German Shorthaired Pointer owners
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Anonymous
| We are interested in getting a GSP. Our youngest is 8 so no little ones at home. We are somewhat active as a family (biking, soccer, hiking but not everyday) but I’m a runner- 4-11 mile runs in the morning or weekends 4-5 time a week. We are also looking to crate train it for the times we aren’t home but no more than 4 hours at a time. Will this level of activity be ok for this breed? Yes we will play fetch, take it on walks, and will invest in obedience training and a backyard agility course. But I’m reading they can be destructive when under-exercised or bored. Not sure if it’s enough. |
Anonymous
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Why that breed? Do you plan to go hunting? If not, then why that breed? Knowing how demanding it is-
Where do you live? Will you be able to maintain that level of activity year round, year after year? Because that breed of dog will demand that level of activity for many years, long after other dogs slow down- Consider how your lifestyle might change in the next 5 to 10 years. What will your child’s needs be? How will that go with the dog’s needs? |
Anonymous
| Those dogs needs massive amounts of exercise. DH wanted one because he likes they way they look. I called a rescue and was terrified by the amount of daily exercise they need. We ended up adopting a lab. |
Anonymous
| GSPs are great dogs. With that amount of running he’ll be fine. Very sweet family dogs. |
Anonymous
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We have a 2-year old Vizsla, very similar in energy level to a GSP. You should be ok long term with that kind of exercise but know (maybe you already do) that you can’t take a dog running like that until they are at least a year or two old—consult your vet, it has to do with bone maturity and can vary by breed. So you’ll need to find a way to get good daily exercise until the dog is old enough (unless you rescue an older dog). Check out Mid Atlantic GSP Rescue if you go that route.
I run my Vizsla some, but we mostly rely on the dog park. Every.single.day. No exceptions. As in, I’m the only one there throwing a ring in the rain, unless there are other Vizsla or GSP owners there, too. Many Vizsla owners take them twice a day because, especially in the younger years, they just need to run, hard. Right now, without the dog park, we’re relying on a 3-mile run everyday with me, fetch in the yard to get that hard running in, and another 3-mile walk in the evening. She spends the rest of her day trying to lay in my lap while I work for the most part but I can tell she misses her park running. Just be ready for the commitment. |
Anonymous
| GSPs are awesome dogs, but I think they do better on a large acreage. There are so many lower energy dogs.... |
Anonymous
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Awesome dogs, crazy smart, amazing for hunting.
However you NEED to get them out and let them RUN twice a day at a minimum, plus one or two mile plus walks a day. If you think you can let them out in the yard or walk them around the block twice a day please look at another breed. I know of two families that got one only to give them up within 6 months because they were not getting them enough exercise and they can become destructive when that happens. |
Anonymous
+1 they are amazing dogs and big giant personalities! Good luck! I’m jealous. They are the cutest puppies. |
Anonymous
| I guess the question is -- do you WANT a dog that will go running with you, or not? Because if you got a low energy dog like a golden retriever, they won't want to go running like that. (Or they will want to for a block or two, then they'll lose focus and want to chase a squirrel or take a nap.) My brother got a german shepherd from working stock because he wanted to take the dog running every day. |
Anonymous
| My husband grew up with two on a farm. So he will get to get the dog he has wanted since they died and I’ll get a running partner. I’ve been running in the mornings through winter and was harassed a little running in the dark. Not enough to call the police but I’d feel safer if I had a dog with me. I also looked into Weirmaraners. Any thoughts? Less active/ destructive? |
Anonymous
Vizsla poster again. We had a Weim for 13 years before the Vizsla. I do think she had a bit less energy, but it’s so hard to know if it was just that particular dog. Our Weim was much more aloof than our V is though, and they have a bit of a reputation for that. Also much more anxious. I’ve heard that GSPs are the most rambunctious (and biggest jumpers—as in jump over your fence) of the three breeds. My DH also wanted a GSP. I see lots of Vizslas at the dog park (like 10 regularly go to the dog park we go to), a few GSPs (like 2), but rarely see a Weim. Dogs get trendy though like everything else so might just be a reflection of trend. |
Anonymous
Also meant to say the GSPs are always super ball focused with no interest in the other dogs or people. Just chase the ball. The vizslas are all about playing with the other dogs and meeting everyone. |
Anonymous
Was your weim crate trained? As I said in the OP I’ll need to be able to leave them alone in the house for no more than 4 hours at a time. And was it a good family dog? PP mentioned a lab and I considered a one (not my husband) but no lab I know makes a good running partner. |
Anonymous
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Has them growing up. They are wonderful, gentle family dogs. He/she will be a great running partner. I’d do it if I were you.
Don’t let the amount of exercise scare you off. Mine were very calm in the house. With the runs you’re planning on going on, I doubt there will be destruction. Get a field dog, not a show dog. The show dogs are the ones that are wired. |
Anonymous
| PS. Prone to bloat....don’t run them before or after a meal. |