Gunner to Gundog - Lesson 2

It's a month since his first 'turning me into a gundog' lesson. In that time, Gunner's learned a lot: how to retrieve visible and out of sight objects; how to deliver them straight back to me (most important!); how to search for items that have been hidden (knowing they are the favourite dentastix after dinner probably helps that lesson!); how to 'stay' for increased periods of time; how to catch the ducks (not a good lesson.... according to our trainer) - oh... and how to catch mice.... much to the annoyance of Puddy Cat.
On the down-side, he has also learned how to turn a deaf ear to the whistle when there is something more interesting (sea gulls, pheasants, rabbits, duck) going on....
So, my question to Rory (he the trainer) was "how to control dog going away, encourage him to come back without putting him off coming back". The answer, of course, is simple: "watch your dog and don't let him get in the position of being about to ignore you". Easy: I must make sure he pays more attention to me than anything else in his environment. Practice that for the next few weeks.
"So" said Rory; "What's he like at retrieving?". "Enjoys it" said I. "Sits, waits, stays till told to fetch. Finds things: Brings them back. A little reticent about giving them up, but otherwise fine". "So we'll try a few things then" said Rory. First, we throw a simple dummy. Ask dog to sit. Throw Dummy. Ask dog to stay. Ask dog to fetch. Dog fetches; dog returns enthusiastically (perhaps a little too enthusiastically) and gives up dummy. Easy.
Try next step. Dog on lead. Walk dog 100 yds. Drop Dummy. Turn and walk dog back 100 yds. Remove lead. Dog sits. Tell Dog to fetch. Dog zaps off and fetches. Returns instantly. Perhaps a little too enthusiastically. Good Dog. Dog on lead. Walk back 50 yds. Turn and throw dummy. Dog still on lead. Continue walking. After 200 yds let dog off lead. Tell dog to sit. Tell dog to Fetch. Dog fetches instantly. Returns with dummy - still v. enthusiastic.
Next lesson. Let dog off lead. Tell dog to sit. Throw dummy over big ditch. Tell dog to fetch. Dog instantly fetches, returns enthusiastically. Gives up dummy. Says 'can we do that again'. Next lesson. Tell dog to sit and stay. Throw dummy across big ditch and into dense undergrowth other side. Send dog to fetch. Dog goes off; searches; wags tail a lot; keeps looking; keeps looking; keeps wagging; gets encouragement from him the trainer; finds dummy; races back over big ditch and gives up dummy! "OK " says the trainer; "We've found out what he's naturally good at" adding that he's never seen a young spaniel quite so good at retrieving so soon in his training. What a stunner Gunner is!
So, for the next couple of weeks we are to worry less about the occasional running off (I just need to be more vigilant and stop him before he goes) and we've to take the retrieving lesson to the next steps ---- tell dog to sit; throw dummy over his head; wait a while; send dog to fetch. Following that: tell dog to sit: throw several items around and over his head. Occasionally fetch them myself; occasionally tell him to fetch. Eventually, throw items to left and right and start sending him off to either left or right. Any problems or great success and need to know next step? Contact He the Trainer! Easy peasy.
Meanwhile, the piggies are still playing 'tag' every morning to keep themselves in trim and enjoying their afternoon tea of apples - of which we have a glut - from the orchard every afternoon. And, they continue to grow..... Furthermore I've decided they are less fond of females than males --- me they push around, him they don't. Is it because I give them apples and other treats so they think I'm a pushover?????