Yes mate I have been
dog is expecting you to gee him a reward mate, sounds as tho ye have caught it in time
back to basics with the dog mate, an instead a giving him a treat gee him a rub under the chin, but only if he brings it right in
like has been said by somebody else, keep varying the item ye are using, keep the dog intrested, an if at all possible try an teach the dog to hold on command....
i wouldnt worry tho even if its just the way the dog is now, retreiving to within feet of ye aint that bad, its a lot better than most do