Retriever v Springer training program

I would say the progress and steps are a lot the same.  

Same Obedience

• Sit
• Stay
• Come

Same on Retrieving

• Hold
• Quick delivery
• Marking

• Handling
• Lining drills
• Blind retrieves

The difference is probably the Distance of the Marks and Blinds and The number of repetitions in a drill

You still need the foundational steps to build on.   For Retriever events, you really need to teach a dog to stay on a straight line even when doing water across the edge of a pond or slough.  Spaniels, not so much.

Dogs will naturally try to use the wind to their advantage when questing for game.  so you just teach them to turn with the whistle in order to not miss ground.   This is not as noticeable in the thickets but more easily seen in the open fields. 

h/t/ SpringerDude