Harold;
Unfortunately , Parker, the lab in my Avatar has passed also. He was an incredible pointing lab that pointed as well as any pointer/setter I have ever hunted over. Sadly he died at 9 yrs of age. Nothing got away form him I am now blessed with 2 labs that were from a rescue that have performed as well as he did, one of them points and holds and just loves finding birds. He learned this (I think) from hunting with my buddy's GSP. He actually backed the GSP. These animals are truly amazing but I have yet to try them on grouse. Hunting woodcock was very easy for them but grouse will really put them to the test. All it takes is birds to make a birddog. Lots of them. I just turned 63 last week so I'll work as long as I can take but I'll but more and more long weekends until I hang it up. Next year maybe we can meet up in Channing and show Rich which end of the cigar to light first.
