RE: English Springer Spaniel
I just got my first springer in Nov. She just turned 6 mos. I got in touch with a local club and now train on a regular basis with them. I have learned a "ton" from these guys. While I have trained a couple of labs for waterfowl over the years, the upland game is different, so I needed (still do) training along with my dog.
I would suggest googling English springer spaniel clubs illinois. Get hooked up with them and they can be invaluable in your training. It is also a ton of fun.
Good luck.