Scott I run field trials all over Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Washington State. I know a lot of people, pros, amateurs and hunt test - field trial gun dog clubs in Washington, if you PM me I can give you some names and phone numbers of people who would be happy to help you. I don't know if Mike Lardy's video series on dog training has been mentioned, but it is a very good compliment to to training you might receive from an amatuer training group.
The do-it-yourself training works if you have help from knowledgeable amateurs, it's kind of hard to pick up the nuances and timing out of a book. You should also go to at least one AKC or NAHRA Hunt Test, I'll give you places and dates for trials or test in your area.
Hunt Test are cool and have been really good in that the average retriever out there hunting is much better trained than they were in the old days. I remember guys taking their Lab out duck hunting thinking that all they needed were the retrieving genes and a few bumpers thrown in the off season. Then their dogs are swimming out and picking up decoys instead of ducks, guys are throwing rocks or dirt clods out trying to get the dog to retrieve before they finally have to wade out with the dog to the duck.
Now Thanks to hunt test and the year round training it encourages, it is common to see well behaved retrievers out in the field who are steady, mark well at hunting distances and handle well enough to pick up a typical hunting blind retrieve. Then you get hooked on the whole dog training, trialing thing and it takes over your life. Oh well. BTW if you go to a Field Trial, keep in mind that that sport has evolved way beyond typical hunting into a highly competitive, unrealistically long form of retrieving ducks. I love them because of the challenge and contrary to some conventional wisdom, I believe field trial dogs make very good hunting companions, but for the average hunter Hunt test are the way to go.
Sorry for the long post.
John
