Chomp at the bit
My young springer has started to ‘chomp’ on her retrieves. What can I do?
Fran says: It may be that you have introduced game too soon and she is finding it all a bit too exciting and the chomp is the ‘release valve’. If your dog is fine on canvas dummies, put some cold game inside an old pair of tights and try her with that. Go back to the beginning and do some retrieves on lead. As soon as she picks it up bring her back, stroke her and take it from her. Keep adrenaline levels low. When she’s retrieving wrapped game nicely unwrap it and do some low-key retrieves on lead.