re: Dog training help - teaching a retriever to hold after retrieve

if you want your dog to be at heel when they release the bird.....that is advanced. if you just want to be able to take it from them, take a couple of steps back as your dog approaches, take the bumper/duck from them with the command to drop/give. praise the heck out of them. they will get the hang of it after a few sessions.

once you are getting that you can move to the holding through heel command.