Small Retrieves at Five Months old.

Pontus is now five and a half months old and I have practiced the controlled retrieve, so he is solid in his delivery and completely certain of what to do with a dummy: deliver nicely in exchange of a treat.

We have moved outside now and Pontus loves to perform:

Pontus in full flow delivering a puppy dummy.

I sit him down and make him hold the dummy while I walk a short distance (20 metres) away. Once he has sat nicely I call him.

Waiting to be called, holding the dummy.

When called, Pontus sets off with the dummy.

Softly holding the dummy while in full flow.

Looking up at my face as he approaches.

Sitting down, looking at me.

Holding the dummy, waiting for me to take it.

And finally the titbit as reward for delivering.

It is time to practice on cold game. All the training is about putting one building block on top of the previous, solid one. Here Pontus is holding a little cold partridge. It’s different to a dummy, but he is good at holding and gets used to it quickly.

Pontus sitting nicely holding a partridge.

I find it important to be able to clap him all over, also under his jaw, while he holds the bird. This is so that he doesn’t spit out too early just because my hand is near the bird. If a bird is still lively you can lose it if the dog spits out too early.

It’s important to be able to clap him while he holds.

It is also a good discipline to be able to walk the dog to heel while it is holding a bird.

Pontus walking to heel, holding the bird.

Pontus sitting, holding and waiting with a partridge.

Delivering partridge.

Sitting down to present the bird for delivery.

That’s us for now. I also “hunt” him, but we have not yet had any real points. I am not seeking places with much game, it’s still too early.

Pontus has one more job: he still models our dog beds: