English pointers or just Pointers were never meant to retrieve only to find game, but many of them do, retrieve and do it extremly well GSP's, Weimiraners, Vizla's, Spinone's, Braco Italiano and Brittany Spaniels are all HPR breeds!! that is they Hunt Point and Retrieve and any of the continental breeds are excellent gundogs it all depends what you want the dog for??? Lab's are good peg dogs and retrievers, Springer Spaniels good for flushing and retrieving It all depends on the owner and the training!! as well as getting a good dog from working stock
Tom