The guys that I know that have them don't waterfowl with them. That being said, I think they can be taught almost anything if you put in the time, especially to do a downed goose retrieve in a field. I don't know their tendencies with cold water retrieves, I may be wrong. If you're into upland hunting at all, and this dog is trained to do so, you'd have a tough time finding a better partner. They are tough to beat. Keep in mind, they usually need daily brushing with their coats and need to burn off a little energy every day.