On the ESPN site, there is a human who thinks that he knows all about dogs. He "trains" them how to hunt. Hate to tell you, but we dogs have been hunting for longer than Humans. . . I think that we can really teach you. The article is Coaching the Fundamentals .

In this article, he references the core skills of a retriever:

1. Obedience
2. Steadiness
3. Marking
4. Delivery
5. Handling (Casting)
6. Lining

I don't know about all of these skills but I, as a boy dog, have number 3 perfected. Just ask any pole or plant in our yard.