There is nothing more special than the unique balance of peacefulness and excitement found behind a quality bird dog.  All stress seems to dissipate as you unload your attentive partner from his crate and place the shotgun over your shoulder.  It may be a cold, crisp morning with seemingly every surface glistening with frost and a soft crunch below your boots.  Perhaps it is among the pines where you are met with a light breeze and the golden grasses lazily dancing to and fro in cadence; a hushed version of nature's metronome.  Your dog moves quickly, excitedly, with fluid yet animated motion combing cover and feed strip or perhaps casting widely to a field edge.  He's on a mission.  He knows why he's in that field, he's hardwired to do this job at a deeply instinctual level.  You are part of this, you are on his team, and he yours.  Up ahead you see him standing staunchly - head and tail held high.  As you near you can feel the excitement and see the intensity in your dog.  Every fibrous muscle seems to vibrate in anticipation, his tail quivers every so slightly.  Your heartbeat quickens as you approach him and begin the flushing attempt with him at attention.  All the sudden, from the ground explodes a rooster cackling as he burst into flight.  A shot is fired, time moves so quickly yet so slowly as you notice intricate feathers dancing through the air falling gracefully to the ground.  You snap back to attention and see your dog is in pursuit making quick work of locating the bird and hastily, but ever so carefully, returning the bird to you.  As he approaches you can see his sense of pride and accomplishment on a job well done.  He releases the bird into your hard and you take a moment to admire the impossibly iridescent feathers and the elegantly long tail.  You thank this bird for his life, this hunt, and these memories that will last lifetime.  That evening your dog quietly curls up with you on your favorite chair and gazes into your eyes. At this moment you realize he's not just a dog.  It's not just a hunt.