Labs are not what the author would consider as a first choice for ringneck cover, but pheasant hunters around the country swear by them.

But first, a caveat: Don't buy into the common misconception that a highly-bred dog will somehow be "too much" bird dog. You can never have too much bird dog. A dog with intense drive to point, flush or retrieve does not have to bounce off the walls of your living room; doing so is usually a sign of poor breeding. Well-bred dogs are every bit as good for pets as they are for hunting companions. What's more, their inherent birdiness will make it less likely that they'll go into a blue funk when you screw up during a training session. Which you will. Enough on that subject.

Making A Choice
So what should you get? For most hunters, spaniels and Labs are more versatile than pointers because of their innate drive to retrieve. Watching a wing-tipped pheasant or mallard sail away is no fun, but Labs and springers will go after wounded game even if they've never had a day's worth of lessons. They may not bring it back right away--that's an entire subject unto itself--but there's still a pretty good chance you won't lose it. And although you won't find nearly as many open-country birds with either breed as you would with a wide-ranging pointer, many hunters are more than willing to accept that tradeoff for a dog they can keep close tabs on in the field.

The problem with pointing dogs is that most aren't strong retrievers (not compared to real retrievers, anyway), and force-breaking a pointer to fetch is a necessary but intense training process that many owners are understandably reluctant to take on.

Enter the versatile pointing breeds. As my experience with German wirehaired pointers (wirehairs), drahthaars, griffons and even Pudelpointers grows, so does my fondness for these bristle-brush coated dogs. Europeans have different ideas about bird dogs, and prize versatility above all else. Among other things, most of the wire-coated versatile breeds track fur (deer and hares) as well as point upland birds and retrieve waterfowl. Stylish they're not. But they're handsome animals in a raffish sort of way, and they probably come as close as any breed to being all-around gun dogs.

When the need arises, many versatiles also range out. I've hunted over griffons and Pudelpointers that ran from 100 to 200 yards from the gun, and in the woods of Wisconsin this past fall I had the pleasure of hunting over my friend Mike Bartz's drahthaar, Gus, who not only pointed woodcock and grouse but retrieved them nicely, too. That evening, we retired to Mike's cozy cabin, and while his dog lay calmly in the corner, Bartz fielded a call from a local deer hunter who wanted Gus to track down a whitetail he'd arrowed.

The author's Brittany, Powder, is at home in the grouse woods. Regardless of breed, you can compensate for some shortcomings with rigorous training. This will get you closer to that coveted all-around bird dog.

Breeding these dogs is strictly controlled by parent clubs. In fact, most require that new owners sign contracts stipulating exactly what they can and cannot do with their dog, undoubtedly rubbing some people the wrong way. But the upside is that there's little chance of getting a pup who won't turn into at least an adequate bird finder and fetcher. No show dogs here.

There's room for some give and take when it comes to choosing any bird dog. If you decide to buy a dog based on its proven ability to handle a particular gamebird, you won't get an argument from me. And if you're out on the prairies some fine October morning with a brace of setters or a Brittany or two, don't be surprised if you see me just down the road in the next field over.

But remember the weaknesses inherent in any breed, and compensate for them with training. If you have pointers, force-break them to retrieve. It's hard work, but well worth it. Teach your spaniel or retriever to quarter before the gun before the season starts, and you'll save yourself the never-ending headache of trying to keep him within gun range in the field.

For a few of you, though, a compromise just doesn't cut it. You want a dog that excels at the birds you love to hunt. In that case, here's my suggestion: Buy two dogs, perhaps a Lab for ducks and a setter for ruffed grouse. Or a wide-ranging English pointer for prairie birds and a springer for ducks and pheasants.

Me? I've got three.