I have trained and broke several dogs for several folks and my very first dog was a shorthair lab cross and she was the best of point worlds. She would point everything she came across and she would swim the Kansas river to retrieve anything I shot. What I like to tell new dog folks is to make sure you let your pup be a pup. He has the rest of his life to be a functioning hunting dog for you. If you are going to start some things with him keep it simple and short and fun for him. You'll have a lot of fun with him for sure. I think the shorthair lab cross is a good one for folks who are just lookin to kill a mess of birds.

Andy