You can't just take any dog on a shoot. It needs basic training first. Obedience, obviously, but also retrieving is quite specialised for shoots. They need to learn distance control so that they can be guided onto runners or birds that have gone down in awkward places. They need to learn to progress from canvas dummies, to cold game, then to warm game - it is not always natural. I have given Sandy and Steve information and books on training their Labs for this work. There are numerous books on the market, and websites too, but I would recommend anyone wanting to work their dogs to find a local gundog trainer who specializes in whichever group their breed belongs to - eg retrievers, spaniels, HPRs, pointers & setters.