Thinking about getting our first hunting dog

[indyefi500]

So while I was working last weekend, one of the guys I work with said he knew someone that had a Brittany Spaniel that they couldn't keep.  I texted the wife as a joke and she was up for it.  So this weekend we went and picked her up only to find out she is a German Short Hair.  She is a very well behaved dog and must be nuclear powered because even in the heat she would not stop playing.  So now we are trying to figure out if she is the right one for us.

We currently live in the cities but will be moving to a small resort town in a normal sized house with a normal sized lot.  Thus we kind of need something that can handle being in the house without going bonkers or destroying it.  The short hair apparently spends many hours in a crate and I don't want to do that to a dog.  We have a mini Australian Shepherd already who kind of wasn't real keen on having a sibling.  However the short hair pretty much took over all her toys so that might be part of it.  The short hair also was drinking and panting a lot from the heat.  Thus the inside of the house now has  a good coat of slime.  Might be a good thing so that the house gets cleaned more.  I have had some chances to obtain some labs in the past but the wife does not want a big dog.  Preferably under 50 pounds and under 40 would be better for her.  I haven't hunted much in the last 10 years but if we do this, will probably be hunting pheasant and grouse.  Maybe an occasional duck outing but not high on my bucket list.

Any tips or help would be appreciated.  The kids are mad at us for not keeping the short hair.  We don't want to do anything until after our move in a month and a half.  If she is still available, she will probably be a permanent resident in our house but really want to explore all avenues before we take the extra commitment on. 

[The General]

How old is the dog and how much does she weigh

[indyefi500]

She is 3 years old and supposedly weighs 40 pounds. 

[The General]

I have had shorthairs going on 11 years now.  Probably the best Pheasant hunting dog bread one can get IMO.  However they need room to move.  Not until about 7 years old did my first female not get let out of the kennel and immediately do 3 hot laps around the house (my dogs are kenneled up while I'm at work).  My current male is 6 and he has energy upon energy.  After about an hour of running around I will let him in the house and he can lay on the rug by the door and that is it.  This is a breed that needs a lot of exercise and room to roam.  I live on 5 acres out in the country so it seems to work out pretty well.