Yet another option...
There are pointing breeds (i.e. GSPs and brittanies) that typically point and often retrieve.. and there is, at least, one retrieving breed with specific lines that retrieve and also point (i.e. pointing labs).
When the GSP and Brittanies were first introduced to America, they were not initially well recieved by some pointing purests, because they were not "pure pointers", since they also had some instinct to retrieve. I guess they didn't like the idea of the dog having additional instincts for fear that may dilute the breeds primary instinct to point.
Today, the same is true for labs that point. Some lab/retrieving purests do not think that any lab should ever point, however, many other people have discovered pointing labs and really appreciate their verasility (cold weather tolerance for waterfowl retrieving, yet, pointing and retrieving of upland birds too).
To be clear, this post is not meant to start any debate on "this breed is better than that breed" or "this breed should only point and not retrieve" or "this breed should only retrieve and not point"..... I am just trying to share some info on another option, in case you were not aware of it.
Personally, if I were super wealthy, I would have one dog of every breed, so I could watch each and every one "do their thing". I just really love the dog work, regardless of the breed!
In reality, however, it is only practical for me to own just one dog, so I really need one that can support all of my hunting habits (mostly pheas, but a fair amount of duck and goose too)!
After a few years of watching an amazing pointing lab hunt, I decided that a dog like that would be great for my needs, so I bought Bear and, man, has my life changed! I have even missed the opening of elk bow season for 3 straight years because I just had to take Bear to a hunt test!
If you have any interest in seeing a PL in action, here is a video of Bear "doing his thing" on both a pheasant and goose hunt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AY8ocsPNKts
You will note that, despite his natural instinct to point (he tri-pod pointed at 8 weeks old!), he still has a bit of talent in the retrieving arena as well.
Bear pointing wing at 8 weeks:
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Bear pointing rooster at 3 years old:
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