My gsp is one year old and is a great companion but can be very stubborn. I put him through started gun dog training ($$$$$) he follows commands well but I can't ge him to want geese or ducks... He will swim next to me while I wade out to get them but won't go on his own. And when he sees what it is he won't retrieve. If I throw a pheasant in water or pigeon in water he will get no problem. How do I turn onto waterfowl scent?

I would follow-up with the trainer on what method he used for FF. You may also get a resource to follow like Evan Graham Smartfetch (www.gundogsupply.com/smfebyevgr.html), or TriTronics Retriever Training (www.amazon.com/Tri-Tronics-Retriever-Training-Book/dp/B001BAGOAI/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1).  That way you understand the concepts, and can maintain consistency (utmost important).  I used TriTronics, but if I had to do it over again, I would probably steer toward Smartfetch.  If your trainer can point you to a resource, that would be best to maintain consistency.

Force-Fetch training gives the handler a tool (ear-pinch) to use in just such a situation (when a dog won't retrieve a bird). Sadie moved slowly through FF - from the table, holding a dummy, to moving on the table to get to the dummy, to picking the dummy up off the table, to moving greater, and greater distances, and finally to enthusiastically running to the dummy at distance (each took days, training twice a day for an hour each to get consistent at).   Like I mentioned, I still have to correct her, but I don't need an ear-pinch any more - just a "No! Fetch!", and she picks the bird up and retrieves to hand. (see video at www.shorthairs.net/GSPForum/tabid/220/forumid/22/postid/99368/view/topic/Default.aspx).

Your pup gets it, if he will hold the bird, and walk around until you tell him to release.  You just need to find the right way to enforce the retrieve.  If the dog is conditioned properly to the collar, this might be it (caution emphasized here).  This stage took the longest for me to get her through.   

Be aware, that there are a lot of factors here, and too much/too little can lead to regression.  Consistency, and patience is key, along with finding the right motivation (and "level" of motivation), be it ear-pinch, or collar (my buddy uses the buckle of the collar for the pinch).

You have a started dog that is young.  There is still a lot of work that needs to be done.  He has a great start, though if he is carrying around a duck at a year old!

Good Luck!

Thought I would post some links to online articles that I found helpful.

www.gundogsonline.com/Article/Force-Fetch-Issues-Page1.htm

www.dobbsdogs.com/library/retrievers/rjpart1.html

AND...  My post on my FF troubles...

www.shorthairs.net/GSPForum/tabid/220/forumid/7/postid/87275/view/topic/Default.aspx

...and success...

www.shorthairs.net/GSPForum/tabid/220/forumid/7/tpage/2/view/Topic/postid/94509/Default.aspx

Although, I have to apologize, I pulled-down some of the videos in the last posts from my Facebook Page - so they probably are not there any more.

Definitely get a book on the topic. Sounds like he is started on FF, but not through it. Getting the dog through FF may take months. Chances are he is not being a "stuborn lil turd", but not understanding what you want him to do, and he may even think you are punishing him for picking up the toy/bumper.

When I started with Sadie, she stopped picking up things entirely - let alone retrieving. I did it with a piece of plastic pipe wrapped in twine, and canvas bumpers. I avoided using toys so that I could still play-retrieve with her (I did this with Tennis Balls). That way, I could give her a release during the process, and she could chase balls for a while. Expecting your dog to "Fetch" fully may be a stretch. You may need to back up to "Hold" for a little, then progress from there.

Again, be careful not to push it too much, nor can you be inconsistent with it or he will continue to regress. Get a book on it, or talk with your trainer. Understand that Force-Fetch breaks the dog's will to do what IT wants, for what you want them to do. It can be a painful process for the handler, if you are not used to it. My recommendation is to be patient with the dog, and remove emotion from the process. The lighter the pressure you can use to get the dog to do what you want, and teach the dog, the better (this from experience), especially with a GSP due to their temper.

Agree to a point, but also FF is something that the handler must enforce (IMO), so the trainer may have started your pup, but it is up to you to carry it on.  All it means is that the dog is probably perfect in the fields, and with the trainer where he was started.  He doesn't realize he has to follow that with you, let alone with "ducks in the pond", so to speak.  Best to get a resource, Like PB and I have suggested, and run through it with your dog.  The alternatives are either to allow the dog to run as is, and not have high expectations, or have your trainer hunt with you every time to run your dog.  Neither are acceptable in my mind (and I imagine your own...).

Patience, and consistency will get the dog through.  I would not stress about it as long as the dog is making progress (any progress) toward the goal.  I would still get SmartFetch by Evan Graham, if only to compare what you and your trainer are doing to an extremely well documented method of FF.  You may get some ideas on how to encourage your dog through the process.

One other thing to consider:  having gone through FF for the first time with Sadie, I don't know how a trainer can "complete" it.  I think a trainer would have had the same issues with Sadie as you are having with your dog.  I have read elsewhere that issues can arise because owners expect results from trainers, where patience is actually required during the process.  The result is jumping to more pressure in an attempt to get results, where less pressure, and more time is actually required.  Dog regresses when they are over-pressured (which sounds like what is happening due to your other posts, duckslayer).  Right thing to do may be to re-start at "Hold", and make sure the dog gets the concepts before moving back to an ear-pinch, especially if the dog is shying-away from the object when pressure is applied.  PB is right - dog is confused, and doesn't know what to do when pressure is applied.

double