I belong to an English Springer Spaniel Field Trial club. I own Labrador Retrievers. I love to see Shorthairs work.

I cannot simply say this one or that is the best. With an unbiased opinion, I would recommend to anyone trying to make a decission on breed to visit some AKC field tests. Please keep in mind that very few breeds actually use live birds. As well, some breeds at tests are not even required to retrieve the birds. This i my $0.02
worth, and it is only that. The best dog is the one that works best for your situation and works well for YOU.