here we go on grouse.
i hunt pa.
hunted grouse for 43 years.
a pointing dog in my opinion was always best for grouse,setter,pointers,gsp.brittanys.

you will kill more grouse if you have pointing dog because you have time to get ready..

now, you asked about FLUSHING dog.
i seen springers and feel they are just TOO QUICKand too far outflushing and moving.
i dont like it that fast or out that far.

LAB hunts close, not real fast but flushes.
i like flushing more than pointing,its exciting,you have to be ready.
i am about only one i see with lab hunting grouse here in pa.
most use other dogs i mentioned.

also you must get the SMALLER labs if you want a better hunter in grouse woods.
at first i could not figure why my lab tired out in about 1 and 1/2 hr of hunting.

it was 3 reasons,age,i feel prime on mine was 4 yrs old,was not feeding him before hunt,lack of conditioning before hunt.

let me tell you, if you get a SMALL AMERICANLONG LEGGED LAB,female under 70 and male under 80,you will have dog that can hunt anything,swim, retrieve,great at home,and can handle a coyote if needed,lab is what i would get..

also, i have no beepers or no fear of my lab getting too far out in front of me, dont chase deer and i dont have to look for him,he looks for me and hunts in front ALWAYS and close, no more than 30 yds..

i saw springers,pointers, beagles,gsp so far out in front of hunters, that they would need 4 wheeler to catch up to them.
i just shake my head when i see it, hunters yelling, pushing the collar remote things, asking me if i saw their dogs, listening as dog goes over hill,lost dogs.

hunters look at me funny when they see me head into BIG WOODS HERE in pa. with only a GPS ,no beeper or remote on my lab,deer around and dog has never hunted this area before, we walk 2 miles sometimes way in and come out at dark..

never once did i panic and chase after my lab,he always foundme in thick brush..

i never had dog do this in my life..

so, there are better dogs for grouse, my favorite is the LEWELLIN SEETER,but if you want all around dog for many reasons hunting and other, LAB only small american one is what i would get.

if you look at this site,you will see a black lab with pheasant in his mouth.
that is brother to my lab,his mothers picture is also on there under females he has.lokk at FEMALE section.
you will find,CHENA CHAVEY TOOTSIE mother of my lab, she is 55 pds.
look at REBELS LUCK OF THE DRAW,she is 75 pds.
if i want one for grouse, i would pick CHENA,for ducks,REBELS.both will do fine on both birds ,but with HEAT/BRUSH in woods,smaller is better

look at size and weight of him/her,both are black..
thats what you want, take care...

www.wetland-retrievers.com