I RAISE LABS,AND ALL IS TRAINED FOR WATERFOWL,AND UPLAND BIRDS.I START MY PUPPYS ON WING TRAINING AT THE BEGINNING OF SIX TO SEVEN WEEKS,MOST OF IT FOR PLAY AND TO LEARN THEM ON SCENT BUT THE SERIOUS TRAINING YES STARTS AT 12 TO 16WKS OF AGE.I KNOW THAT MY PUPPYS AT 7WKS OF AGE ARE ALRDY SWIMMING AND PARTIALLY RETRIEVING.BUT I LET THEM PLAY MOST OF THE TIME,IF YOU WORK WITH YOUR LAB AND STICK TO THE TRAINING SCHEDULE,I'M SURE YOU WILL HAVE AN EXCELLENT GOOSE DOG AS WELL AS A LIFELONG HUNTING COMPANION FOR YEARS TO COME. GOOD LUCK BOBBY60