Small breed Bird Dog's

[wiremonkey]

What is a good breed for a smaller bird dog? I would like to get into some upland hunting and am trying to decide on a dog. Bigger lab size dogs are out of the question at my house. Or are the bigger dogs really the only ones worth having? 

[WRL]

What about a small Lab?

How small are you wanting?

WRL

[Curly]

english cocker spaniel

or   a   boykin spaniel

and Brittany spaniel's are fairly small too.

[ghosthunter]

Most the guys I know use Brits.

I have a lab.

[lokidog]

english cocker spaniel

or   a   boykin spaniel

and Brittany spaniel's are fairly small too.

This, or a small golden.  Our little girl is 43 pounds at 11 months.  Perfect size, though a goose might be more challenging.   

[Tman]

My GWP is only about 40lbs, maybe 22-24 " high at the shoulder. Just has 200lbs of attitude.

[AspenBud]

Get a field bred English Cocker Spaniel. Good for light duty duck hunting in the early season (not river dogs) and they'll stand toe to toe with Springers in the uplands.

[Stilly bay]

Pick any breed you want, there are smaller strains within each one, its just a matter of finding a good breeder that tries to cultivate smaller specimens. You might not be able to find the size you are looking for just by cracking open the want ads and you might not be able to find one right now, but if you are patient there is no reason why you can't have a 45lb lab or a 100lb english setter, but anytime a dog falls too far outside of the breed standard there can be potential for problems.

IMO English cockers and springers are really great dogs if you are looking for a smaller sizes. but be careful, there are some 80 pound springer spaniels out there.

. Or are the bigger dogs really the only ones worth having? 

 There is no advantage to having a bigger dog. Bigger dogs get tired out sooner than smaller ones, I don't care how well conditioned they are. Bigger dogs can't handle the heat as well And often bigger dogs have more developmental and structural  problems.
I always wondered why some guys are so proud of their "100lb" labs, its not a hunting dog I would want. I think 50-75 is just right

[singleshot12]

Some of them crosses make excellent bird dogs also. Know a guy who has a LabxBasset Hound. She basically looked like a normal yellow Lab with no legs or I should say VERY short legs, her belly was literally 2 inches off the ground. People laughed but I tell you that dog would go under the under brush tunnels to flush up a rooster that no other dog could crawl under.

[huntingfool7]

Field bred english cocker spaniel or field bred english springer spaniel.

I run springers.  My male weighs in at 41 lbs and my girl weighs in at 36 lbs. 
Great hunting dogs in a small package!

[steen]

I run chocolate and yellow sisters. the chocolate is just under 40# and the yellow is 45#. They are killer upland dogs and are great in the duck blind. Small labs are hard to find but not impossible.

Red Setters, small and sweet family pets with plenty of go in the field.  My daughter just had a litter of 8 July 3, grandkids of our Ruby dog!

[jetjockey]

Since you mentioned upland birds only, get a Brit. They are the smallest of the pointing breeds and pointing dogs are typically much better all around upland dogs than flushing/retrieving dogs. I love Springers, but they won't hold a candle to a Brit when it comes to hunting for hours on end.  My Brit is 33 lbs soaking wet.  But she's 33lbs of muscle and can run like crazy, even in the heat.   There is some smaller setters out there as well if you find the right breeding.

[KFhunter]

french brittany

my next grouse dog I think

I don't think you'd regret a good french britt

[Bmcox86]

English Setter
Nothing Better than hunting with a Setter!

[JODakota]

Get a Brit, lots of character, small , kid friendly and birdy!