I here you cut in and talk up the labs alot.. Hair is a problem with labs in a house at times. I had a great lab once and did she ever shed hair..She lived to be 17 years old and had to be put down. That was a sad day for us. She had quite a few trophy's for her work as well and lots of free dog food..But, for you to keep coming on thinking that just a lab can do all is simply not the case at all. I do not hunt waterfowl tho I have pulled my dog out of the water on more than one occasion. To see your lab even begin to keep up with a hard working setter would be amazing my friend. Only 2 feet of snow? come up to Maine and try it out in the winter. Your lab could do it, but with a hard time when you go out with snowshoes on my friend. At 65lbs. long leggs and very fast moving that just doesn't want to call it quitsI have to differ with you on what is and what is not the best dog. A good pointing dog lets you know when to be ready before the bird flies up.A great nose and large feet to keep them hunting as well as being able to defend itself against coyotes because it is farther out then some other dogs are. Coyotes do not as a rule come in close to ahunter unless the hunter is calling them or is un noticed. It would be hard to be un noticed with a dog running threw the woods hunting with you.. Some other dogs do like to know where the hunter is as well. So not having to look for them is a trait that others carry.To sum it up it depends on how and where you hunt as well as what you are hunting for that says what kind of dog you need..