Depends on what you hunt mostly and where you hunt mostly. IF you junt mostly uplands in open cover like wheat stubble, and waterfowl occiasonally, get a pointing dog.

If you live for the coldest ickiest wettest duck days, get a retriever. For all around everything, get a german wirehaired pointer. Ugliest damned dog around, but what they lack in looks, they make up for everywhere else.