Wirehairs, Pudelpointers, Large and Small Munsterlander's plus most of the versitile dogs found in NAVHDA are excellent retrievers land and water as they have to pass the tests. Most of the Shorthairs are good with some varience. The English pointers are more troublesome as are Viszlas, particularly in the water.
+1
Every German Bred Versatile (DD,DK,PP) should have strong retrieving drive.
Most of todays Serious Labs that run in the ESPN SRS series events are UKC HRC tested dogs. Its a serious test that does test perception, marking ability, training etc.
And at least 1 dozen DDs have been titled in UKC HRC Retrieving tests, where Labs are most frequently seen.
1 DK is a 500 pt dog.
The reality though, is that it is a handling test, not a test of cripples or nose, where a good DD or DK would make thoese dogs look foolish.
I admire what trial Labs can do, but 400 yard blind retrieves are not what any duck hunter or phez hunter needs for 99.9% of hunting.
Every phez dog must retrieve and track dead or you Will lose cripples.
My buddys Setter will not.
I would not feed that dog or any like him.
It Points nice, but thats only half the game of taking home birds.