STEPPING IT UP
Obviously you will not be working on hard surface tracks when out in the shooting field, so once your dog has fully grasped the exercise you can move on to more testing ground. However, you will still have to give some thought as to making the transition as easy as possible. If possible, try to find a field with a fence line that runs into a corner, as this will give the dog a guide and a boundary to follow. Repeat your exercise as you did on the track; by putting the dummy in the corner of the fence it gives the dog a target area and this helps to increase its confidence. You can then gradually move the dog away from the fence line into the open field but, at the same time, keeping the dummy in the same place. You should find that by repetition of the verbal and visible command the dog will soon learn that when he hears and sees the instructions he needs to turn about and find a retrieve.