Great lookin dog! You are in a perfect time to start training. Get your hands on some birds and freeze them. You can use frozen birds forever. Also, the books Water Dog and Game Dog from Richard A. Wolters are about some of the best around. Take the time and you will be rewarded. Nothing is better than sending your dog on a long blind retrieve and being able to handle them right over to the bird. Good luck and any questions about training feel free to P.M. me.