Teaching the send away - Page 1

Hi all

I am looking for some advice on teaching the sendaway.  I have been making him stay while I go and place his toy/ball or whatever in his line of sight.  I then go back to him, stand over him and use my arm as a line of sight for the dog.  (Obviously he already knows where it is as he can see it around 15 feet away) I then release him and run as fast as I can to make it a game when he gets there and doesn't think this is a retrieve.  Well I've done this quite a few times but am kind of stuck as to what to do next. 
Any advice welcome.

Keep increasing the distance and pump the dog up before you send him.  Dogs have "place association" so I always use the same spot when training the send away.  I use a garden flag holder to hang the toy and suspend it with a clothes pin.  I use a ball on a rope and  clip it to the clothes pin, the dog runs and snatches the ball off the clothes pin and runs.  I add the down separately and rarely combine the two until the dog is proficient at both exercises.  I keep the ball in the same place and keep starting further back in small increments to increase the distance.   

Thanks Slamdunc

at what stage would you introduce a redirect?

Describe what you mean by a redirect?  

send the dog off in a direction - say straight ahead and then once he has started going, get him to go either left or right.  see below:

7. Send Away and Directional Control.—The Minimum distance that the Judge shall set for the Send Away shall be 18.288m (20 yds) for the Introductory Stake and the CD Stake and 45.72m (50 yds) for all other Stakes. In the Introductory Stake the maximum distance that the Judge shall set for the Send Away Shall be 45.72m (50 yds). The TD and PD Stakes shall also include change of direction or directions of a minimum of 45.72m (50 yds).When the dog has reached the designated point or the Judge is satisfied that after a reasonable time the handler cannot improve the position of the dog by any further commands the dog should be stopped in either the stand, sit or down position at the discretion of the handler. At this point in the TD or PD Stakes the Judge or Steward shall instruct the handler to redirect the dog. In all Stakes, whilst the Judge should take into account the number of commands used during the exercise, importance should be placed upon the handler’s ability to direct the dog to the place indicated.

  First I assure my partner is proficient in the send away at least 75 yards. The redirection is a separate exercise.  I start by placing the dog against a fence line. I leave him at stay walk about 25 yards place the Kong against the fence assuring he is observing me place it on the ground. I return and stand about 10 yards in front of him.. I wait a few seconds then sweep my arm right saying go right and begin walking in the direction of the Kong. Once he gets to the toy he is praised .
  We start again, this time we will go to the left.  We will go back again and start the right but increase the distance 25 yards each way. Now step back another 10 yards and give the command. and walking the direction of the send away.    Slowly increase the distance out to whatever distance you are happy with  as well as the distance you are away from the dog. Also I stay training in the area the dog is familiar with until I feel he is proficient to move into a strange area.
  I always start the training at the original distances I gave before moving on to whatever distance I am going to work on that day. very short version, hope it gives you an idea as to how it works for me. 

Thank you Deacon.