Kevin Vang wrote:
says...
Perhaps you can return the favor and recommend a book or books
on dog training.

"Training your Retriever" by James Lamb Free is the classic in the
field (it says so right in the subtitle, after all.)

http://www.amazon.com/Training-Your-Retriever-James-
Lamb/dp/0399136207/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208486691&sr=1-1

I also like Robinson:

http://www.amazon.com/Training-Hunti...riever-Jerome-
Robinson/dp/1558219366/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208486691&sr=1-
12

and Tarrant:

http://www.amazon.com/Training-Hunting-Retriever-New-
Program/dp/0876055757/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208489214&sr=1-13

I also highly recommend that you avoid anything by Richard Wolters like
the plague.

I'm nobody's expert on dog training, but I have had several Labradors in
my life. I would concentrate on basic civilization (sit, stay, come,
heel, etc.) and let everything else take care of itself. If you have a
Lab from decent bloodlines, you shouldn't have to do much of anything
to get it to find birds and retrieve to hand. Just get her out hunting
as often as possible, and by the end of her first season, she will know
more about finding pheasants than you ever will.

Unless you want to get into the field trial game; then you'll have to
work a lot harder at training. I've never had any interest in trialing
myself. I'm happy enough knowing that I still have a bunch of ducks and
pheasants stacked up in the freezer.

Thanks for the book recommendations.

No, I'm not interested in field trials either. My dog won't be
suited for American field trials even though she comes from a
long line of Field Trial Champions in Ireland and Britain.
British Labradors are significantly smaller than their American
cousins, slighter of build and with a quieter temperament. Male
British Labs average 70-75 pounds, the females 53-58 pounds and
while some have competed well in American field trials their
small stature puts them at a disadvantage.

We'll have to have that Dakota style Cast & Blast Clave one of
these autumns, the 9wt and 20 gauge Clave !

--
Ken Fortenberry