Starting your retriever puppy right is vital. I recommend the DVD Training a Retriver Puppy with Bill Hillman:Bill has trained more High Point Derby dogs than any other person in Field Trial History from …..1931 to present

You can find his DVD at www.hawkeyemedia.net

Bill explains his way of starting a retriever puppy, to get him started in the right direction.

This beginning training will create habits and form a relationship that will be the foundation for any retrieving activities whether it’s hunting ducks, chasing a tennis ball in your backyard, or going into competitive events. The most important part of the beginning stages of training is to develop a relationship with the puppy that will create a bond or a partnership. This will be based on respect and kindness. This will create a partnership that will last forever. Good training is not one giant lesson, but small and gentle lessons that mold the puppy to be the model that we want. If you have the idea of going forward into advanced retriever training or competition this information will be an excellent introduction to the basic program of almost any professional gun dog or retriever trainer.

Training a Retriever Puppy – with Bill Hillmann shows consecutive days of training with a chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy which has never been worked before the camera started shooting the sessions. In other words the puppy is being trained in front of the camera. This film does not show a dog that is already trained and merely showing the end result. No other video has ever been produced that shows the actual training of one specific puppy over a period of time, much like a slow motion picture of a flower beginning to bloom. You will see the first time the puppy hears the “sit” command and the first time he walks on a line.