years ago i saw IRISH SETTERS hunt, great dog for birds.
but my favorite is LEWELLIN SETTER ,why, because they are SMALL,not as much hair as ramadon english setter.
but as for all around dog,i still lean towards SMALL LONG LEGGED LAB..
yes, labs shed but mine only does it 1 time a year ,very little hair.
mine is black.
my friends have yellow labs and they said they shed more than mine did.
setters are in my opinion a great bird dog, so are gsp/brittanys,springers/pointers all are fine for BIRDS.
but what happens when you shoot a bird and it flys into swamp or river or lake or wet fields..
will those others DIVE in and bring bird back.
only 1 i saw do it was GSP over years.
of course, we know LAB will do it and retrieve bird to you..
that is dog i am looking for,ALL AROUND DOG.that does it all BUT not as great on birds asSETTER.THAt includes IRISH TOO.
trust me, if hair was problem, i would say it.
springers,setters really have hair problem