Roger that. I was actually going to have Mike train the pup. He comes highly recommended from Joan, and he is rather close to me, which will allow a better working relationship I hope.
http://www.skyhighretrievers.com/index.htmlI have been doing a lot of research lately and I think this is how I want to go. It will be spendy, but I feel confidant it will be worth every penny down the road.........
As far as the pointing goes, I want the dog to be a retriever first, and a pointer second. Some dogs just have it in them, and I (or the trainer), will train what we can but let the dog be a dog too. Labs can be amazing pointers instinctively.
My neighbors lab has never hunted in his life, but he will retrieve anything you send him after, including 4x4's that are 4 feet long. He also points cats every time he sees one across the street, and does not run after it until you say "Git it!" Funny as hell and he has never been to a trainer in his life. He provides hours upon hours of entertainment and laughs during the summertime BBQ's.
Just goes to show that some dogs just have it in them, and we will never understand why.
All we can hope for is a dog with drive and raw natural talent, and then hope we can help them live up to it....
