Puppies are easy, and fun...if you let it be. Depending on age, when a pup comes here whatever breed...I start out letting droag a cc, if a young one 3mo, or less drag nothing. I will always do my stuff for the dog to be successful, whether or not retrieving, or bird finding....what ever, you want the dog to be successful....I would not personally mess with the wing stuff, you will get more, and better progress on any breed with the real thing. You will need to possibly pull some wing feathers, so it cannot fly well....at first, then as the dog progresses, eliminate the catch, I would do it earlier on bird dogs. I will always use quail for starters, alot more excitment when they get up, pigeons seem to take longer to bold up on with the wings noise made while flapping. Some dogs will shy away from until they get a little older and even then will still do. Ob, depending on age is a possible not worry overly. Always make the "here" command a good thing, not used only when putting up!! Playing out in the yard whatever, kneel down to help elinate the dogs question on what to do, help it through whats being asked, they do not understand english, can always tighten up or correct firmly later. This Make sense?? You can always pm me. Be more than happy to help in any way!! Cya Jonesy