I bought my last lab several years ago. The most recent pup I have was basically a rescue and so far as been the best dog I have ever owned. Even though she is trained to track wounded deer, she will retrieve a bird or 2 or basically about anything else I ask her to do. Its almost like she speaks English and knows just about anything I tell her.
Now my brother in law has a high dollar duck dog that is a retrieving fool. Both great dogs.