It's been awhile since I checked this thread out, seems like I haven't been gone at all. I like the pics the lab guys posted on here, some are truly pointing such as the black lab in the pheasant pen. My GSP would have been locked up stiff outside the door and I would have had to carry him inside to get him that close to take such a pic. He will not move when on point especially if he sees the bird or smells it right in front of his nose.
Back to what I said earlier I have hunted with guys who had Labs of "pointing bloodlines". Most times I would separate from them or take my dog back to the truck to keep their dogs from setting back my dog in his training. Then when their dogs started mouth breathing and not finding any birds, I'd get Gunner and he would point birds in every field they just worked having found nothing. I know there are guys out there with exceptional labs that would be a pleasure to hunt with, I just haven't met one yet that does anything but flush and retrieve. Not saying flushing is a bad thing, it's what some prefer, I just like watching the discipline of a well trained Pointing breed. A well trained Lab would be expected to run the field, search for birds and run in their direction busting them into the air and then retrieving. That's great, just not what I prefer in most cases.

I like having my dog communicate with me and showing me where the bird is not just with his nose but also his eyes (kind of like a guy nodding in the direction of a good looking girl to his buddy) I have spent enough time training him that I can tell by his body language what he wants me to do in order to get the bird in the air so I can shoot it and then release him for a retrieve not just go chasing after it. I guess it comes down to me preferring an intelligent breed that is in large part more intelligent than labs as a whole- due to inbreeding and genetic defect. I have owned Labs in the past but never will again. They are stubborn and just harder to train (in most instances) some of you got lucky but your average lab is eating it's own crap and chewing up the couch despite having been scolded numerous times for it. They got brawn and are rugged in build and if I were to put a human character to them I would say they would be Adam Sandler in the movie Water Boy, simple minded but happy and don't know why.