Smart lab, too smart....

I've concluded that there are several knowledgeable hunters in this forum giving what I think is pretty darn good advice. Definitely some points I will be sure to remember when I get my next pup.

Here is my delima:
I have a four year old lab that's probably smarter than I am. She has a magnificent drive to hunt unlike I've seen in any other dog. The problem is I think she does it for herself and not so much me. She fails to come when called. I have to get my angry voice before she acts like she's paying attention. When working with her I CAN get her to stay, sit, come heel, lie down or "hide" as I call it. When we get to the field she forgets or rather chooses to ignore her training and me, and do as she pleases.

I'm certain that part of the problem was that when she was a pup she lived with my then fiance at college several hundred miles away who spoiled her to profound measures. I only had limited time with her and when I did get a chance to work with her I'm sure I failed miserably in many ways.

She has such a strong desire to hunt and retrieve that I thought skill and talent would work in my favor. It did, but obedience was what she was and still is lacking. As she is getting older she is starting to get a little better but she is so hard headed and so smart/stubborn.

One of the things I would like to correct other than the come issue, is that she sometimes breaks before we shoot and the ducks are just outside our "shootem" range. Especially when she is really excited. She knows that when we "work" she can't go get the dummy until I give her the command to "Go". But when we hunt she sits on a dog ladder outside the boat.

I'm considering a shock collar for those times she chooses not co "come" and ignore me but how can I keep her from breaking early while on the boat. I guess I could tie her up, but then I would be affraid that she would drown trying to get back on the ladder. But maybe that's what she needs is to get scared a bit. I love hunting with her and she has a maddening desire to hunt. I just would like to tie up a few loose ends. I don't expect her to be perfect. I just want her to get the ducks she sees fall and hunt for the ones she doesn't.

Sorry for the lengthy note, thanks for your replies.

Webfoot