Want your retriever to take a line out to a 500-yard blind? Start at 50 or even 25. Place a small pile of bumpers in short grass, and each time your dog successfully takes a line to one, lay on the praise and send him for another. Over a period of weeks, you can gradually extend the distance and terrain challenges. Just don’t progress too quickly, and if you run into trouble, it’s OK to take a step back — your dog’s consistent success, confidence, and understanding of the drill dictate the pace.

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