Sending a dog across water for a blind retrieve demands bravery, trust and obedience from the dog and is a requirement if an Open HPR field trials is to be completed. This is part of the Aytee GSPs Level 5 gundog training for german shorthaired pointers

Experienced German Shorthaired Pointer that deliberately ignores blind retrieve instead favouring retrieve it has seen. This shows why older dogs need reminders in their retrieving training.

Older dogs need reminders to keep them sharp. Keep the retrieving work interesting and if you can work dogs together let them watch each other and dont let them anticipate any commands.

Retriever training in the field amongst game scent demands obedience from a dog particularly if other dogs are present. These experienced dogs are working towards field trials.

Beats come in all shapes and sizes and keeping control of your dog and sticking to boundaries is essential if you are asked to work a particular area at a Field Trial.

Quartering fast and wide on open ground is essential if a dog is going to get in touch with game. A wide running style is something an Open Field Trial dog should show but will be able to adjust its pace if it gets amongst thicker cover.

Always test your dog in its work to keep it thinking and keep it sharp.
This retrieve uses the stop whistle on the way out to be sure the dog is obedient.

Be creative in training your dog on unusual retrieves that it might meet once at a field trial.

Hunting in cover requires a more careful approach from the dog and a slower pace. The dog was unsuccessful but it does demonstrate the contrast with earlier videos of open ground hunting.

Try and think of situations that could occur on a field trial and train for these. Here a pigeon is placed up a tree just in reach of the dog and he has to look up.

German Shorthaired Pointer 6 yo pointing and flushing partridge. Experienced dogs like this should be able to flush and be steady from a distance particularly in the case of partridge that would easily be spooked if the handler moved too close. Dora does move a few paces once the birds have taken flight which strictly speaking she should not have done, (should sit to first wingbeat) but she moves to the spot they flushed from, not beyond.

Once your dog has moved forward with training continue to visit exercises keeping them confident and reliable. Here experienced GSPs are left for a longer sit/stay with distractions

Training on Long swims are best done in the summer always looking to building confidence

As dogs progress they need to be able to do more than single retrieves on or over water. This GSP is now a confident swimmer and is ready to take the pressure of directions on water. Dogs are often on the edge of their comfort zone in water so any corrections must be carefully judged.

This experienced dog is practising steadiness when flushing from a distance. Before starting the new season always try and give them the chance to polish their work before getting out with guns.

Many different experiences with birds and guns will be needed to be closely managed before a dog is fully steady out shooting. This dog is having her first shootover experience of a new season having had just half a dozen days out the previous season. Progress carefully to avoid setting them back.

Once working on birds steadiness is paramount so in training always make your dog sit for long enough to be sure that it would have been steady

If more than one dog is hunting you still have to keep control to ensure safety with guns. Two German shorthaired pointers here are pointing and flushing grouse and the dog behind only just remains steady when the lead dog flushes.