WAYNE1 - Hi there ! Its been awhile, but glad to hear you guys are doing well. - - Our buddies in the Basin have a several labs and a Chessie among them. Don't know if they will be using them when we go out to hunt honkers. It all depends on the volume of shooting that we run into. A couple of seasons ago we were hunting out of a large cornfield with a good size group of guys and the birds were coming in hot and heavy & we were doing lots of shooting. The dogs did a great job retrieving the downed ones. - - Canadians are big birds, but when in large cut corn field stubble with the rising sun in your eyes and lots of shooting its easy to lose 'em without the dogs. - - We'll have to see how things look this coming season to see if Shooter might be able get a lesson or two from the experienced dogs. - - Are you planning to train him for upland hunting? There's lots of grouse in your neck of the woods. Take care & Good Hunting!, - - Pointshoot