Margaret Cotton wrote: 
> I notice the delivery to hand is a bit of a problem at our tests. 
> Can you expound on this and ideas to correct so I can use it to help > them along please Cj. 
> 
> Ta 
> Margaret 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
There are as many variations in the final seconds of a retrieve as there are dogs and people practicing the retrieve. It's much easier to diagnose and prescribe if you can see the person and the dog working together. 
Suggestions for self-diagnosis: 
 
Do not stare at the dog during the retrieve (I know it's difficult, work at it) but keep eye contact out of the mix. Your body language is important here and you have to remain standing in a relaxed but attentive posture. If need be you can stand at a 90 degree angle to the dog's line of approach so the dog is coming to you from your right or left side. 
 
The important thing in the retrieve is the dog that's coming to you, not the thing the dog is carrying. Ignore what's in the dog's mouth and plan to touch the dog with your hand as it reaches you. This means don't compete with the dog for the object retrieved! 
 
If hesitation occurs as the dog comes within a meter or so crouch down and hold your hands out to the side in a welcoming gesture. Smile but don't stare at the dog's face (no eye contact). 
 
If the dog is going to drop the dummy turn away from the dog and walk slowly until the dog catches up with you, this solves a lot of hesitation problems where the dog really doesn't want to release the dummy. 
 
In many cases where force fetching by the book has been employed dogs will drop the tail and curl it up between their hind legs. This dog has to be repaired with a tennis ball before any kind of retrieve work is contemplated. 
 
Tell me more about what happens during the deliveries that are problematic. Be detailed about what both the dog and the handler do before the problem starts and during the problem. 
Cj