Retrieving is the bread and butter of gundog work.
When working in the field, all breeds - retrievers, hunting retrievers (aka spaniels) and HPRs - should be able to watch game after it’s shot, run out on cue to find and collect it, before bringing it straight back and relinquishing it so that we can guarantee that the game ends up as part of a healthy, nutritious meal.
For most of our gundogs the retrieve pattern is a collection of natural, raw skills. The natural elements to look for in your dog are:
- The desire to grab things
- The proud strut
- The rubbing up against you while holding things to seek approval and reinforcement for the behaviour
- The general attitude of ‘mine’
The retrieve occurs towards the end of the hunting chain and has been modified from the natural basic instincts of carry and consumption.
In the wild, these skills were developed so that the pack would return to the den with food for the pups. We now want them to return the dummies and game back to us.
In this blog, we will look at how to get started with the retrieve, including the different types of retrieve, why it's beneficial to teach pet gundogs to retrieve, what we want from the retrieve and an exercise you can use to get started.
The different types of retrieve
There are three types of retrieves that you will encounter in gundog training. If you are at the start of your gundog training journey, it is important that you understand the jargon often used and have a good idea of how your retrieve training will progress and be applied to real-life scenarios.
Marked retrieves
A marked retrieve is the first stage. It is what we will focus on in this article about getting started with your retrieve.
It is where the dog sees the retrieve thrown, or placed out, and they are sent for it while still focused on the article.
The objective is that the dog stays focused on the area of fall, goes straight to the location, collects the article, and comes straight back.
Memory retrieves
Memory retrieves are very similar to a mark as the dog will watch an article being thrown out or placed out, but there is usually a delay before the dog is sent for it.
The idea is to help build their confidence and bridge the gap between a mark and a blind retrieve. The memory retrieve also enables us to set up multiple retrieves to teach the dog that we want them to retrieve a particular dummy even when others are present on the ground.
In a shooting context too, a peg or picking up dog might not be sent to retrieve game until the end of a drive. In this situation, they will need to remember where they saw game fall. In a competition context, the test might be a simple marked retrieve but if other dogs fail to find, you could be asked to send your dog after quite a delay.
Blind retrieves
A blind retrieve is one where the article is already placed out, or something they did not see fall. Essentially, the dog is not aware of its location. The dog relies on their handler to point them in the right direction and they should run a straight line to the area or until the handler stops and directs them left, right or back. A blind retrieve also usually incorporates some hunting and holding an area.
In a shooting context, you might need to send your dog on a runner which your dog might have seen fall but has moved, or a Gun might tell you about something which still needs retrieving that you or your dog didn’t see. Blinds are very common in tests as a whole range of scenarios can be simulated and they are a great way to test and assess the dog and handler’s relationship and the dog’s capabilities.
Why teaching pet gundogs to retrieve can help their behaviour
When we look at the practical applications of marked, memory and blind retrieves they are mostly related to a shooting context. After all, that is what our gundogs have been bred for.
However, many gundog-breed owners do not wish to work their dog in the field or participate in working tests or trials.
When we teach our dogs to fetch and return items gently and efficiently, we harness their natural retrieving instincts.
If your pet gundog does not have a suitable outlet for these retrieving desires, you might have noticed their intense passion for picking up an array of household items.
While occasionally comical, this can easily become a daily frustration. Especially if your pet gundog is carrying your expensive shoes off to their bed to ‘kill’ and ‘consume’ them.
Teaching gundogs to retrieve on cue and to learn that not everything is theirs to retrieve can significantly reduce this activity in the house.
Even if they persist in carrying, if you have taught them to deliver to hand, instead of destroying things, they should learn that it is more valuable to share their new treasure with you.
I just want to note here that the aim is not to teach our pet gundogs to retrieve ball, after ball, after ball.
Gundogs were bred to work all day, week in, week out, during the shooting season. Some people think that throwing endless numbers of balls for their pet gundog to retrieve in the park will tire them out. In reality, your dog will only get fitter, and you will soon create a “wired”, adrenaline-filled, ball-obsessed dog.
Formal retrieving will encourage them to use their brains, as well as their natural instincts, and this will help to mentally wear them out.
What we want from a retrieve
When you break down a fully trained and finished retrieve, you will see that there are a lot of components.
It is useful to have a picture in your mind so you know where your training is headed long-term and can put some good building blocks in place.
Some of the retrieve chain will come naturally to your dog, and you will want to reward the areas that your dog already has some competence in while focusing on the others that may need to be taught.
Look at the following list and identify what your dog can already do and what areas you will need to spend time on later:
- Remain under control while the article is thrown
- Mark where the article has landed
- Decide how best to pick up the article
- Pick up without hesitation and without damaging the article, with a clean grip that will endure through the other tasks
- Carry it without dropping or crushing
- Move at speed and with purpose while holding
- Negotiate obstacles while holding
- Recognise the location for delivery
- Move into the sit whilst holding (unless you just want your dog to stand)
- To sit/stand holding the dummy, waiting for the cue to ‘give’
- Give up the dummy on request
If you have just started to teach your gundog the retrieve, then the requirements of a basic retrieve pattern are to run out with enthusiasm, collect an article, return to within 1m of you with it, relinquish at this point and then be ready to go again. There are no requirements for steadiness or hand delivery at this point.
This is a great starting point because if your dog does not bring anything back to you, then there is really no point in worrying about the other fiddly bits.
The idea we must encourage in your dog’s mind is that the quicker they get the article back to you, the quicker the game begins. The hand delivery and steadiness can then be worked on as a separate exercise alongside these games.
Extra considerations if you are teaching your puppy to retrieve
If you are working with a puppy, then you need to consider the type of article you begin training with.
Ideally, formal retrieve training on dummies should not begin until after 6 months of age, as your puppy’s teeth have not settled down until then.
If your puppy is still teething it could be that they have a sore mouth and delicate gums. Asking them to try and pick up and carry standard 1lb green dummies is a big ask. If they are in any pain or discomfort this could be linked to the retrieve process which is the last thing you want.
Instead, choose something that is light and soft and will encourage your puppy to pick up the item. Small rabbit dummies are often great for this and will also encourage them to keep hold when in your space. Small fluffy paint rollers are also good. Or you could use the toy pheasant- and duck-shaped toys you find in lots of pet shops.
Be sure to only use these articles only for the retrieve games and do not let your puppy have free access to them.
The idea is that these articles create a cue for the retrieve pattern you are teaching so any deviation from this, e.g. them playing with or chewing the toys, can cause some difficulty in your training.
Two Toy game
You will need two identical articles for this game, and your dog. At this stage, we are just aiming to teach them to run out, pick up and return the item to us. You do not need to worry about steadiness or delivery to hand as these will come later.
If you already have a hand delivery with your dog, do not try to change it for this game. Remember that this exercise is designed for young dogs with little or no experience to help them develop a really powerful retrieve.
Step one
Introduce your dog to your chosen articles. Make sure these are likely to trigger interest and /or value with your dog, they can be whatever ticks their box. Choose a restricted space with enough distance that you can throw the articles safely from side to side but not too much space that your dog can run around for ages.
Step two
Have both identical articles in your hands.
Step three
Make one of the articles come alive in your hand by dragging it along the floor in front of you like a wild animal trying to escape. The more animation you have, the more interest your dog will give the article. Once your dog is focused, throw the article away from you, going across your body to the side. E.g. if it’s in your right hand, throw it across your body out to the left. Say ‘Get It’ before you let go.
Step four
As your dog captures this article make sure you have your second one ready and immediately make this one go live again. As your dog runs back towards you and comes into space, click, keeping your toy alive, at this point your dog is likely to drop theirs, and you immediately throw yours only this time you throw out to the right.
Step five
If your dog keeps hold of their article just keep the animation going in yours until they drop theirs, then throw yours.
Step six
If your dog drops earlier than at your feet don’t worry, throw yours away and run and pick up the one that they have dropped and carry on the game.
Step seven
Click while the dummy is still in your dog’s mouth, gradually encouraging your dog through the game to drop at your feet.
Step eight
When the dog is reliably dropping at your feet, change the click timing to when your dog is holding the article and waiting in front of you so that the click triggers the drop.
Step nine
Remember that the objective of this game is to have fun as well as building value in the pattern of retrieve.
If you have a puppy or young dog and would like to get started with gundog training, our puppy and foundation gundog classes cover the two toy games as well as other fun exercises which will teach your gundog the essential behaviours to mould them into well-behaved pets and capable working dogs.
For our puppy gundog classes (dogs 8 months and under) click here.
For our foundation gundog classes (dogs new to gundog training over 8 months old) click here.
📸 Photographs 3, 4, 5 and 6 credit Alice Loder Photography