I met with a bloke who trials and has judged a few open trials recently, I went round his place for the 2nd time with my young springer Ted who's just gone 6 months.
I set him off to hunt and he just ran about with his head up. The bloke whos me by giving him any hand signals whilst quartering he keeps looking up at me and not getting his nose down.
Also on retrieves he is staring at me to give him the signal to go, rather than keeping his eyes firmly focused on the item and where it has landed.
Both big no no's. WE have been practicing being sent for retrives without any signal apart from verbal and I've been giving very little hand signal whilst hunting, and getting myself down low to get his nose down.
So far the advice seems to be working
I also get frequent help and advice over messenger. All for the grand total of £0 ... although think I better get him some nice bottles in for xmas

there's some top people out there in the dog world.