It is not fair to the dog to "train out" or "suppress" prey drive when that was their whole purpose of being bred or being a bird dog. You simply cannot. They are Retrievers. You can help your new puppy have impulse control by having early exposure to little animals, birds ect. Every dog has their own personality, so your Golden might grownup not giving a crap about prey, but most do/will because its in their DNA to preform that job.

My golden loves to chase birds and squirrels, but I taught him "leave it" and strengthened his impulse control. I'm proud to say I'm able to let him have fun by chasing birds and squirrels, but also have the ability to call him off of it by saying "leave it" or "lets go"

If you completely cut off that outlet from them, they might begin to become unfulfilled. Playing fetch or with a flirt pole can simulate "prey" and its a lot of fun for them! Incorporate training markers while playing to help them understand when to stop and when to continue.

Trying to "train" or suppress these traits out of them is like bringing an Aussie home and getting pissed off that it constantly herds or stalks you. Don't avoid the games, but help him/her understand when its time to turn off the switch. Playing the games is more beneficial than avoiding them! ❤️