At 4 do you think shes too old to be re-trained?
Never too late! Crackers was 4 when I started her on birds.
Like Nicola said, get a whistle and start working on recalls, start doing some retrieves with bumpers (I use the cloth kind that have a pocket where you can stick a wing to get them used to it) and having her deliver it to your hand. Crackers was started on pigeons, they are dizzied so they won't fly, then planted in a field and the dog sent to find them. Let her know what an amazing wonderful thing she's done but insist she give the bird back!
Just start slow, it has to be broken down into steps for the dog, but once they figure out what the object of the "game" is, you'll be amazed at how much they are be able to focus. Spaniels "faults" in the field usually result from over-enthusiasm!
I wish I could go with you all!
It would be a blast! (And I want to see this cute trainer too!
)
And don't forget, dogs were put on this earth to make fools of us so expect it and laugh it off!
