I am very new to training and I don't have a pup yet...i want to train her my self but I do not want to screw up a $1200 dog! If anybody out there could give me a guideline of what to do from the day I pick her up i would greatly appreciate it! Should I be stern at a young age or be a friend and just play fetch and the occasional command? I appreciate any help!

Get yourself either

Evan Graham's Smartwork video series
~or~
Rick Stawski's Fowl Dawgs video series

these are a great place to start. Could also look at finding a retriever club near you as well.

Best quick advice: Don't teach the pup anything you don't want to beat out of it later.

Example: Don't use a sock as a chew toy if you don't want a dog that chews up socks.

"Leader of the Pack" by Nancy Baer and Steve Duno. Very simple. Written more toward fixing problems in adult dogs but is a great guide to how to be in charge.

i have been training my dog sophie and she is the first dog i have had no previous experience with training hunting dogs, Sophies now 10 months and i couldn't imagine hunting without her now.
i was told to get "Water Dog" the book and i also have the video. after reading the book and watching the vid i learned a lot and it has sure helped me and my dog.

One thing i couldn't believe is how quick they can learn, i first had the throughout that i would get her and start training her and maybe take her one a couple hunts this year just so she could see what it was all about.

I talked to several trainers and they didn't like to take dogs until they were about 6-7 months old.
i had my dog out with me all the time during dove season and she retrieved over 60 birds out of a pond while still a pup, while she was not perfect by any means she did swim out get the birds and bring them to land.
with her first season now under her she has made easily over 150 successful duck retrieves for me and my buddies this year as well as several blind retrieves.

i highly recommend the Water Dog book/video.
get you a pup and let the fun begin.

DU magazine had a really good article on dog training a few issues back. It was about starting a dog and training you can do in your backyard. I'll look back and see if I can find it.

I appreciate all the help guys! I want to try and teach this dog as much as I can and be as smart as she can be! I have the pick of the litter for a female at the end of April....I am ordering the three DVDs y'all adviced me to get and I plan to study them all and combine them so that me and my dog can be as smart as we can be! If anyone has any other tips ( even stupid ones cause the dumb might help me more than the educated ones) please just throw them on here or message me it doesn't matter! I truly appreciate everyone's help maybe one day I can post some pics up of my dog workin the duck hole!

I learned a long time ago that the first six months of a pups life are extremely important. For many years Jackie
Merten's "Sound Beginnings" has been the standard. Here's a link to the updated video of her puppy program.

What about keepin the pup? Should I keep her in the house or put her in a pin? I want this dog to be an extremely friendly dog but i don't kno how to make it a friendly dog...I don't want to put her in a pin and the dog think its being neglected since she will be at a young age when I get her! If anyone could give me some help on this i would appreciate it!

I would kennel my dogs as pups so they didn't destroy anything. Both of my dogs now have pretty much free reign of my house. They sleep on the couch, floor, in my bed at night.....ect. Alot of guys I know have kennels outside where the dogs live but I like having my dog inside w/ me. They're my hunting partners but they're also my friends and part of the family. Have your dog socialize w/ other people and dogs too. Have kids? play with the ears, tail and mess w/ the food while it's eating to see if there's any signs of aggresive behaviour because you don't want a dog to bite a kid.

No I don't have kids but I have a big family that will eat up some lil puppy love! lol when you say kennel you meen they kennel up inside your house right? I am just wondering, cuz I want my dog to be super friendly!

spend alot of time with them.I was lucky enough to take mine to work with me for the first year of her life,and she will do anything i tell her.

when you first get your pup..make playin fetch a game..get there insticts to retrieve working..u want them to have fun while they are retrievein so dont b too hard on her at first just fun. between 6-8 months is when u can really start cracking down on her and triaing her how u want her to work..alot of people i know keep there dogs outside in the pin all the time. i dont agree with that all..my dog sleeps in my bed with me every nite, hes part of our family, i take him everywhere i can, let her meet new people and dogs, like someone on here said while there eating take there food away from them for a second then give it back, play with there ears and tail, fuck with em pretty much, if she gets agressive beat her ass and tell her NO! hope the videos and everything goes great with your new pup bud, also ducks unlimited has alot of articles on retriever training, check those out as well

One thing I will stress to you is buy a dog from a reputable breeder. There are alot of people who breed dogs to make money and that's not who you want to buy from. Lot's of puppy mills nowadays and those people don't give 2 shits about dogs and they just want $$$. Do your homework before purchasing a dog.....especially a lab. Call breeders and ask questions about the parents... did they hunt? did they have any field trial experience? how's the temperment? any medical history...hip displacia?... ask if they guarantee the dog for hip problems cause a good breeder will. Good breeders have the dogs best interest at heart.The guys I know who breed labs will just not sell a dog to anyone. They want to know it's going to a good home and it's gonna be a hunting dog. Some guys ask for references and want to see your home before they sell to you. Ask whoever you want to buy the dog from if you can see one of the parents work a field or blind. Remember, you buy a dog and you have it for many years so do some research before you go out and get 1.

Well the guy I'm buying it from is not a breeder but he has a lab that is super smart and wins all these different hunter field champion things(whatever theyre called) and has 100 of ribbons....he's breeding it with a guys dog from Arkansas that is something master hunter? I don't know but being a master in something sounded bada$$! I believe I am making a smart decision because I have watched his dog work and she is super smart! This guy is a trainer though and he said he will help me along the way with training if i need it....I don't think I'm going to keep her outside...I believe it's goin to be a inside/outside dog....I appreciate everyone's help, y'all have been super informative and have helped me A LOT!

Get it used to the kennel right away and use the kennel as needed. Mine is an inside dog but is kennel broke.

I read where I should take a set of wings to the baby pups when they are born and put them in the cage and let em play with it and which ever one takes to it is the one I need to get...is this true or BS?