[HuntinDawg]

You need a good training program and you need to get with some folks who train retrievers. You could join one or more local retriever clubs and go to their training sessions and maybe meet some training partners that way. If your dog is going to be an asset in the field, she is going to have to be trained...probably to a level that you cannot currently imagine if you've never seen a trained retriever work...but it isn't rocket science and you would probably be amazed what your dog will be capable of. Tell us where you are located and we can probably help you find some local retriever clubs.

 

[HuntinDawg]

It looks like there are 3 HRC (Hunting Retriever Club) clubs in Minnesota. Click on the link and find the one closest to you. Contact info and in most cases web sites are shown.

http://www.huntingretrieverclub.org/Club Map List Alpha by Club.htm

And here is a list of AKC clubs that hold hunt tests in Minnesota:

Central Minnesota Retriever Club

Secretary : Linda Twiss
Address: 18321 Swallow St Nw, Cedar, MN , 55011-9314
Club Type: Specialty

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Duluth Retriever Club

Secretary : Jeff Wiklund
Address: 2701 Branch Street, Duluth, MN , 55812
Email: jwiklund@mnpower.com
Club Type: Specialty

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Labrador Retriever Club of the Twin Cities

Corresponding Secretary : Wendy McCance
Address: 6925 W 83Rd St, Bloomington, MN , 55438-1234
Email: wendy.mccance@so.mnscu.edu
Club Type: Specialty

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Lake Country Retriever Club

Secretary : Lance Lerum
Address: 4580 Seagull Cir Ne, Prior Lake, MN , 55372-1296
Website: www.lcretrieverclub.org
Email: L_Lerum@hotmail.com
Club Type: Specialty

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Minnesota Iron Range Retriever Club

Secretary : Robert Haapala
Address: 1203 21ST St S, Virginia, MN , 55792-3726
Club Type: Specialty

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Mississippi Headwaters Retriever Club (MN)

Secretary : Dale Ladig
Address: 1312 Carr Lake Rd Sw, Bemidji, MN , 56601-8253
Club Type: Specialty

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Northern Flight Hunting Retriever Association

Secretary : Colleen Hoffman
Address: 50466 Bayside Cir, Rush City, MN , 55069-2555
Website: www.nfhra.org
Email: secretary@nfhra.org
Club Type: Specialty

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Rice Creek Hunting Club

Secretary : Margaret Grondahl
Address: 805 6Th St Ne, Staples, MN , 56479-2233
Website: www.rchdc.com?
Email: kmgrondahl@arvig.net
Club Type: Specialty

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Southern Minnesota Hunting Retriever Association

Secretary : Mike Kingland
Address: 8431 Cty Rd 45 S, Owatonna, MN , 55060-0000
Email: mksk1993@bevcomm.net
Club Type: Specialty

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Watopa Retriever Club (f/k/a Tri-State Htg DC)

Secretary : Jim Rickoff
Address: 35517 Skyview Dr., Winona, MN , 55987-9535
Email: jrickoff@ridge-runner.com
Club Type: Specialty

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Good luck to you and your dog.

 

[HuntinDawg]

I strongly recommend that you get Jackie Mertens' DVD "Sound Beginnings." Available online.

I would certainly second that and I would follow that up with the book SmartWork Vol. 1, by Evan Graham. Evan writes in a way that is very easy to understand for the inexperienced dog trainer. Follow the flow chart and don't skip any steps.