We would like to get a dog. Here is my situation. We live on 60 acres so a dog can roam but will have a dog pen for when we are gone. We have a pond. Will have dog in house to be with us. Have 2 cats so want one that will get along with them. Would like to stay away from a large size dog, one that drools, one that won't jump in pond everyday, good with kids, not hyper and will flush out birds. Wife is home during the day so dog will not be penned up all day but will be while we are gone. Our Samoyed dug up everything in our yard and ran off at every chance but we lived in the city when we had him. Now live in the country. There are deer and other dogs around also. I think I would prefer a male but what is everyone elses take on sex? I prefer all the preferences but the flushing part. My husband wants a hunting dog. Can we get a dog with the above characteristics? Our Sammie needed constant brushing and hair in house was terrible. Would like to avoid that this time.