I have a 6yr old shorthair that is not wanting to retrieve. He does well pointing and finding the downed bird but does not want to bring it to me when found. Retrieving has never been his best skill but seems to be getting worse the last couple of years. What if anything at this age can I do to help improve his retrieving skills? Thanks

Force Fetch - google it to learn how to do it yourself or I highly suggest taking a dog to a trainer.

This can be taught after hunting season and during the winter/summer months.

JW

He's 6 yrs old... I am not sure you want to start force fetching a dog now at 6 yrs old. If you wanted a great bird dog you should have trained him to be that from the start not as an after thought. He is a middle aged dog who finds and points birds, be happy and enjoy the years you have left with your friend.

The only thing I would suggest is keeping pheasant wings with breast feathers attached in the freezer and when the wife or girlefriend isn't around play fetch in the house with him where he doesn't have the distractions that there is in the yard. Praise the hell out of him and get him excited about retreiving the wing for you and do it often and when you think that you did it enough do it more.

I don't think its too late to force fetch train your dog, but perhaps you should consult a trainer, or better yet, check out your local NAVHDA chapter. Those guys are very knowledgeable about that sort of thing...