pet gundog question

[ips]

Update
Last couple of days I have done a memory retrieve to start and to finish. Wrapped lead around her got her to sit for a few secs then sent her out. She enjoys this a lot and goes like a bat out of hell.
Now the following may be frowned on but I have let her do usual free play / run ins for ball but every now and then pocketed the ball and got dummy out to try a throw with steadiness as I say prob frowned on but this is how I have trained other aspects by letting her play then learning something and I believe to date it has worked for me. Anyway now as soon as I get dummy out she looks excited and immediately adopts a sort of semi sit semi starting block posture she has no problem letting me place the lead loosely round her and doesn't move when I throw the dummy but she is at this stage like a coiled spring. To me this proves two things 1 she is a very clever girl 2 she enjoys the mental aspect of having to wait and being steady.
Feel free to comment or advise.

[trekmoor]

To what distances are you walking her away from the memory retrieve dummies prior to releasing her ?

Wullie

[ips]

Hi
About fifty yards but could go to 150 before running out of field well paddock really.

[trekmoor]

Do not extend range too quickly. An easy success at 50 yards is better than a failure at 150.

Wullie

[Naj]

Don't kid yourself that she's any cleverer than any other dog. She's learning in context, which dogs are very good at.

Naj

[ips]

Do not extend range too quickly. An easy success at 50 yards is better than a failure at 150.

Wullie

Understood, so fifty ok for now then yes ?

[ips]

Don't kid yourself that she's any cleverer than any other dog. She's learning in context, which dogs are very good at.

Naj

Hi naj
just need to get her sat calm and not in starting blocks but its a start though yes ?

[Naj]

Yes, progress.

[ips]

Ooh that went well
Just got back from field memory retrieve to start which went well good sit to attention and good return. Then about six marked retrieves with lead wrapped loose made sure I had a good sit no creeping or starting block posture before giving out command all went well a couple of dodgy returns and a couple of spat out dummies but I made her pick em up and give properly all be it not sat but wullie said I don't need to always demand a sit delivery. She seems to really enjoy the mental discipline of the wait and is definitely getting steadier all ready. I am quite chuffed with our progress, nothing to compare it with of course but it looked ok to me.
Ps
We have a small caravan site and one caravanner commented to Mrs ips this morning that he had seen me training her last night and said how good me and the dog were..he probably knows diddly but nice comment.

[ips]

Update
Had walk in fields yesterday and dropped dummie three times, sent her back about fifty yds for blind retrieve which she found everytime. Steadiness coming on remarkably well however I have a question. If she breaks and runs in do I bollock her or just ignore. Been doing the throw dummie but pick it up myself job which seems to be doing the trick..
She seems to really enjoy memory and blind retrieves and even seems to enjoy being steady which is a suprise to me after six mths of me allowing run ins.