I have been training a lab puppy ~5 months old for about a month now just obedience, fetching, swimming, shooting my shotgun around her. I believe she is a lab/pit mix (95%) but I got her on unexpectedly so I can't be for sure. She has done great at everything so far so I am pretty excited.

I have a couple questions I would like to get some opinions on. First, she is only 30 pounds now and I am starting to worry she is only going to make it to probably 40 pounds. What are yall's opinion arounds a dog that small doing a lot of water retrieves (she likes to swim and seems good at it). I also was wondering how I could introduce her to some fresh dead game since it is not close to any season... She likes to retrieve the dummie but I don't want her first time feeling out a dead bird (or still sorta alive) on the first morning of the season.

Spaniels are small and I have never heard of the having issues swimming and retrieving.

Some people on here might have some birds for sale or you could check craigslist

Location?

Houston. Sorry should have specified.

Do not be concerned about your dog's size. I have seen lots of spaniels and small labs go with big motors on land and water. I suggest getting connected with a retriever club in your area. They will have sources for birds and other training needs. If you are resourceful, you can also trap or shoot pigeons. The common pigeon is one of only a few birds that are not protected and fair game year around. Another one that is becoming more prevalent is the Eurasian collared dove.

If you get some live pigeons, you can pull the flight feathers to really make your dog birdie.

I've seen some Brittany's retrieve ducks and geese. So size shouldn't matter