I have an 8 month old mutt that we're pretty sure is a Golden Retriever mixed with something smaller. He's not quite as big or full bodied as a Golden, and his ears are shorter than a Golden Retriever, but he looks like a Golden quite a bit. I walked him down through the park and by the pond which is home to about 100 full time resident ducks. He seemed very interested in the ducks, and I thought he was going to go in after one, but when he touched the water he stopped and seemed confused.

I have never had a gun dog, but I guess I'd just like to know how I could tell if he has the "right stuff" to be a waterfowl retriever. I don't have the time to try to train him to be an upland bird dog, but I would love to try duck hunting. Golden Retrievers are supposed to be excellent waterfowlers, second perhaps only to the Labrador Retriever.

I'm really just curious about his potential, because I quite content with him just being a pet if that's all he's cut out to be.

Mike