Hi I was in your position not so long ago my lad is now 17 month and I did what you done re the books and DVDs The best bit of advice I would say take your time be patient and don't move onto something new until you have nailed the exercise you are doing and you have proofed it at a number of different places with different distractions. I joined a retreiver club went to the working tests then the trials. I started with the basics straight away in cooperating little bits at every oppoturnity no pressure though all fun no negatives. You will see your dog come on and gauge what he is and isn
