Water retrieve

A hunting spaniel is a versatile dog.  This includes retrieving from water.  A hunting spaniel is not necessarily a duck dog (although the Boykin aficionados would disagree), but any hunting spaniel should have a smart retrieve of a bird that might be downed in a pond, river, inlet, or other such body of water.

On the water retrieve, the handler lines up his dog with the downed bird.  A blade-like hand will help guide the dog's head toward the target.  A junior dog, like Rider, below, can be gently restrained at the water to prevent him from leaving early.  When the handler is ready to release the dog, he says "back" or the dog's name, and pushes his hand forward to guide those important first steps into the water.

Frank sets up Rider for a water retrieve.

Here comes the successful dog.