Hunting poodle or spinone wanted

[Zoom]

A friend of mine is looking for a hunting-line poodle, either pup or started. He had a breeder picked out, but the breeder didn't get back to him until recently, and then only to tell him that he (the breeder) already had all deposits he was accepting for this upcoming litter.

Bob lives in Kansas and is wanting either a pup or a started dog, preferably with upland experience. Prefers a standard poodle but also likes Spinones. I'm not too sure where to start looking for hunting lines, so I'm turning to you all.

[happyhound]

Does he want a pointer or retriever/flusher?

Probably be easier to find a good Spinone than a field bred poodle. Never seen a started Spinone for sale, either. They are still relatively rare.

Also, it would be easier/cheaper to find a started or finished dog of a common breed that is also close working (I assume he wants something close working if he wants a Spinone).

[Romy]

Has he looked into wirehaired pointing griffons at all? They are close working too, the energy is between a spinone and a german wirehaired pointer. Charlie is a bit more mellow than my aunts standard poodle brittany mix. Most griffon breeders that I have seen advertise work their dogs and offer started youngsters. There is a kennel in Kansas that I think has puppies right now.

Charlie has been a good pointer, hunter, clam retriever, etc. with very little in the way of formal training.

The other good thing is they don't have flews, so won't drool like a spinone.