RE: Help with selecting a gun!
28ga will be fine for grouse and woodcock but a little underpowered for wild pheasants, IMO. Where I hunt, non-toxic shot is required and finding steel shot in 28ga would be hard to find locally. I shoot a 20ga O/U with steel and finding that to be underpowered on pheasants.
Finding the right dog ispersonal preferrence. Pick a breed thats right for the terrain you want in andthe style and manner you hunt then go out and buy something totally different.