Jerry: I know what you mean about "alternative" dogs. I married the girl who came along with a half-Irish Irish Irish Water Spaniel. I'd really get some looks when we showed up in the field. I told them he was a Standard Poodle and most believed me. Anyway, they shut up pretty quick when they saw him go to work.
For duck guns, I've got a 10#4oz Lefever G 10-bore with 32-in damascus barrels ... no "wand," as they say, but man, will it whack those high-flyers! When I'm going easier on myself, I take a 1956 Model 12 Duck gun, one of the last made with a solid rib, or a 1961 A-5 Magnum with a spare Hastings barrel for steel shot.
By the way, I really enjoy putting faces with names (what a bunch of geezers we are!), and seeing all these pretty guns. Happy hunting. TT
P.S. This is my Sweet Sixteen, built the year I was born, and loaded with Bismuth. A change of pace for decoying ducks. Not all of these birds were mine, but my buddy wanted an impressive looking bag.