I do a lot of bird hunting with dogs. No quail or doves but everything else on the menu plus waterfowl. I have two labs and a french brittany. They work very well together and individually. For versatility I really don't think you can beat a lab. I enjoy hunting over a flushing dog much more than the pointer, but that's just me. Hunting uplands over pointers might be more "productive" in the sense of filling the bag, but I find hunting over flushers to be more exciting.

I have been training dogs for more than forty years and have never owned a shock collar or a beeper. However, I do spend a LOT of time in the field with my dogs. And I accept that there is going to be a lot of blown opportunities when training a new dog. I just keep saying to myself, "Well, that's one more I don't have to clean tonight." And, as I always say, the longer it takes me to fill my limit, the longer I'm in the field. And the longer I am in the field, the happier I am.

I find many of the pointers are too hard-headed and high-strung. Not infrequently they are also poor retrievers (and that's all you'd want for dove hunting). Personally, I'd rather hunt over a dog rather than a beeping-shccking piece of technocrap. The guys kick those pointing dogs with their battery-powered collars out of the box and they're all over hell's half acre for hours. A lot of beeping, whistles, and screaming going on but not nearly as much shooting as I get over my three. Labs are much more compliant. The key, I think, is to find a breed, or rather a pup, that is even-tempered and affectionate. A loving dog loves to please. However, even if you get the best pup in the world don't think you can totally "spare the rod" when training it. Just make sure you don't spare the love too.

Last piece of advice: raise your dog IN THE HOUSE not in a kennel. I have seen great kennel-raised dogs but I always wondered how much greater they would have been had they been given more human contact. And I have seen a ton of kennel raised so-called hunting dogs, labs included, that were just a waste of dogfood and oxygen. If you're a working person who doesn't have a lot of time to spare for a dog, maximize what time you don't have in the field by spending it with the dog at home.

If you're thinking about a brittany, think seriously about a french brittany. The American variety has been bred up in size and they are starting to add more of the typical pointer rangeiness. The french brittany still hunts close and also has webbed feet which makes them more useful for waterfowl. You can also find them in tri-color like my pup (see profile photo). As pretty to look at as they are to hunt with. WONDERFUL disposition too.

My vote goes to the German Shorthaired Pointer, with honorable mention to the Brittany. The English Pointer is faster and wider ranging than either, but you would need a helicopter to keep up with them.

You can need a copter to keep up with a Brittany as well, but I like your choices. Takes early training, and I'd definitely get an electronic collar with the beeper/shocker feature, and the range of intensity, and some distance with it. I just upgraded mine to a 1,000 yd. range two collars, and one remote that will control both my dogs. I don't need a high intensity shock feature, and recommend you do not use high intensity shock, and learn when to use it so it isn't punishment when YOU get mad. I use the beeper feature a lot. The dog can be trained to QUARTER easily using the beeper. When the dog gets out to the side, you beep, the dog turns, and sees you with your arm pointing the other way,and walking that way. Those E-collars are a tremendous feature if you'll use them right. Mine will stop, and not go out of range with the beeper button most of the time.

german short haired pointer most definatly

There is no dog need to be considered beyond a LAB! They can even be trained to point. Mine does it all. Sits when duck hunting and dove hunting, great retriever. Labs can take the cold water. Outstanding flushers as well. I hunt Sage Grouse with my labs, sharptail grouse, ruffed grouse, Hungarian Partridge, pheasants...great house dogs...none better for all around hunting. Only consideration for another type would be if I lived in a very warm climate.

labs are high maintenance dogs at a young age. they have to be working moving all of the time. they like to chew on everything till they get older. might want to take that into consideration

Loaded question,Where do live and what type of terrain needs to be thrown in to the equation,wide open fields a pointing dog will out produce a flusher.If your gonna hunt ducks and geese a retriever is your best bet.