The best birddog I ever had was a pointer/English setter cross. Best nose, tireless retriever, even used him as a dove retriever, he never lost one in 5 years, usually several hundred a year. He made me lazy, shooting in standing soybeans, corn, no problem, drop them when you can see them, the dog did it all. I also was exposed to his sister, a complete air head. I like all birddogs! A herd is good, I am convinced that an army of dogs are as good as blockers and drivers in pheasant hunting. Actually better, because you get the shots! I used a long legged group of puppies two years ago, in a mature CRP field, there were dogs everywhere, confused the birds, they pointed 7 times, twice where birds they ran back to a gunner. Opened up my eyes. but it's hard to keep and manage them!