Thanks loverboy skyline and boxergirl! We are now playing tug a lot. Hes getting there. Hes stopped dropping it, I now tug, let go, tug again, always keeping it fun. It's been good for both of us. Hes just so sensitive to my emotions, I can't get frustrated at all.. so, I don't, I'm just having fun. We will get there. His send away is lovely. Ive been sending him to a pole in the ground , with a treat at the base of the pole, for ages, he has only used his nose to find the treat. Hes only just started heading for the pole, I put a ribbon on it to flap in the wind, so he would notice it... I guess on sendaway, it's not actually about the pole, its about heading out until the handler tells the dog to lie down.
Thanks for responses skyline and boxergirl. Much appreciated.