Dawson, my youngest springer (7 months) took his -*test*-('") of natural aptitude here in France today and failed miserably! Any help to get him up to scratch would be much appreciated - He walked to heel the whole time - when he should have been searching and when he found the quail he put his paws around it and just sat next to it. The quail bit I can sort with practise but the heelwork I have a problem with as he has always done this from very young, when out he will walk to heel, at any pace, unless there are other dogs to run with. Do you think it could be a confidence thing that will come with age?

Expecting all that at 7 months old ???? you are joking of course???
or do you expect a 5 yr old child to read all of Shakespeare and tommorow start on Dickens,
give the dog a childhood ,far far to young to expect so much.

Ok, coming from the other side of the coin. My Brittany took and passed his Natural Aptitude Test (in the UK but following French guidelines) at not quite 7 months but obviously he was an HPR so I am not quite sure where the -*test*-('")s would differ.

For him he didn't have to heel although the time he was on lead he was supposed to be under control. When allowed off lead he had to hunt the piece of ground we were given and use the wind well. He sniffed, he ate sheep poop, he rolled in fox poop and then he got it! You could see his little body change as he caught scent and he hunted his scent cone pretty well until coming in on point on a caged quail. He even held point well for the time it took for me to get close, reassure him he had done well and then pop him on lead.

From what you say it does sound as though Dawson lacks confidence moving away from you. I would try hunting games for food, toys, dummies all hidden in undergrowth and all well rewarded when he gets it. Initially hunt in there with him but then start hanging back a bit so he is pushing ahead and getting to the quarry first.

I was given some very good advice before I got Chase (and I really haven't needed it cos he is a very confident and stylish hunter). Basically I was told to encourage a pup to hunt from the outset and then put the brakes on as it is harder to get a dog to desire the hunt than to instill control.