSP guys will tell you one thing and the Britt guys another. You obviously know how your GSP hunts. Have you hunted behind a good Brittany? If not you should try to do so. With that said, since you are from Gaylord, MN where do you do most of your pheasant hunting? I'm in Watertown, SD but also hunt SW Minnesota. If you'd like to get together for a day or two of hunting and watch my Brittany I'd sure try to make that happen. My Brittany is out of field trial lines and is quite the 'goer" in the field. She is on the large side for a female Brittany at nearly 40 lbs.
Tbear
UPH Master
Go hunt with Zeb I have a few times and he has a great Britt. This coming from a lab guy keep in mind. Probably the best way to see for your self.:thumbsup:
BritChaser
Well-known member
What size of dog are you wanting? My Brits are 45 pounds, all muscle, and tall - and out of AKC spec but you're wanting a hunter, not a shower.
Dakotazeb
Well-known member
Britts vary in size just like GPS's do. I've seen female GSP's that aren't any bigger than my Brittany and I've seen some male GSP's that are 70-80 lbs. You just have to see what a breeder is producing. Nolan's Last Bullet "Buddy" was a very small male Brittany. Probably not much over 30 lbs. But he was a 32x NSTRA champion. I prefer my Brittanys to be a little on the large side. I had a male that was a super dog and he was right at 50 lbs.
david0311
X-2 I'm also a dyed in wool Lab guy--ZEB and I did a little guiding together and his is one sweet lovable little dog--JMO
X-2 I'm also a dyed in wool Lab guy--ZEB and I did a little guiding together and his is one sweet lovable little dog--JMO
mustistuff
Banned
mixed breeds
there will be as much diff. between any dog as there will between most breeds. most any pointing dog would and should run with you gsp, when picking another dog as a partner, if you don't have anything particular in mind, go with the best of what you can get in your area. decent breeding in a gsp, at least in my area is easier to come by than that of britts. for years in the Denver area the papers were full of family bred britts and I suspect that was the case all over so there are more mutts out there than good dogs. that said, the temperament between those two breeds can be considerable so consider that aspect also along with your own. then, go for it
cheers
there will be as much diff. between any dog as there will between most breeds. most any pointing dog would and should run with you gsp, when picking another dog as a partner, if you don't have anything particular in mind, go with the best of what you can get in your area. decent breeding in a gsp, at least in my area is easier to come by than that of britts. for years in the Denver area the papers were full of family bred britts and I suspect that was the case all over so there are more mutts out there than good dogs. that said, the temperament between those two breeds can be considerable so consider that aspect also along with your own. then, go for it
cheers
Dakotazeb
Well-known member
mustistuff, I agree with some of what you said but have to respectfully disagree with what you have said about there being a lot of Brittany mutts out there. Maybe you saw a lot of Brittanys advertised at one time in the Denver area. Don't make a generalized statement that there are more mutts out there than good dogs based on that observation. Go to any site on the internet where people are selling dogs. There are two breeds that have more dogs for sale than any other. They are Labs and GSP's. So does that mean there are more Lab and GSP mutts out there than good dogs. I think not.
No matter what breed of dog you choose if you do your due diligence in checking out the breeders, pedigrees and the dogs they are producing you can come up with a good, solid dog.
Besides, this guy is in Minnesota. He's probably not shopping the Denver newspaper!
mstand
Member
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No matter what breed of dog you choose if you do your due diligence in checking out the breeders, pedigrees and the dogs they are producing you can come up with a good, solid dog.
Besides, this guy is in Minnesota. He's probably not shopping the Denver newspaper!
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Dakotazeb Thank you so much for the offer. I have never actually hunted with a Brittney before and would love the chance before i make my decision. I normally hunt west central MN Sibley Mcleaud and surrounding counties but i have no issues taking a drive for a nice hunt. I have hunted SW Minnesota a few times near Ivenhoe and really enjoyed it. I am still somewhat new to the dog world as i did sort of luck into my GSP. She was part of an accidental litter a farmer near me had. I have no idea of her pedigree but i doubt it would impress much. i think she is turning out to be a pretty good hunter and a great friend wouldn't trade her for the world. I do plan on going with a planned litter and a respectable pedigree this time but really don't know what i should even look for in a pedigree. My fears about size have disappeared my GSP is usually between 45-50lbs and she is the perfect size for me so if i can find a similar size Brittney i would be real happy. Thanks again
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JeremyS
New member
If you do decide to stick with a gsp, give me a shout. Not to far from you and would be glad to help you find what you are looking for, even if something I have doesn't fit. I do have some extremely well bred pups ready to go now though. I will say that I hunt with my neighbor that has brits and they are just fine. I don't know what breeding they are out of, but they are fine hunting animals.
mustistuff
Banned
mustistuff, I agree with some of what you said but have to respectfully disagree with what you have said about there being a lot of Brittany mutts out there. Maybe you saw a lot of Brittanys advertised at one time in the Denver area. Don't make a generalized statement that there are more mutts out there than good dogs based on that observation. Go to any site on the internet where people are selling dogs. There are two breeds that have more dogs for sale than any other. They are Labs and GSP's. So does that mean there are more Lab and GSP mutts out there than good dogs. I think not.
No matter what breed of dog you choose if you do your due diligence in checking out the breeders, pedigrees and the dogs they are producing you can come up with a good, solid dog.
Besides, this guy is in Minnesota. He's probably not shopping the Denver newspaper!
could be on all three counts. for one there are likely more dogs of any breed out there that are sub par than there are great dogs, breeding by the way is not the only thing that makes a great dog but it helps. the message that should be clear is not in regard to what breed you fall in love with but the background of the dog and to get there, ya just might have to do some scouting, listening, reading, etc. it would also help to be able to look at the dogs paper's, understand them and then also get the dog from as place where they actually use their dogs. anyway, not saying a britt is a bad bet or that my preference walk on water.
cheers
Jakeismydog2
Member
Zeb I have to disagree with you. This is one of my big frustrations in the world of gun dogs. I think there ARE more mutt labs out there than good ones. Labs have now been the #1 most registered breed for a couple decades. The variation amongst Labs is ridiculous. You have everything from 50# Field dogs to 110# horses, with plenty of over bred non hunting dogs mixed throughout the range.
I think the Lab guys need to take control of their breed. They should start a new registry with dogs that actually do hunt and meet a more regimented breed standard. I could actually see them breaking the hunting lab registry into a couple of sub groups. "Pointing Labs" could even have their own group.
I know this is a bit off topic, but it is a huge pet peeve of mine. I can't stand going out on opening weekend and seeing these once a year hunters with their "hunting dog". Which is usually a poor obese couch Lab, that is walking behind his owner.
Zeb, on your main point about Britts I agree with you.
Dakotazeb
Well-known member
I totally agree with you. I was just trying to not upset the Lab and GSP people. There is bad breeding going on in all breeds. That is why I am so against what I refer to as "backyard breeders". Leave the breeding up to the experts that are doing it for all the right reasons and trying to enhance the breed. That's why all my females have been spayed. Could of had some tremendous pups out of my current female but that's not what I bought her for.
