Just curious how far you let your dogs range? After a couple of weeks not walking my lab (OH has been doing it in my stead), he's started ranging a lot farther than he used to. He used to stay around 3-6 metres away, now he will range up to 10m. After doing some about turns, he stayed around the 6 metre mark max. However, since I'm going to have to do some retraining with this, I'm giving some thought as to how far I'd like him to go. Before I preferred it if he stayed around 3m away, but now I'm wondering if that's being too uptight. There's no particular reason other than I feel more comfortable having him close, but that's probably me just being a worry wart as per usual. His recall is pretty steady although I haven't had much opportunity to train it around heavy distractions.
I allow mine in a 15 metre radius from where I am, but I don't call them back. When they are pups I do a lot of hiding and back tracking so that they keep an eye on me at all times and stay close. So far this has worked really well for Tatze and all four pups .
It entirely depends on the context. I don't like my dog to be out of sight, so on windy forest paths, that means I like them to stay within a few metres. On straight paths, or in open fields, I'm happy for them to go farther. Basically, I mostly require them to check-in with me very regularly, and they can't do that if they can't see me, so it usually self-regulates to some degree. That said, since I've been away and DH has apparently been relying a bit too heavily on a recall to keep them close, the two adults are now happily going out of sight, apparently waiting to be called back. So, I have some work to do there to bring them back in again!
Hattie is about a 10 meter ranger checking in all the time and looking round every 15 seconds to see where I am and I'm happy with that as she's always done it and I know I can stop or recall her at any time Charlie well he is another case and is 'different' having Pointer genes he ranges quite far and checks in, but we have had to accept this as part of his breed but we continually train for him to be closer which he does considering he used to range almost to the next County xx
Sam goes about 10/15 metres , occasionally further , but this is only at Golitha Falls , which he knows like the back of his paw ! On less familiar walks , I prefer to keep him in sight . Nell rarely goes further than 3/4 metres away , but then her hearing loss necessitates this x
I let mine range as far as they want, having add German Pointers who naturally ranged far. However, mine do self regulate and don't go too far, about 30 yds (I don't do meters!). However, they do keep their eye on me as I am likely to disappear by changing direction and they are instantly back to me. I walk with a couple of other people who are forever calling their dogs and the responsibility in my opinion is for the dog to keep an eye on the owner!
Hi @SilverFalcon . It does sound like maybe Beau has become a little disengaged, if he is ranging further than you feel comfortable. Whilst I prefer not to recall my dogs, I do encourage them through rewarding check ins, and focus games, to stay close. I do like to be able to see them, if I can't I don't know what they are doing, and if they can't see me, or are aware of me, then I would feel a bit uncomfortable, after all we are all supposed to be walking together!
Lucky's natural ranging distance was anywhere as long as he could see where I was! Now, with training by changing direction, hiding, and rewarding check ins, he stays within about 10m which I am happy with. He stays much closer towards the end of a walk when he's got rid of some energy. I sometimes have to ask him to heel when we are approaching a divide in the path because he wants to go further ahead to investigate. How old is Beau? The change could be him becoming a more confident teenager.
I reckon I can beat you in the most uptight stakes. But I have spaniels which is a completely different ball game. Give them an inch and they will take a mile.
I allow somewhereally between 10 and 15 metres but that has to be within sight. Out of sight is never allowed unless with a few doggy friends in the forest. Distance though is dependant upon location and context - generally somewhere new and the distance is less as I don't know what I need to be aware of
I like Mabel to keep close in the woods and get very nervous if I can't see her, in open spaces she is allowed slightly further away, and if it is somewhere new she is kept very close. I've always played a lot of games on our walks together. She is almost 2 1/2 now and stays closes waiting for treats. Always makes me smile that she thinks she is starving. She will also do a lot of checking in.
He's 10 months, think he started his teenage antics around about 6 months or so, still ongoing of course
I could never have spaniels, just not in my nature to keep dogs close and I know you have to with spaniels. However, I do see people who keep spaniels close without even trying, maybe they don't have a strong hunting instinct?
I've noticed lately that Cassie is going further from me, but still keeps her eye on me, and/or comes to check in voluntarily. I've always done the about turn walk, especially if she's gone a bit further on than I'm comfy with. Even in an open field she will do that, so far. I'm so glad I learnt the about turn walk. I find that if I walk up and down with several changes of direction she very comes to heel, I haven't really taught that but I do reinforce it when it happens. I'm not very good at judging distances but I would guess it's between 20 and 30 metres. She's 13 months and feeling braver I believe.
With Cooper 100 yards if we are out in the woods. If we are hiking with a group, she will go between the first and last hikers even if we are spread way out on the trail. Her recall is very good, and she doesn't cause problems with other dogs or people. I try to keep Tilly a little closer since she is pretty deaf, but she seems to always know where we are, even if she can't hear us.
Vanilla is becoming a lot more confident when out. For us it depends on the situation. If we are at the Oval as it is fenced I have no issue with her being at the other end which is about 100 meters. There is a tap with a bucket under that always has water in it. She likes a drink after a few games/traininh. I only allow that if no one is around and she checks in with me and asks for permission. It is in clear line of sight. Most of the time though she will be around me within a 4 -5 m radius. She won't go further than about 20m -30m, she seems to self regulate and checks in a lot. On the beach different story, if no one is around she will be off exploring within upto 100m again. But I always see her and she sees me. If she can't see me she will head back to the last place she saw me and then start looking. It also alows me to practise the distance on recall. As soon as other distractions are around ie:dogs, people etc. I get her closer to me within a couple of meters. She is still to much into wanting to say hi, but getting better.
What seems to be the best way to get 'check ins' and a range of about 10 to 15? Also how do you stop the sweet things going out of sight without lots of recalling? I have a border collie whose instiinct seems to be I can always find you if I need to. So we do lots of recalls and asking her to follow me in a different direction.
