Robert Daws - any information on his training methods? Or will I have to email him and find out.

Not heard of him.

Balswad Gundogs kennels..

I've emailed him, you can find him on UK gundog - they have a directory of trainers. RR referred him to me as he is in my area.

nice cheap 'reward' on the making there

You may think that i'm making this up but I think I saw this Robert Daws guy last week. I parked my car where I normally park it when I visit Moorgreen (part of the Eastwood area) and there were 2 identical black Mitsu L200's parked. As I got out 2 blokes, one with a springer, came back and he had obviously had a lesson from the other guy.

His kennel name is interesting as it's Daws Lab backwards!

Yes, makes perfect sense. Thank you.

Interesting fact Leanne - how bored were you to work that out Hahaa

Did the other guy look happy? I want to come away looking happy

I have it - I have the solution to all my problems - she comes in a tri coloured form and is totally oblivious to half the stuff I'm trying to teach Louie.

I asked Sadie to touch my hand - bear in Sadie knows very little tricks - she's not needed them really. She was asleep so I don't have to worry about her getting confused.. Louie was like I can do that - touched my hand. I then thought - hmmm curious - so I picked up some napkins - in the packet still - different texture, "Sadie hold" - again all I got was a snore, and I offered them to Louie and he held them and walked proudly with them..then brought them to hand.

I have a solution - take a sleeping Sadie everywhere with me and Louie will do as he is asked!

Of course - I'm still working on basics - I just wanted to test the theory out..

Right - of a list taken from Lana Mitchell's book "Clicked retriever" Louie can do the ones in red.

He finds all the bits I'm trying to work on as tedious as I do - I can't make it fun! He just doesn't seem to have any enthusiasm for it..

Is there any games I can play whilst teaching him this - I did try playing fetch in the garden and clicking the bits I wanted - but it wasn't in a controlled environment and he was enjoying it.

Should I stop and go back to it in a couple of days - we've been going over the touch a few times each day.

Hmmm, considering his genetics are mainly retriever based then i'm surprised he doesnt have much enthusiasm. He just probably thinks it's a bit of a chore and if you want it, go fetch the darn thing yourself! As you've noticed, Flynn cannot contain himself where retrieving is concerned and it's just as difficult trying to manage over enthusiasm as it is under enthusiasm!

What about taking him out with another dog who will fetch things but not letting Louie have a go? Or have a game with the dummy yourself, making it look like you're having a really good time but only allowing Louie to watch? Just thinking of ways to build his frustration which might build up his motivation.

What exactly are you having problems with? Is it retrieving to hand? What about throwing the dummy on the floor and when he picks it up having a run round engaging him to chase you with it in his mouth (not the other way round) and then try and take the dummy from him?

We'll have to have another session so we can try and come up with something that works for Louie.