From reading your original post it sounds like me. I wanted a hunting dog but mostly wanted a good pet. In other words it wouldn't matter that much if my dog was a 'good' hunter--I know we would both be having a good time. I went with a Springer Spaniel which turned out to be an excellent hunter but also the best companion dog I've ever owned. She will be 8 this summer. I prefer females. Male dogs pee on everything and if you get them fixed they are prone to weight gain issues. I've never owned a lab but both of my older brothers hunt with labs. Great companion dogs and great hunters. I'm sure a GSP can be a good companion but I think the lab would be better.

I know they’re not very well known but a Kopov also doubles very well as a companion dog. A knock on them, if you want to call it that, is that they’ll just lay around if you let them. I find that to be a great attribute versus a dog that’s constantly harassing you because they’re so damn amped up. That’s the thing about trying to mix a working dog with being a pet….most of them are bred to have a strong desire to go, go, go.

Mtn. Cur
Very smart dogs. Love to hunt. Mild mannered, well behaved.

im still stuck between a lab and a GSP...

I want a GSP
the ' ol lady wants a LAB.

Don't be scared of the GSP. I've had labs my whole life with a couple other birders mixed in...I won't have a dog that won't help me put food on the table.
Wife talked me into getting a GSP 6 months ago and I'm hooked.
Excellent family dog that's easily trained and doesn't look like every other dog on the block.

Mountain Feist.... or Mountain Cur. They are mostly known as squirrel or coon dogs, but I've read about and heard stories of them trailing wounded deer, or blood trails like it was their job.

I have one of each... good all around dogs that listen well, will curl up beside you on the couch, great dogs for the kids, tree squirrels and coon, and will terrorize armadillos in the yard, and pretty much anything else that counts as vermin.

I had bird dogs (E. pointers and an awesome E. setter) too in the past. They were very loving and loyal and extremely trainable too.

Boykin spaniel. I've had labs all my life and now I'm on my first Boykin. He's a great family dog, hard hunter and eager to please.

Mountain cur

I've had 3 short hairs and not that they aren't good dogs but like the trainer said they are more stubborn!!!!!some trainers won't even train them. I got rid of mine. I now have 2 labs and a German wirehair and both the labs and wirehair are great!!!! I would say the wirehair is probably the smartest hunting dog I've seen!!!! I even bred my lab to my wirehair twice and those pups r unbelievable

Finally got me a GSP!!!