Springer Spaniel is your answer. The best gun dogs around. Excellent bird
dogs. Of course you can get a shorthair or other hunting dog, but you will
be missing outon that spaniel family element and the lifeworth bond that
ensues.

With labs you get that down home dog, but nothing like a spaniel. not sure
how they compare as gun dogs, i know a spaniel may be more sneaky cause hes
smaller, better to flush on command with. they make ESCELLENT water
retrievers too, they will hunt that unfound bird forEVER until they find it
and bring it back, if you dont see the dog, hes still looking.


"Jim Leggero" wrote in message
...
I am interested in a new dog. I want it for hunting waterfowl and upland.
t\It will be a part of the family(2boys 6+9), and live with us in the
house. I have extensive experience with labs and presently have a 10 year
old german shorthair. I wonder what the Flat Coated Retriever is like as
from what I have read it should fit perfectly with what I desire. I am
tired of labs everyone has one and I would like to promote a breed less
recognized.
Bigbuck