thanks briant, My brother said the same thing about his V, he said he went with the V over a GSP because the people he spoke with, probably V owners, convinced him it was a better fit. He says his is doing 6-12 miles 4 days a week training with his wife for a marathon and then going trail running or mountain biking with him at least once a week. That's a lot of mileage on a dog that also takes off chasing deer that meander through their yard. I think they are fantastic dogs and just don't see myself with a lab or golden retriever like the great american family says I should but I also don't want to do the dog injustice by not hunting with it. I have nothing against hunting but I just didn't grow up doing it and don't see myself taking it up anytime soon, of course if I own a bird dog I may have to take it up .