My kids have wanted a puppy for several years. We had border collies for a while when the oldest kid was a baby, but they did not last in town/back yard. I fought getting a puppy for a few years, but Santa Claus decided that they were old enough to help take care of one, so he brought a puppy via Mark Mercie/Thunderstruck kennels.
"Ozzie" is our first bird dog and recognizing that he is going to be a pet, not a field trial dog, he has not had any "formal" training. He does travel a lot, is out at the ranch a lot and has grown up around shooting. I'm pretty excited to for September 1st to arrive, I think that he'll do all that I need him to. If he doesn't do anything productive, he has his role as a great pet down.