I'm the same as you, I love labs, and grew up around them all the time. I broke the trend 12 years ago with a field bred springer spaniel. Go find a fieldie. There are pretty much two classes of springer, one bred for show, and the other for field work.. Smart has heck, energetic, eager to please, and medium sized. I actaully never hunted mine much, but a great dog.

I've had him on many dayhikes, great. Not too many overnighters though because most of my overnighters are in grizzly country. and I don't want to have a dog with me in bear country.

Just find someone who is doing them for field trial or bird dog
work, not show.

You'll have to cut their hair, but you just take them and give them a good buzz a couple times a year and they are fine.

My other choice would be Aussies as many have mentioned, and failing that - a good mutt from the SPCA that looks like there is some lab and or shepherd in there.