They also know by which clothes I put on whether I'm going to work (and they sadly walk to their crates, go in and lie down) or we're going out to train (they go to the side door and commence bounding and barking).
They also know many of their toys by name and will bring them on command . . .
One thing that retrievers generally don't do is carry a bumper to somebody else. I was working with a pro trainer one day, he was about 75 yards away, and shouted for me to toss him a bumper. I can't toss ANYTHING 75 yards, so I heeled my older dog, put a bumper in her mouth, and told her, "Take it to Jerry!" and pointed. She trotted out to him, heeled, sat, and delivered to hand. "How'd you get her to do that?" he asked. I didn't train her, she just put two and two together and did it.
That is so funny you say that, my brother has two labs that do the exact same thing. They go bananas when he takes the guns out of the cabinet. Last year, we went skeet shooting and came back to his place reeking of gun powder. The pups looked liked they were just told there was no Santa Clause - deeply dejected and even pouted.
I know the feeling, I have to sneak the gun out the night before because if he sees me take the gun out I wont get any sleep, he will bump me with a wet nose all night and if I put him out he will bark and whine, he is a spoiled bratt
One of the strangest things I've ever seen was how our late Taffy had a specific toy she shook at her "Momma" for different aliments... and how she did it.
She always waited until Miss Emily was sound asleep and then would carefully sort through the toy pile and select the correct talisman.
Carefully pad up to the bed, climb up stealthily, shake the toy, and lie down and gnaw on it.
There was one for colds, one for flu-- another for toothaches... one for feminine ailments, one for joint problems.
If something new developed, she'd pick a toy she had never before used.
We called it "Dog Shaman Mode"-- shaking her Ju-Ju bag at you.