Off lead control - help required

[Suzanne H]

Got any training tips/commands on keeping Otto under control and nearby while off the lead.

Hi recall is good, but we'd like him to stay in about and to not bolt when he sees a dog or the woods where the deer are.

On a path he knows to not go too far and responds to Wait, but in open space, particularly if he knows it he can disappear.

If we're to take him up the hills, we need more control over him or he won't get off the line and it's very annoying.

[Gaelle]

Sorry I'd like to help but have got the same problem but often he dances just out of reach and thoroughly enjoys himself doing it. Good luck! I'll watch with interest. Incidentally I was told by a gundog trainer who judges etc in feild work that if you practice his recalls in the garden or a confined space, increasing the difficulty over time tha t should help . A good reference I have found is on The Gundog Club Forum under Gundog Training> Recall problems and solutions. by the site administrator. Good luck.
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Happiness is watching my dog chase leaves dancing in the breeze.

[Suzanne H]

His recall is good - two blasts of the whistle and he comes running back even from a good distance (he's usually not so far he can't hear it)...and comes right in and sits. Even at the end of a walk.

So am confident that he'll come back - just don't want him disappearing in the first place or going so far he can't hear the whistle. And he doesn't do it all the time - usually he runs about near us.

It's if he sees another dog or knows there are deer - or indeed chases the deer, he's not under control. It's the bolting I want to stop.

May just be a case of sticking the line back on him for a while, remind him who's boss and give a command to stop the bolting. Have been trying Leave It when he's on the lead to get him to ignore other dogs. But again, don't want him to not play with them, just be under control.

[Lisa]

I have the same issue. Generally recall is good but he can be temperamental when he sees another dog, it all depends what kind of mood he is in. If he wants to play then there is no telling him. Caused a couple of issues recently So I'll watch this with interest.

[John Thomson]

The key with this type of behavior it to engineer things so that you are in control...........

If you know your dog will not recall near another dog I suggest you get it on a long line and a training collar if you use one. Have a friend with a dog walk in the distance...slowly getting closer........as soon as your dog reacts give it a swift correction, have it focus on you and continue to get closer........at any point if your dog ignores the correction get the stooge dog to move farther away then start again.....this is all about timing your corrections correctly.

I will demonstrate this in class on Sunday as it is difficult to describe......remind me if I forget.
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John Thomson
www.cumbernaulddogtraining.co.uk

[kerry]

oh try that out with Koda if you want, dogs are his distraction , as you know

[Barry]

[Barry]

oh and i had been using a clicker before 'season' which Tikka has been responding to very well! i think this is good if wanting to home in on a particular training task, not for all thou!?
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Barry, Kylie & Jay with precious Rotti Tikka

[Martin and Claire]

i have the same trouble with cadbury. his recall is improving alot recently. but with a distraction like another dog he bolts. people arent too much of an issue if i walk by he follows, but he keeps wanting to play with other dogs

[Suzanne H]

Yeah, I see what you're saying.

He does what he does because we've let him. I don't mind him playing with other dogs but as you say it should be when we say he can not when he says he can, and if he's not allowed to play he does what he's told.

I've been working with him to ignore other dogs when he's on the lead....but I've been a bit confused by it ie socialisation v control, so his behaviour isn't surprising.

[Dan McK]

When we had a problem with Tess's prey drive kicking in in woods we used a high value squeaky toy.

She only got it when we were out on a walk, and only when we were interacting with her with it, and only when we said so. When she started to value it, all we had to do was squeak it when she looked like disappearing and she would come straight back.
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Parsons Russell fanatic

[Suzanne H]

We need to do something - he bolted off this morning, nose to the ground then caught sight of another dog and ran over to it....and it was right on the main road! Fortunately I see the guy regularly and he held on to him.

He's going back on the long line for a while, needs to remember who's in charge. He is totally biddable in the house, and maybe 50% outside (except recall, he will come back, it's just 50% of the time not immediately)

[Barry]

if you are wanting to try giving him the freedom, whilst trying summit besides the long line, to see if he'll come back i would recommend the clicker! I have had great results, maybe not 100% but then can anyone say they have 100%? no show offs please lol i think it is benefaction if using for one or two particular training points but not all.
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Barry, Kylie & Jay with precious Rotti Tikka

[Suzanne H]

Or alternatively just show him he's not the boss of me.

He is bad for sometimes running about like a maddie after his tea and being sick, so he is being MADE to lie on his cushion after tea, settle and have a sleep and gets a walk later.

Took 20 attempts to get him to stay on it and settle - every time he moved he was told to go back on it, or physically put on it. Took him for a walk later and he was a very good boy off his lead...was running about, but much more attentive even in the presence of rabbits.

I also took a stick and was playing with him - got him to focus on me (bit like the squeaky toy hint, only his thing is sticks, big ones)

Who's the boss big lugs!!

[Suzanne H]

We took Otto up Ben Venue yesterday and his off lead control was nigh on perfect - was so pleased with him.

There are no sheep so he was off lead most of the time except at the top to prevent him pinching people's sandwiches.

He stayed nearby and was totally responsive: came back when called, waited when told to if was going too far ahead or to go on the lead, ignored people including kids, didn't eat poo if told to leave it.

He did pester a wee poodle, but hey no one's perfect. We just put him on the lead if we saw another dog.

It was a new environment so he would have been looking to us anyway, but gave us the confidence to get back into hillwalking. And we finally found something that tires him out!