RE: What's your dog?
I think super G got it right. The best dog is whatever dog you happen to have in your kennel at the time! I always hunted setters and loved them, never wanting a pointer because I was always told that they were poor companion dogs; never wanted a Brit because the two I hunted behind just plain sucked! (since then I've hunted behind a great Brit) Jack was a fine dog and very well trained.
Well, three years ago my setter needed to be retired and I got a deal on a two year old pointer I just couldn't pass up. To my surprize she is just the opposite of all the negitives I've ever heard about pointers. She is the most loving dog I have ever owned. She just loves to be spoiled, and yes she can hunt circles around any setter I ever owned. I guess the bottom line is a dog is what you male it.