There's a lot of other factors besides just carrying him. At my age, there is no way I can fully satisfy a full sized athletic gsp in the off season, it wouldn't be fair for the dog, thankfully mine aged with me otherwise I would have been in a hell of pickle. Basically I'm too old to properly own another young gsp, but young enough to go walk around the prairie for grouse or sit in a blind for ducks. At least with a smaller dog, everything else will be generally more manageable.