I guess I didn't read closely enough. I would make sure the dog understands, sit, stay and fetch at the least for waterfowl. Then gun introduction. I don't own a lab but have tried hunting with our golden retriever. Needless to say, an untrained dog will make your hunting miserable for yourself and everyone else you're with. About the only thing you can do is to jump ducks.

I would imagine gun introduction would be pretty hard since ducks are usually flying overhead or in the water where it would be illegal to shoot and/or capture them because they're migratory. Plus, the dog is suppose to sit while your shooting and fetch on command. None of the association is working so the dog has to make it in its own mind. Well, there are smarter people than I on this board who can tell you how to introduce gun fire for waterfowling dogs. In the field (upland birds), it's much easier as you are able to plant birds and fire blanks.