The Sporting Saint Puppy Canvas Dummy is a lightweight (35g), soft canvas training dummy with no hard ends, designed specifically for a puppy's first retrieves. Small enough for young mouths to carry comfortably, gentle enough to build positive associations from the very first session. Available in 11 colours: White, Green, Orange, Blue, Lilac, Pink, Red, and flight feather variants in Cock Pheasant, Hen Pheasant, Mallard, and Partridge. £6.45. By Sporting Saint.

Why We Recommend It

The first retrieve a puppy makes sets the tone for everything that follows. A dummy that's too heavy, too hard, or too large creates a negative association that can take weeks to undo. The Sporting Saint Puppy Dummy gets the fundamentals right: 35g is light enough for a 10-week-old to carry without effort, the no-end construction means there's nothing uncomfortable to mouth, and the small size means the puppy can get a proper grip rather than struggling with something designed for an adult dog.

The flight feather variants are a particularly smart choice for puppies being prepared for driven shooting — introducing the sight and scent of real game feathers from the very first retrieve builds the association early, before any bad habits have a chance to form.

Key Benefits

No hard ends — soft construction throughout; nothing to discourage picking up
35g — light enough for the youngest puppies to carry without effort
Small size — proportioned for puppy mouths, not scaled-down adult dummies
11 colour options — plain and flight feather variants
Flight feather variants introduce game appearance and scent from day one
Designed and made by Sporting Saint for the early stages of retrieve training

Bailey Says 🐾

My friends, I started with one of these. I am not embarrassed to admit it. It was White. I picked it up on my third attempt and Craig made a noise I can only describe as disproportionately enthusiastic for what was, objectively, a very short retrieve across a kitchen floor. But that is how it starts. The dummy was the right size. It was soft. I could carry it properly. And from that moment, retrieving became my thing. Choose the right first dummy. It matters more than you think. 🐾

Perfect For

Puppies from 8 weeks being introduced to retrieving for the first time
Indoor and garden retrieve sessions where a full-size dummy is too large
Building positive retrieve associations before formal training begins
Introducing game appearance early with flight feather variants
Handlers who want to start retrieve drive development from day one

Specifications

Weight: Approx. 35g
Construction: Soft canvas, no hard ends
Size: Small — designed for puppy mouths
Plain colours: White, Green, Orange, Blue, Lilac, Pink, Red
Flight feather variants: Cock Pheasant, Hen Pheasant, Mallard, Partridge
Price: £6.45 per dummy
Brand: Sporting Saint

How To Use

Start indoors or in a small, enclosed garden with no distractions. Let your puppy sniff and mouth the dummy freely before asking for any formal retrieve. Roll it gently along the floor and encourage them to pick it up — reward immediately and enthusiastically when they do. Keep sessions very short (2–3 minutes maximum) and always end on a success.

Start indoors — no distractions, short distances, maximum success
Let the puppy investigate the dummy freely before asking for a retrieve
Roll rather than throw initially — movement triggers chase instinct
Reward immediately and enthusiastically on every pick-up
Keep sessions to 2–3 minutes — always end before the puppy loses interest
Progress to garden, then outdoor spaces as confidence builds

Care Guide

Rinse with cold water after muddy sessions and air dry naturally
Do not machine wash — canvas can shrink and distort
Store in a breathable bag between sessions to maintain scent properties
Keep out of reach when not training — the dummy should only appear during sessions to maintain its value as a reward
Replace when the canvas becomes significantly worn or the dummy loses its shape

Professional Insight

The no-end construction is the critical design feature of the puppy dummy. Standard canvas dummies have rigid ends that can be uncomfortable for a young dog to mouth and carry — a negative experience at this stage can create a lasting aversion to picking up. The soft all-through construction of the puppy dummy eliminates this risk entirely. The 35g weight is also significant: it's light enough that a puppy experiences no jaw fatigue during a retrieve, which means the retrieve itself is always a comfortable, positive experience. The flight feather variants are a genuinely useful training tool — introducing game appearance and scent at the puppy stage builds the olfactory and visual associations that will transfer directly to live game work.

Training Academy Tip 💡

Gundog Training Academy Tip

The puppy dummy is not just a small dummy — it's a foundation tool. The retrieve behaviour you build in the first few weeks of a puppy's life is the behaviour you'll be working with for the next ten years. Get it right early and everything that follows is easier. Get it wrong and you'll spend months unpicking bad habits.

The three rules for puppy retrieve work: keep it short, keep it successful, keep it fun. Two or three retrieves per session maximum — always end before the puppy loses interest. Never chase a puppy that runs off with the dummy; turn away and crouch down instead, which triggers their instinct to come to you. And never repeat a retrieve command — one command, one retrieve, one reward.

Store the dummy out of sight between sessions. The moment it appears, your puppy should know that something exciting is about to happen. That anticipation is retrieve drive in its earliest form — protect it by never letting the dummy become ordinary.

Complete Your Setup

Progress to a full-size Sporting Saint canvas dummy as your puppy's retrieve confidence grows. Add Training Scent Liquid in Pheasant or Rabbit to introduce game scent from the earliest sessions. A Rabbit Ball makes an excellent companion retrieve toy for building drive between formal dummy sessions.

FAQs

What age can I start using this with my puppy?

You can introduce the puppy dummy from 8 weeks old in a low-pressure, play-based way. Formal retrieve training typically begins from around 12–16 weeks, but letting a young puppy investigate and mouth the dummy from earlier builds positive associations that make formal training easier later.

Which colour should I choose?

White is the easiest for young puppies to see and mark visually. For puppies being prepared for driven shooting, a flight feather variant (Cock Pheasant or Hen Pheasant) introduces game appearance and scent from the very first retrieve. Many handlers buy two — a White for marking work and a flight feather for scent introduction.

When should I move to a full-size dummy?

Transition to a full-size canvas dummy when your puppy is retrieving the puppy dummy reliably and confidently — typically from around 4–6 months depending on breed and size. Don't rush the transition; a puppy that's confident with the small dummy will take to the larger one quickly.

Should I let my puppy play with the dummy between sessions?

No — keep the dummy out of reach between training sessions. A dummy that's always available becomes an ordinary object. One that only appears during training sessions retains its value as a high-interest retrieve item and keeps drive high.