How to teach a single marked retrieve

Why it matters

Marking, watching where something falls and remembering the spot, underpins almost every retrieve a gundog will ever do. A single, simple mark in short grass is where it all starts.

Set up

• Have the dog sit beside you, on lead if steadiness is not yet solid.
• Choose short, easy to see grass for the first attempts.

Run the drill

1. 1Throw the dummy a short distance while the dog watches closely.
2. 2Pause for a moment of steadiness, then send the dog with a clear command.
3. 3Praise a direct, confident retrieve and repeat with a fresh throw.

Make it harder

• Increase the distance of the throw a little at a time.
• Throw into slightly longer grass to test the mark under mild cover.
• Add a short pause before sending so the dog holds the picture in its head.

Common mistakes

• Sending the dog before it has properly marked the fall: wait for it to settle its eyes on the spot first.
• Always throwing from the same spot: vary your position so the dog learns to mark the dummy, not the thrower.
• Making the first marks too difficult: keep early throws short and visible so the dog builds confidence.