Command and control

I have bought a half-trained springer spaniel bitch. When retrieving she will go left and right but not back. Any tips you have to help me train her to move back would be welcome.

Fran says: Memory retrieves are the best way to start training the ‘go back’ command.

So, put your dog on the lead, drop a dummy and ensure it sees it. Then walk the dog away from the dummy a reasonable distance, sit it facing you with its back to the dummy, raise an arm and with a pushing motion from your arm, give the command “Go back”. The dog will head for the dummy. Repeat the command while the dog is on the out run.

Use a raised arm and pushing motion with the ‘go back’ command