Some things they've taught me about the breed!

1. We live a strict life following the "Heirarchy of Needs".  The thing we need most in life is hunting.  Teach me that my behaviors will allow me to hunt (or use that prey/play drive in some way), and I will do anything for you.  Deny me an outlet of some sort for this drive, and we'll both be miserable.
2. Of course we want to go into the water.  We can hunt bugs and birds on top of the water while we're swimming.  It also makes retrieving that much more challenging, and you know how we like to try ever harder to get our way.
3. Think of a large yard.  Now triple that size.  That's my ideal place to run, jump, and dig holes.  I'd like you out there with me, but if you're not - give me a bird feeder to chase birds from, give me a toy, give me a bone - I'll be happy for a while.  But I do need you - I need to be in the house with you, a part of the family.
4.  I run for the sheer joy of it.  I don't need a reason.
5.  Ever heard that GSP's can be stubborn?  We wouldn't call it stubborn . . . we just like to exhaust every single possible avenue in every single situation before we accept that as status quo.  Do you have the time & energy to be that consistent all the time?  Do you have a sense of humor that helps you realize we do this because we are very smart?   Smart does not mean obedient - there is a difference.
6.  Our shedding is very neat - it lays in a nice layer over everything.  Messy shedders cause little hair fluffs all over; our hair is too short & harsh for that.  Our fur can be prickly and bad for allergy sufferers.  We have a natural oil to our coat that helps us shed water.  Cockle burrs & prickers do not stick to our fur, although we'll get the occasional one between the pads on our feet.
7.  We do love everyone, but that doesn't mean that person doesn't need manners when approaching us.  We are not goofy laborador-retriever types.  If we were human, we'd wear a leather jacket & ride a motorcycle for the thrill of speed, but we'd go home for mom's apple pie every weekend.  So . . . consider us a lab in a leather jacket.  We feel a strong duty to protect home & family.
8.  Of course we'd chase & kill (if we can) small furry critters.  We're hunting dogs.  That's a desire that several centuries of selective breeding has retained in us - you created us, and you selected us as pet.  That is your responsibility to deal with.  In the heat of the chase, we might not be able to tell whether that furry creature is a cat or a squirrel - and that doesn't make us a monster.
9.  An under-exercised GSP  is one of the most naughtiest & frustrating creatures on the face of the earth.  A GSP with a job (or 4) and plenty of off-leash running is one of the most delightful couch snugglers you've ever met.  We like to lay on our back when we sit with you on the couch.
10.  We Retrieve.  We'd do it forever, once we're past the puppy attention span thing.
11.  We're more independent than many of those sporting breeds.  We're naturally going to range much further in the field than a lab, springer, or weimeraner.  That's what we've been bred to do. 
12.  When we're hunting (or just think we are), we will run through barbed-wire fences.  We will run lame, and fool you into thinking we're not lame.  We will run with sticks in our eyes.  We will run as long as we're physically able, even if it means lots of stitches when you finally bring us home.