Lloyd3 - I think you have a dilemma. I've fussed with Field Bred Springers, and Labs for about 30 years, so I'm a bit of a traditionalist. It's my opinion that the lesser-known breeds being mentioned here are lesser know for a reason - on average, they aren't as successful as the popular breeds. If they were, they would be more popular. Not to say you can't get a great dog from one of the less popular breeds, but it is a game of probabilities, and IMHO the deck is stacked against you. From what I have heard, the labradoodle or goldendoodle may be a good choice