Jumping & Retrieving

At this level, we are now looking to develop your dog’s confidence and ability when jumping and retrieving over obstacles.

You will begin to build up the height that your dog can comfortably jump while still maintaining a confident, controlled retrieve. Remember that quality is more important than height, so only increase the challenge when your dog is completing the exercise confidently and correctly.

As your dog progresses, start introducing different obstacles and environments. This helps your dog learn that the command remains the same, regardless of the obstacle or surroundings.

Always ensure your dog is physically ready and confident before increasing the height or difficulty. Build this gradually, reward the correct behaviour and avoid rushing ahead.

The aim is to create a dog that sees an obstacle as part of the job and confidently completes the retrieve, rather than a dog that simply jumps because they are excited.

As with all gundog training, take your time, build success step by step and continue to develop the trust and teamwork between you and your dog.