Since over 90% of the winners in the history of field trialing in the United States have been either Pointers or English Setters, we must consider these two breeds the cream of the crop.

I would have to say the best birddog can change from day to day and from application to application. If you are running American Field All-Age field trials, you better get a Pointer. There are a few English Setters out there that display true all-age range (which, if you' ve never been to a trial like this, is way the hell out there, so far, in fact, that mounted scouts often lose dogs for hours at a time), but you are better off with a Pointer.

For Shooting Dog stakes (which is still way the hell out there, just not quite as far), Setters can compete and some would say they may even be a touch better.

For walking field trials such as NSTRA, you will see more Setters winning than Pointers, but good examples in both breeds. You will even see some nice Brittanies and Shorthairs in these smaller-field events.

There are definitely more strains of Setters than anything else: Grouse dogs, big dogs, small dogs, horseback dogs, foot hunting dogs, prairie dogs, brush dogs, quail dogs, chukar dogs, pheasant dogs, you name it, there is a type of English Setter out there for just about everything. They also make about the best house pet of any breed, not just birddogs. So from these measures, my vote would go to the English Setter.

But I wouldn' t turn down an Elhew Pointer, either! I would consider one of these the ultimate birddog, although most hunters would be happier with a shorter-ranging dog.

The English Setter is also the most most beautiful of all dog breeds, and that doesn' t hurt, either.