I'm in central Oregon.
Labs, what could I say that hasn't already been said. But I wonder if the lab might not be going the same way as the DD/GWP. It's seem's that they are being used more and more for upland bird shooting and being promoted as pointing,,,,something. The lab origionally sat quietly in the blind and retrieved like no one's business. Now it's developing some legs, not a lot yet but I wonder where it will go. I wonder if down the road there will be a split between thetraditional lab people and this newer type, just as the DD/GWP? Same dog!
Springer Spaniels. If I was to have one dog for all my hunting in a milder climate, that was a flusher, this would be it. They are really wonderful water dog's and great in tight cover. More agressive than the lab's, they run harder and put birds in the air. A springer doesn't give a bird like a phesant a lot of time to run out as a slower flushing dog might. But a springer out of control would be a night mare, it will still put up birds.
GSP's. People that know me believe that this is my dog of choice, this or the E. Pointer. The GSP is a fairly easy dog to train, they are stylish, have great noses, work ok in the water but the one's I've had were not big on heavy brush. That's fine with me as I like a dog that runs. They have a wonderful temperment and mine made great house dogs. Secret, most dogs make good house dogs if you teach them the rules.
English Pointer's. If God put a dog on this earth to take your breath away, this is it. I tell people that ask me about them that if their not real serious about dog work, don't get one of these guy's. Nothing, absolutely nothing get's bird's like a good Pointer. The draw back is they are very single minded and quite often aloof. They need you only to turn them loose, then it's hunting time and you can go or stay, they don't care. I said a good pointer and heres a catch. there's more good setter's and shorthairs than there are good pointers. They are so highly bred that I think the breeders went to far. I hunted my pointer's off horseback as I don't like to many restrictions on a dog. Thoes that want a dog that will stay within a couple hundred yds or so are better off to look elsewhere. Going to try and put"Pete" in here. This dog would make you watch him just standing still because you knew something was going to happen.
Hope that works.
I should skip the non-sporting breeds. The English Setter is one of the finest of dog's in my opinion, I just don't like messing with that hair. With long hair comes problems with knots in it between their toes. Get them and the dog spends to much time trying to chew them out. They should be kept clipped. They also have that hair in under the ear leathers and if not kept trimmed, can make it quite warm in there and in some cases cause ear infections. They also attract and hold weed seed's very well, keep them trimmed. They are soft in temperment and bidable, very easy to work with but, beware the tuff setter. Nothing worse that a hard dog with a soft temperment. They don't take any ruff training or handling well.
two distinct strains, Laverick and Lewellyn. Avoid the Lavericks like the plague, show strain.I especially like the "Burnt Creek" and "Grouse Ridge" dogs'
Gordon's are pretty underutilized. Most are from show strains but there are a few good field strains and they do not generally range to far. I am familue a bit with the springset dog's and were I looking for one, that's where I would go. Have worked with one and had a friend that had two more. Pretty much the same temperment as the E. Setter but a bit softer and a bit closer ranging.
Britt's have never been atop my list and I've done quite a few, I just don't like how they look. All that is except "Dusty", her I would have owned.
When I set my own prejudices aside this is what I would call one of the top two or three breeds for the average hunter. They are easy to work with and biddable. Gentle dog's but not near as soft as the Setter's. Boy do I think all but "Dusty" are ugly tho.
Visla's. here is probally the best kept secret in bird dogs. They are gentle, good looking, medimun fast, stanch on birds, easy to take care of (wash and dry), and very biddable. They don't range like many other breeds, the one's I've watched and the one's I worked with had a range of around 100 to 150yds naturally. They just don't run off.
Were I to pick the best of each type for the average guy and concidering only the breeds I've worked with:
Retriever's Labrador, hands down.
Flushers Springer Spaniel hands down again
Pointersin no partucular order: English Setter, Brittany, Visla