Pointer or Retriever?

I have a German Shorthair and a Yellow Lab. Sometimes I hunt them together and sometimes I chose one or the other depending on where I’m going and what I’m doing. The GSP is my more experienced dog and he is a pleasure to hunt with. My Lab is only 2 and a half and is still learning (so am I). Being fairly new to gun dogs I have been reading quite a bit and it seems that there’s a lot of opinion on which is better, a pointer or a flusher. I know it boils down to personal preference but I was curious which tpye you guys prefer and why? As for me, I love both styles of hunting and I don’t know if I could choose one over the other.

To me, this is a Ford, Chevy, Dodge debate. I see where both dog types have their places. For me the laid back nature of labs always drew me away from pointers. Yet, I love hunting over the pointers. The day my chocolate had his first point, well, in an effort to keep this PG13, I was like a high school boy in the wind the rest of the day. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I can probably walk you to the same tree it happened at on my cousin’s farm. I was also heavy into waterfowl hunting back then so the lab was an easy choice. There are no bad dogs, just some better than others.

Personally, a staunch pointing dog is a work of art to me…… It is something that awes me.

I had a good flusher(lab) in the past and she was death on birds, but my current 5-yr old Brittany seems to fill the game bag as well. Given the choice, I’d take a pointer over a flusher any day of the week. My wife is a lab fan, so our new dog is a lab. I looked hard to find a “pointing” version, but in all honesty, it won’t be the same. Nothing replaces a big running, light-on-foot pointer that slams and skids to a rock solid point, nothing. I have a hard time imagining hunting a lot over the new lab……when my Brit gets old, I’ll be getting another.

T

Given the choice, if the decision was isolated to hunting, I would take a pointer every time. However, I own a lab. Mostly due to the fact that I don’t get to hunt that much, and a lab is a great family dog.

Thanks for the posts. I know its Ford v Chevy, but I’m not looking for debate. Like I said, I have both and I honestly can’t decide if one is better then the other. They are completely different. I love both styles of hunting. I’m just interested in what draws people to one or the other. Like Timmy I absolutely love it when my GSP locks up. It’s a thing of beauty. My Lab works a field differently, she quarters close and the flush is exciting. I’ve been hunting my whole life but I’ve only been working with gun dogs the past 4 years. I have a lot to learn but I’m turning a corner where I’m spending more time afield with my dogs than sitting in my stand looking for deer.

Why not get a dog that does both?

A Drahthaar or German Wirehair Pointer.

My Drahthaar has a hell of a nose. Better than the labs we had when I was younger.

Insane amount of drive, handles cold very well, loves the water, retrieves my birds and is tough as nails.

I grew up hunting over labs. I love labs and always will but I’m very impressed with my new dog.

Drahthaars are amazing animals. Beautiful dogs and from what I understand very determined and versatile in the field. They are in the list for future consideration. I won’t be ready for another until its time to retire my GSP. He should have a good four years left in him. Then I’ll have to decide, another GSP or Drahthaar. I’m glad I don’t have to decide soon.

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Personally, a staunch pointing dog is a work of art to me…… It is something that awes me.

I had a good flusher(lab) in the past and she was death on birds, but my current 5-yr old Brittany seems to fill the game bag as well. Given the choice, I’d take a pointer over a flusher any day of the week. My wife is a lab fan, so our new dog is a lab. I looked hard to find a “pointing” version, but in all honesty, it won’t be the same. Nothing replaces a big running, light-on-foot pointer that slams and skids to a rock solid point, nothing. I have a hard time imagining hunting a lot over the new lab……when my Brit gets old, I’ll be getting another.

T

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Tim pretty much said it all hard to beat a good pointer, I had a female GSP for 14 years named Abby she was the best dog I ever owned she was a great hunter and an awesome family pet. Abby was rock solid on birds and would lock up tight until I got there to flush them, the older you get the more you will appreciate a good pointer as they will hold tight on a bird until you get there, with a flusher you have to run your off to keep up with them so they do not flush the bird before you get there.

My tribute to Abby