If you are looking for a bird dog, I can not recommend a breed more than I can recommend a German Shorthair Pointer. Unsurpassed for upland birds like grouse, pheasants, and quail. Also very capable for ducks in all but the roughest of waters. (I had a bit of an adventure when my pup decided to retrieve a live Canada goose from the Hudson River, and the goose just decided to stand his ground.)