Garry,
The breeder of my brittany cash lives about a mile from me, he said to me the other day "if I had a wife that got up every morning and ran my bird dog I would probably die of a heart attack" I just smiled and said there is a reason why she does this. Then I wouldn't say anything else, its driving him crazy
Then recently I got her an all wheel drive car for these lovely winters we have up here. (she had a front wheel drive car) my buddy said I would buy my wife a new car every year if she would run my dog every day. He just got back from Iowa where he was pheasant hunting. This thread is interesting about 16 gauges, on a pheasant farm around here my 16 gauge is wonderful with the light r.s.t. shells. I wonder if I might be under gunned if I ever go out west for pheasants with my older fox or parker.