Our lovely 7month lad has been used to being off leash since we first got him. We have trained using Total Recall and he has been absolutely wonderful. We did lots of proofing with different scenarios and in different places. We are lucky to have lots of parkland, woodland, Heath and beaches nearby and he has always responded to his whistle. However, since being barreled completely over onto his back twice by other dogs charging him down his recall has gone to pot. Have tried taking him back to quieter areas without distractions and slowly reproofing but the minute we take the leash off he goes absolutely bananas, charging about and seems really unsettled. Twice he has managed to abscond from our garden which we thought was secure and I am getting worried that he is going to hurt himself. Is this anxiety, teenage behaviour or what and what is the best way to help him settle again. He is only settled now when on the leash but I don't want this to become habit as it will lessen his quality of life. Do we go right back to the beginning. It all changed so suddenly that am at a bit of a loss best way to move forward
Long-line! I don't really know of many dogs that achieve a reliable recall without the use of a 10m long-line - especially once they hit adolescence. Put a 10m biothane long-line on. Use treats which are tasty enough (nb this is not hotdogs and cheese - it is sardines, smoked mackerel and paté - wet, squishy and gross things). I don't recommend having your dog unsupervised in the garden at all. Gardens are extremely problematic and the long list of behaviour problems I see people for, involving them - when simply accompanying the dog outdoors to toilet would circumvent and prevent them all...is pretty incredible. From barking at people/other dogs passing by, to consuming toxic plants and inedible or dangerous substances, to digging holes in flowerbeds and lawns, to escaping - the list goes on. Go in the garden with the dog, the dog toilets - come back inside.
Thank you Jo. Am using long line at the moment and he loves mackerel and sardines. Am quite used to coming home stinking of fish. Regarding the garden - one of us always goes out with him because he won't go out otherwise. Just unfortunate that that one neighbour has a pond he's already sampled for an impromptu swim and he keeps trying to get back there and another close by is forever putting food scraps out on their lawn for the birds and Hero has found them. We have 6 foot high fencing and the fact he managed to get over it before we could get to him was quite concerning. Think might have to have leash on him in the garden. After reading earlier threads, I found one on LAT. Have started working on this with him. Know it will be a lot of hard work but will persevere with that. Think I am just worried that he has developed anxieties off leash because of the way he bolts as if to get away from other dogs and people. He's been very sociable and friendly with dogs up till now. With regard to pate, which one is the best to use. Have looked at this before but just not sure which ones are safe.
I use JR pet products pate . I found it by mistake, but it’s dry enough to be able to chunk it and it doesn’t smear. My girl thinks it’s great !!!
The thing that really helped me with Molly when she hit adolescence was giving up the idea of 'going for a walk' and instead when I went out with her I went armed with a bag full of toys and a plan for a range of activities that we were going to do. (Tug, retrieving in lots of different ways, flirt pole etc.) I also attended gundog classes (although I had no intention of ever working her on a shoot) and these were very useful in giving me ideas for different ways to use her mind and focus her attention. (For example dropping a dummy, walking on 30 yards, on-lead initially, and then releasing her and sending her back for the dummy - so being off-lead had a purpose.) Of course you have to be careful to choose a gundog trainer who only uses force-free training methods but I do think harnessing the instinct to retrieve and hunt can be very helpful. The key thing is that you become the focal point for everything good that's going to happen.
With paté, just use any from the supermarket for people - I can't see why they wouldn't be safe for dogs. Are you going to training classes with him? That's excellent advice.
Hi Jo. Yep Hero has done classes but has struggled from the beginning with other dogs in such close contact in a restricted space. By the time he was 4 months he became very unsettled and the classes became a nightmare with other people avoiding him because he was unsettling their dogs. In the end the trainer set up a plan for us to work to using short bursts of 5 minutes max of different training throughout the day. He is very excitable and since the issues when walking became even more so. So we have taken several steps back and keeping as much as possible in controlled situations. He still likes to meet other dogs but only big ones like him. If the dog is smaller and runs toward him he goes defensive putting his tail between his legs and crouching down. Since your reply we are controlling all his walks very closely- he goes out 4 times a day- twice on short lead in familiar area near house, doing figure of eights, loose lead and heel which is working really well. He gets a long line exercise for about 30 minutes where he gets to play and bound about at the moment and then he gets to go off lead in the afternoon at a fully enclosed dog area. We've tried the toy thing but he's just not interested when out. Won't play fetch outside of the garden or play with any of his other toys. Will keep trying that one. I watch for other dogs and if people and other dogs are coming our way, I get Hero to sit if they are on leads at a safe distance. If he reacts I distract him and encourage to walk away. The sitting still and waiting is getting better and most people now seem to realise not to approach unless I say ok. So walks and exercise are slowly improving and will gradually increase his range and more distractions. So thank you we're having some progress on that side of things. Sorry for the long post
I agree with Jo's advice. You can leash your pup on a retractable leash and accompany him to toilet. If he is too nervous, touch his head to lower his anxiety or off some tricks to distract his attention. Then, you could gradually longer the leash if he doesn't come back to you or pull the leash. It's better to start the training with his canine friend or small dog breeds, which can lower his alert and fear. Once your pup meets a new dog, you should shorten the leash asap and properly introduce your pup to the new dog. Avoid some large dog breeds that might recall his bad memory. This is also a good chance to train your puppy to behave well on a leash.
I would not recommend retractable leashes at all. I'd suggest using a 10m biothane long-line if you need to control him at a distance from you.
So in the past 2 days we've had 3 quite spectular things happen and seen such a change in Hero on his walks. I've concentrated on his loose lead training twice a day and have been able to expand his walks comfortably for him to further around the area from the house. Avoiding other dogs is virtually impossible as nearly every other house has a dog of some description and we literally see loads when out and about. But, and here's the big thing - we literally bumped into another Labrador going round a corner the other day. Hero didn't react. She was very friendly and went nose to nose with him and he returned the favour calmly. No adverse signs. Then he walked along calmly beside her. We met her again this morning and the same thing happened. Seems Hero's made a friend. On late morning walk on long lead, a black poodle came hurtling out of trees around the field towards Hero. He stood completely still and as the poodle got closer he barked and growled a warning at it stopping it in its tracks. They then went calmly nose to nose. First time hes stood up for himself. Finally, on his loose lead training walk an hour ago, we came across a little dog that had tried to get through the metal gate of it's garden and was stuck round it's middle and yelping and another little dog was jumping about and yapping behind it. Hero didn't react at all anxiously but sat quietly by the poor little dog letting the other one sniff him while a young man came out to free the little stuck doggy. Luckily poor little thing was freed quickly and is hopefully ok. But have to say what an immense change has happened with Hero's attitude to other dogs and I'm so pleased he is starting to show signs of coping better.
According to some writers, there is a fear period sometimes around 6-8 months, so it could be that Hero was within that - and is coming out of it...
He is definitely much improved on his walks. Have recently found a secure dedicated dog park a few miles from us. The owners set it up specifically for owners to train recall, help dogs who have been spooked off leash and other problems and just for those owners who want to be able to let their dogs run free securely without worrying. It is 6 acres of open land, woodland a small lake, agility equipment, and play equipment. The whole area is fenced with the fencing being dug several feet into the ground to prevent foxes and deer getting in. They limit to a maximum of 3 dogs at any one time and vet the dogs and owners before taking bookings. There have been a lot of positive reviews about it. At £10 an hour we have been considering this as a worthwhile place to take Hero for some freedom and training a few times before putting him back into public areas. Your input on this would be appreciated please @Jo Laurens
This sounds like a great idea for now. But, long-term, I think you need to reconsider how you approach 'public areas' because it sounds like you are expecting to meet other dogs when in 'public areas'...? I live in a very dog-dense place and the last time I met another dog in a public area, was about 8 months ago. I choose the locations to exercise my dogs carefully, I drive further to find places other people don't go so much, and I turn and walk in the opposite direction as soon as I even spot someone in the distance. Exercising him in public areas, doesn't mean contact with other dogs - at least, it shouldn't - not even 'ideally' or in any way....
