I have seen several folks using German Shorthiar pointers as dove retrievers. I know most folks use them for quail, and pheasant, but I am told they make wonderful dove dogs. Does anyone know a kennel that would take a gsp and train it to Retrieve like a lab? Thanks, I am in the DFW area.

They are versatile dogs so finding a trainer for dove hunting shouldn't be hard. Most of the time a pointer won't mark as well as a lab but should have a good nose. Its a trade off.
You can use him for both dove and upland.

Force fetch your dog. That will do wonders for your dove hunting.

My GSP is a great dove dog but he does prefer to use his nose instead of sitting still and marking. He will watch the bird fall and run to the general area (usually past the bird downwind) and then use his nose to find the bird.. Great dogs. Mine has retrieved dove,quail, pheasants, and tracked some mock blood trails for tracking wounded deer. Versatile breed indeed. I did force fetch him. Any retriever trainer would be able to train a GSP or any other dog to retrieve. Another good thing is their coat is thin so it helps them in the warmer weather during dove season. I will also use mine to retrive ducks this season. They are great water retrievers as well.

My buddies GSP will find the dove in high grass but will not bring the dove to him. He has worked with her alot but cant seem to get the retrieving down.

I had a GSP that would do it. Not all GSP will retreieve to hand. It is capable of it, but u r asking a pointer to retrieve. You will have just as much luck finding a pointing lab.
Not to say there is none.
But they are the exception.

My English Pointer retrieves as well as my Brit, actually better - she'll fetch over water. Training is the key.

These photos are from a customer day at a the Drakes . The GSPs are not my dogs.

I respectfully disagree. GSP's are a versatile breed and most that I have seen will retrieve to hand naturally and with some force fetching will retrieve just as reliably as any other breed. Retrieving GSP's are not an exception and are way more common than pointing labs. Just sayin. Now if you are talking about English Pointers....that's a different story.

Great multi purpose breed of dogs.

my GSP will fetch pretty much anything i tell it to. she will fetch doves on land and water. she will also fetch ducks. i had her fetch a chicken the other day. all natural no force fetching.

AY