Totally agree with you Welsh all Black, as I keep Collie Grey's myself ...... But as a youngster's of 8 month I would also suggest "Little and often" in the training dept. Don't do too much in one go, don't want to sour or sicken pup's during training session's. And alway's try and finish on a high point ! !
Say if you are doing a bit on retrieving keep it to 2 or 3 max a couple of time's a week, and don't go down the road of thought that because they have carried the dummy in fautless 3 time's that I will give the pup another. You never know something could happen on that 4th retrieve that