Setter/GSP

[Kirk Potter]

I’ve only owned one bird dog, my English Setter Willow. I Hunt grouse/woodcock exclusivley.. Had planned on getting another Setter pupppy soon, but lately I’ve had my eye on a GSP. Not sure why, I love Setters, maybe just for something different? Curious what those who’ve owned both think?

[BRDHNTR]

Just stay with any of the pointing breeds if grouse and woodcock are your exclusive game. I am partial to english setters, but have owned and trained brittanys and they are good on grouse and woodcock

[Opening Day]

Talk to Rich Anderson (COB) he's been hunting GSP's in Michigan woods for longer then I've known him. He can probably answer your questions

[Twombly setters]

I have trained and owned both. two completely different animals, albeit for the same hunting purpose. I love both but probably wouldn't take the gsp visiting at a nursing home. Both are great athletes but the shorthair can be a one man dog. Setters seem to be a every mans dog. gsp don't shed much and setters do.

[Ed Norman]

Originally Posted by legh higgins

I have trained and owned both. two completely different animals, albeit for the same hunting purpose. I love both but probably wouldn't take the gsp visiting at a nursing home. Both are great athletes but the shorthair can be a one man dog. Setters seem to be a every mans dog. gsp don't shed much and setters do.

I have a friend with a gsp and like legh mentions, he is more of a "one man dog" my brittany loves everybody, and hunting birds more than anything. He is a snuggler too. I know the guys that have setters that I talk to can't imagine ever owning another kind of dog. My first and only bird dog is my brittany, and I can't imagine ever owning another type of bird dog unless I go look at one of Dean Romigs posts This should confuse you even more, I think no matter what kind of dog you get, he will enrich your life. Kirk if your ever up my way (kalkaska) look me up if the time is right I would be glad to show off my bird dog

[Kirk Potter]

Originally Posted by Ed Norman

Kirk if your ever up my way (kalkaska) look me up if the time is right I would be glad to show off my bird dog

Thanks, will do.. I have family in Alden.

[John Davis]

They're all good. And better to talk bad about another man's wife than his bird dog. I've had Setters and GSP's. Loved both but at the end of the day I'm a GSP man. I hunt them and field trial them. Down here in the South the GSP seem's to handle the heat a little better. And there's nothing worse than trying to get cockleburrs and begga lice out of that setter hair. I really don't think you can go wrong either way, as long as to stick to good blood lines.

[John Davis]

Also, Setters seem a little slower to mature and in the field trial world they are not required to retrieve.

[John Davis]

And one last thing, if I was getting a setter I think I'd want one of those Twombly's.

[Ed Norman]

Originally Posted by Ed Norman

I have a friend with a gsp and like legh mentions, he is more of a "one man dog" my brittany loves everybody, and hunting birds more than anything. He is a snuggler too. I know the guys that have setters that I talk to can't imagine ever owning another kind of dog. My first and only bird dog is my brittany, and I can't imagine ever owning another type of bird dog unless I go look at one of Dean Romigs posts This should confuse you even more, I think no matter what kind of dog you get, he will enrich your life. Kirk if your ever up my way (kalkaska) look me up if the time is right I would be glad to show off my bird dog

I reread my own post, my buddy does have a gsp that is a "one man dog" I should of said while he is hunting. The breeder of my brittany has a young female that is similar, she gets aggressive towards other dogs that go near him while they are out in the woods hunting. Its the strangest thing, she is getting better now, she just did not want to share him with any other dog. I wanted to clarify my "one man dog" statement, that could include any breed, I think most breeds are very loyal, and loving in general. I do not have a lot of experience in bird hunting dogs, I just listen to what my friends say about the breeds they have. Most of them love whatever type of breed they have they just love those dogs and would not trade them for anything. Hope this makes sense