Need help picking a breed.

[MHWASH]

I'm not a serious bird hunter, but like to get out a few times a year after big game seasons are over. We'll mostly be hunting pheasants in the wheat fields. The dog will mainly be a family dog. I know the easy answer is a lab, but we have a couple of concerns with labs. Our last dog, Nikki, was a lab cross and she shed terribly. Our other concern is size. Most of the labs I see are just too big. Nikki was 55lbs, and that was about perfect.

Here's just a few criteria

Medium size
Short hair
Limited shedding
Mostly an inside dog
Not looking to spend a bunch of money, so I will be the trainer

[bobcat]

I would say a Brittany would be a good choice. Not really short hair, but not long either. They will shed some. I don't know that there's a breed out there that doesn't shed at all. Except maybe poodles.

I had a German Shorthair and he shed way more than my Brittany. Yes it was short hair, but that didn't make it any easier to vacuum up.

Brittanys are half the size of the average lab and are awesome family dogs.

[Bullkllr]

Pretty hard to argue against a brittany.

[RainingSteel]

imho labs are easier to train  for  the  average  individual and  more  content as an inside dog that may not get as much  hunting  time (satisfied  by a lot of different  types of  exercises  like  fetch).  A breeder  can set you  up with a smaller lab.  I  do not  have much  problem  with  mine  shedding.  great  family  dog as they are known  for.

[Sportfury]

How active will you be with the pup outside of hunting?

I would suggest German Wirehaired Pointer or Drathaar even though they are long haired. My GWP shedding is minimal and she is an inside dog. I love the attitude of my GWP and she is probably right around 45-50 lbs. For short hair then you might think GSP, Weimeriner, or Vizsla. I have only experience with the GSP. My male was right at 60 lbs and a pretty tall dog. We just bought a GSP for my son and his dad was 75 lbs. He is almost six months old and he is passing up my 6 year old GWP. He is super active and we have to run him at least twice a day.

The reason that I ask the first question is that most of these dogs need to run. They are true athletes and need to be exercised every day. If not they can be doctor destructo in the house.

[wildweeds]

Would you be interested in a setter?

[j_h_nimrod]

There are a few other considerations you don't mention that I feel are important in considering a dog.

Do you have kids? Babies, elementary, etc.

Level of normal family activity?  Very active, weekend active, etc.

House with a yard, apartment, etc.?

Just something else to think about when choosing breeds. Personally I am not a lab fan, or any long haired shedding dog for that matter. I wanted a standard Poodle for its breed attributes. The wife wanted a Weimaraner because it was pretty.  We got the Weim. The hair sheds but has never been a problem, it is almost invisible. Lots of good breed attributes but plenty of shortcomings as well.

[Bullkllr]

Labritdoodle?

[trophyhunt]

imho labs are easier to train  for  the  average  individual and  more  content as an inside dog that may not get as much  hunting  time (satisfied  by a lot of different  types of  exercises  like  fetch).  A breeder  can set you  up with a smaller lab.  I  do not  have much  problem  with  mine  shedding.  great  family  dog as they are known  for.

labs are awesome.

[PolarSea88]

VIzsla all the way!

[hollymaster]

Can't go wrong with a Brittany! But then again I do have three. 
I would definitely advise researching whatever breed you choose. Most hunting dogs are high energy and need daily exercise.

[coyotestalker22250]

Check out a boykin spaniel. They are a fairly new breed with great attributes. Small dogs with upland and water abilities. They are also very good family dogs. I have had Brittanys and labs, which are great dogs but I'd go for the boykin.

[snowshoes22]

I think springers are overlooked a lot in WA for some reason? Best pheasant dog out there and travel size. Also great with kids

[AspenBud]

Find someone who breeds smaller labs. If shedding is a concern, find someone who breeds Poodles for bird hunting. Most pointing dogs aren't going to be a good choice if you don't plan to hunt them much.

[KFhunter]

I wouldn't suggest a Brittany/Setter/GSP/Pointer if you aren't going to go full bore with training.  Ya they are fantastic dogs but any pointing type dog is going to take a ton of training to hunt properly for you.   A dab of training on a Brittany just means it's going to run all over the place and scare birds 300 yards out and you'll be screaming at it to come back while zapping the hell out of it. ~ Don't do that.

Instead get you a close working flusher - you can get away with a lot less training on a flusher if they only get out 20 yards away.

A Springer family dog sounds about perfect