Hello,
How old is "Eze", it sounds as if you both had a busy day.
When we take any of our lot out beating we only expect them to retrieve shot birds that are found from previous drives. They NEVER "run in" to retrieve while they are in the beating line, there are proper picking up dogs to do that, and ours are expected to, and do stay within the beating line doing a grand job of just hunting and flushing as they are required with the beaters.
We never introduce a puppy to the beating line until they are almost 2 years of age, this allows them to learn respect of what we want and to be reliable enough to come back as soon as they are called.
A cocker Spaniel that continues to hunt and flush and then disappears to retrieve just because they can will never get any steadier with age, they will just get worse!!
I would be absolutely knackered too, but the dogs would be thinking what a good day they had had and tails would be wagging even faster.
Good luck with the beating and enjoy every day out with your "Eze" if you can last the season yourself
"Eze" is very lucky to have you.
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