When its hot, your dog salivates a fair amount, you get the whole foam and drool thing. I can't keep mine out of the pond sometimes. Its important to keep them cool. Doves will lose feathers if you look at them funny, and all that spit, mixed with easy out feathers is sort of like sucking on a cotton ball while running a mile. It is true that some dogs will not pick up or hold doves, but, as others have said, thats the difference between a retriever and a house dog.

Force fetching does work... mine had picked up about 110 ducks and never a dove until this past September... doves are just another brick in the wall for him, and his dove count is up in the 40s now (no thanks to my shooting)... but he is a bit rough on crippled ones... such is life sometimes... he's only 1.5 yo. Working with your dog everyday, even if its only for a few minutes is every bit as important as force fetching, although too, your dog needs to understand what he is supposed to do, and what you want him to do.