Water work is where a Labrador Retriever begins to reveal the qualities that have made the breed one of the world’s premier retrieving dogs. From a young age, our dogs are introduced to water in a positive, confidence-building environment where enthusiasm is encouraged and every retrieve strengthens their natural instincts. We focus on developing calm entries, confident swimming, reliable returns, and a genuine love for the work rather than rushing through the training process.
At Childress Creek Kennels, water training isn’t confined to a backyard pond—it prepares our dogs for real hunting situations. As their skills progress, they retrieve from ponds, lakes, rivers, and flooded timber while learning to navigate decoys, changing water depths, currents, and natural obstacles. Every session builds trust, confidence, and experience so that when opening day arrives, our Labradors are prepared to perform in the field just as they have throughout their training.