Hi Jack,

Got your message and wanted to pass along some great material for training your water and game dog...  I really like the training methods used by Butch Goodwin. Butch has a training manual and dvd called "retrievers from the inside out...  Its really good and takes you on a step by step training program from the time the dog is a pup...  

Google Butch Goodwin and you will find a lot of articles and also his traing manual...

Good luck and there is nothing more rewarding than putting your dog through the training as a pup and enjoying the a true hunting companion for many years to follow...  Remember, in order to train a dog, you have to earn his trust....

Good luck....