Introducing…

[Dooglydog]

I went to visit my future dog today. He was born may last year, and will come home sometime this summer.

he is bloody gorgeous, and just so scrumptious. I’ve never had a Labrador, but I think I’m converted 😂 he’s a working line lab.

isn’t he just beautiful.

He's absolutely gorgeous. Lovely colour. Im not surprised you adore him. Labs are the best breed!

I have two working Labs too, a 5 year old and his 5 month old brother. My pup sits and stays reliably, his heel work and retrieves are coming along nicely. We've been going to gundog classes since now he was 12 weeks.

It sounds like you've done your due diligence and I understand your reasons for wanting an older pup. But I share the concerns of previous posters. Theres no good reason to wait until 7 months and I'd be sceptical of any trainer who advocates this. By 10 months, I'd expect a pretty solid recall especially if it's been professionally trained.

Are you getting him in Scotland OP? I know one or 2 trainers who do partially trained labradors as pets as well as training proper gun dogs and one in particular who is excellent. Really excellent.
He wont give a dog to an owner unless he is totally satisfied you’re going to work well with the dog. And he doesn’t rush them either.

I really rate them as an outfit - and if you’re getting your gorgeous dog from someone similar, you’ll all be very happy.

Yes I am getting him in Scotland. The place is near Perth.

Brilliant, I know who you mean - you’ll be more than fine and get any amount of support from them if you feel you need it after you collect your labrador. They really care about their dogs.

Update!

We’re around a month now from him coming home. I’m excited, but definitely in that frustrated, constantly thinking about him coming home now, autism/adhd ftw.

a couple weeks ago my older dog and him met, and hopefully gonna meet again next week.

his training his coming along brilliantly, he is a couple weeks over a year old (so teenage stage), but oh my god, he is just so willing to do it for you.

He's beautiful. It's a good sign that you felt he was definitely the one for you. I think that's important and a good sign he's right for you. The heart wants what it wants. From the photos it looks like he gets on well with your other dog too.
I have a 9 month old lab who's my first dog (and a complete handful!). So I'm not qualified to give advice. However I'm writing following in hope that it may be helpful to you. You've likely already considered all of this and sorry if you have. But just in-case helpful...

Was he socialised as a young puppy so that he's familiar with and accepts household noises, traffic, people of all ages etc? Dogs who've missed out on that type of early socialisation will likely be fearful of some every day situations which could cause more problems for you than a puppy would. Is he living in kennels or in a house? He's likely to be calm and confident in the environment he's been raised in and is used to but it's worth trying to ensure he's also calm and confident in the environments you need him to be before you bring him home too (espescially if he's been born and raised living in kennels). Your trainer may be able to help with this or may be already? In some of the the photos, his ears are back which can be a sign of overstimulation / apprehension or mild fear. Labs have outgoing, friendly natures which can disguise some trepidation and nervousness, espescially if they're well trained and following a command. But it's something to look out for and assess for yourself.
When I brought my puppy home he showed frequent signs of stress - whale eyes, furrowed brow, submissive rolling - which I wasn't experienced enough to correctly interpret alongside his happy, outgoing, confident friendly, nature. (You likely are experienced enough to unpick this as he's not your first dog).
As you know, the dream of a dog is often different from reality. You've got plenty of time to dream of how he'll be which could make any differences harder when they arise. Although the people you're getting him from say they will swap him if it doesn't work out, by that time you'll of course feel attached to him (as it sounds like you already are) so it won't be that straightforward. You'll also likely feel dome social pressure to persevere espescially if people around you know how much you wanted him (as did people around me). My dog's breeder made me promise when I collected him that if it didn't work out I would never rehome him but would return him to her for a full refund (a sign of a good breeder). I promised and I meant it. But the reality is I love him and he's a true member of my family. My best friend. No matter how much trouble he causes me (and believe me, he does!) I wouldn't dream of ever returning him. He's here to stay. I'm about as likely to win £100,000,000 on the lottery as I am to return him.
I really hope everything works out for you. I suppose, for what it's worth, my advice would be (if you havent already), on your next visit, try to spend time with him in environment much like your own, and in places like where you'll walk him, around household noises, vehicles, people of all ages etc. to see how he'll be when you get him home. If you notice any issues ask your trainer for help with them. Very best wishes and best of luck. I hope he becomes your dream dog. He's really beautiful and looks lovely.

I'd say also keep in mind the difference between obedience training and every day manners. My dog will willingly sit, stay, recall, leave food etc when I'm interacting with him in training mode and there are few distractions (espescially for food). Put him in a busy room and it's a very diffent story. Suddenly he doesn't listen and the only rule he lives by is his to follow his own impulses, whether that's for food, jumping, mischief, stealing etc. So I'd say how a dog behaves when your not interacting with him and / or around distractions will be just as important (and often more so) than his willingness to follow commands when he has your undivided attention in a more distraction free environment.
All that said, you know him best, I hope you trust and follow your heart. Sounds like he's the one for you and I truly wish you (and him) every happiness together. Very best wishes!