Polishing the Delivery to Hand

A correct delivery to hand is one of the most important parts of retrieving. A retrieve is not complete when your dog picks up the dummy — it is complete when your dog returns calmly and places the dummy into your hand.

A reliable delivery makes future training much easier, whether you are working on marked retrieves, memories, directional work or more advanced gundog exercises. It also builds good habits and prevents your dog learning that dropping the dummy or keeping hold of it is acceptable.

If your dog is struggling with delivery to hand, don't rush ahead with more advanced retrieves. Always go back to the foundations and revisit the puppy hold if needed. These early exercises teach your dog the correct behaviour and allow you to rebuild confidence in a simple, controlled way.

The tutorials in this section will show you some exercises you can use to polish your dog's delivery and improve consistency. Work through them calmly and remember that small improvements, built over time, create reliable results.

Focus on rewarding the behaviour you want — a calm return, a secure hold, and a delivery directly into your hand.

As always, less is more. Go back to the foundations when needed, build confidence, and create a retrieve your dog is proud to complete.