RE: Help requested selecting a breed for my new hunting partner!
Doc,
I personally own a chessie. She is good with everything EXCEPT doves and quail. I have heard nothing but the same from most lab owners because of the warm temps,small size, and loose feathers. Granted when it cools down my dog isn't bad on quail. But I've heard several professional trainers say to not hunt retrievers AT ALL on doves. Hard mouth can be a tough problem to fix especially with an inexperienced trainer. It's a slow process that requires persistance and consistancy at all times with a thorough Force Fetch and Formal Hold program. If its genetic hard mouth, well, good luck. Most upland breeds like the GSP rarely inherit or have hard mouth at all, so for your quail and doves, go for it.
And by saying cool is in the 70's, the lab is out.
I have little against labs, but in this fellows case, the lab is not fit.