RE: smaller hunting dog recommendation
I might give some though to the English Pointers. The ones that I have seen have all been in that 50 lb or less range. Not to say that all of them are. SHort hair, points, and they do retrieve. Maybe not as well as some others, but unless you are going to be field trialing, then who really cares. As long as the dog brings the game back to you, you're good.