Re: Hello Hi Elin Poor you two - what a crazy couple of days. Ruby sounds about the same amount of handful Bonnie was a month ago! Try these articles as well; they're really helpful. Bonnie's recall is getting fairly well proofed since I followed this advice and she has changed from a canine pogo stick (to everyone we met) into a dog who can ignore pretty much anything while I have her attention. xP http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-training/labrador-recall-training/
Re: Hello Hi Elgin Things must be difficult for you with Ruby at the moment. I agree with Kath on the Total Recall book to help you improve Ruby's recall. In the mean time I think all off lead should be restricted to an area where she can't run off all other exercise should be on lead. I know how hard it can be, I had an Italian Spinone with whom I did masses of training, and I mean masses! His recall was excellent until adolescence hit and then totally failed. I remember one training lesson, with my trainer, when he escaped on a recall (to chase a cyclist) and it took 1.5 hours to get him back. The advise we had from the trainer was to just stand still and not chase or follow him, which I know seems hard, but he never ran too far away and would come back by being ignored and quietly sit at heel beside me. At which time I would slip my hand down and take a hold of his collar, clip on the lead and then walk on with him. As it was impossible to have walks with him running off at whatever gained his interest we eventually came to the reluctant decision that he would have to walk on a long lead. Don't despair, work on Ruby's recall and hopefully you'll see improvement soon.
Re: Hello Oh Elin...you sound frazzled.Total recall is really effective.Dexter is my first dog I never thought I would be the person walking along with a whistle ,using it to recall my dog ( I live in Dubai ,I have NEVER seen one other person with a whistle ;D ) but it is the best thing I ever did with him.Theres been a couple of hairy times when he's legged off after deer or a rabbit ,but he's come back on his whistle,it gives you so much more confidence ..... What treats are you using? Not meaning to be impolite but they might not be enough,you might need to bring in the heaven artillery ie hot roast chicken ,sardines,something really tasty and smelly. Have you done any classes with Ruby?hope your husband was ok after his trek after her Best wishes Angela x
Re: Hello Thank you everyone for your comments and advice. I have read the book you recommend, Total Recall. My problem is that as far as training Ruby I am entirely on my own, but the exercises in the book assume one can enlist friends or relatives to help with recall training. My husband accompanies us on our afternoon walk, and takes Ruby out for a short walk before bedtime, but I do the main walk in the morning, and am responsible for the training. I have been doing an hour on lead every morning after the last "incident" as I am too stressed to risk letting her off. As for professional trainers, we have been to four different ones. First to puppy classes, when she was 11 weeks, but she was expelled. Then we went to classes held indoors, which was mayhem with the dogs all trying to meet each other, pulling and lunging, but even eye contact was forbidden. Our last trainers were good, they did their training outdoors, in any weather. Unfortunately we had to quit because of our health. I am fine now, and would like to resume the classes, but my husband has had enough!
Re: Hello Ok ,great start you've got the book......and even better you've read it ;D I really appreciate that some of the excercises are tricky to set up ,I had problems myself hence we are not great recalling from other dogs....but that doesn't mean to say that you can't work through some of them.Whilst you won't be able to rely on it in exciting situations where you've not trained,you have nothing to lose,at the very least it will improve the bond you have with your little Ruby Rascal... [quote author=Elin link=topic=10547.msg157916#msg157916 date=1429607733] when she was 11 weeks, but she was expelled. [/quote] Seriously! What kind of Trainer expels an 11 week old pupp! what actually was going on in the class?I'm not alone in saying that puppy classes 'in general' are a bit chaotic....even the best of them....My dog was 5 months when I went to my first lot ( we live in Dubai and I couldn't import him until he was that age) and even then it was chaos.i persevered being the dunce and embarrassment of the class for 4 weeks looking like I was making no progress whatsoever .....but we were.I was taking everything in and practising at home and we weren't doing badly....puppy classes are just so exciting.I carried on and when Dexter was about 8 months old we were ready to go back.....to practice around other dogs,the difference was amazing,I was so pleased I'd gone to a second lot of classes. Would it be an option to try your last trainer again now the weather should be getting a little bit better ?if your Husband isn't keen are you brave enough to try on your own until he sees your marvelous progress and can be tempted to join you ;D ? A class is also a great place to meet some people that you might be able to join up with to walk....or if they have time on their hands and are local may even be keen to meet up with you practice obedience skills and recall. It's so worrying when they run away and I can totally understand it knocking your confidence but if you have off lead opportunities around you try not to dismiss Ruby being able to be off lead.A long line can also help you .....I'll go and have a look through the articles on the main site ,I know Pippa has written about using a long line. Keep your chin up,Ruby sounds full of Labrador character x
Re: Hello Have a read through this.... http://www.thelabradorsite.com/should-i-use-a-training-lead/ X
Re: Hello Some really helpful advice from Dexter. I did 95% of Juno's training without my husband's presence as he was backwards and forwards to the UK for work. For me it was a bonus so that I could work with Juno and our trainer without the extra confusion of my husband doing exercises with Juno. If you can I would second trying again with the trainer, even if your husband doesn't want to go, as with the extra help you will be able to improve Ruby's recall and be able to enjoy your pup and your walks more.
Re: Hello Hi Elin I'm on my own and I've done all of Bonnie's training by myself so don't worry if that's what you have to do. If you were so inclined you could search my early posts and see how much in despair I was because Bonnie was such a handful and I thought I'd never cope. I was on the verge of re-adoption because I didn't think I could do right by her :'( Then.... we had a disastrous first puppy class which we ended walking out of. I was feeling very lonely with it all. Looking back, I know we were right to walk out of that class and the trainer was not right for us. (and your trainer who expelled you was an idiot) Labs (plagiarising Oberon here!) have been bred to be friendly and therefore I'm convinced you need a trainer who understands that Lab puppies are likely to be the craziest, friendliest pups in the room ... into everything, everyone, every other dog!! We've now found another class which we love. So you may just need to keep looking. But don't discount what you can achieve on your own. Bonnie was 16 weeks the first time round; 6 months the second time. I feel a lot of what we did together in those intervening months helped. I think the trick is slowly but surely and have faith that it's going in and that it will make a difference. Have a good rummage round in the articles on the main site - they're so helpful. I promise you I never thought I'd say this but Bonnie is just a star these days... we have things to work on (of course!!) but I'm so proud of how well she's done. From almost giving up to the proudest mum in the dog park... I honestly didn't think I'd see the day!! Good luck to you and Ruby-doo! We're here for you so don't hesitate to check in as often as you need to. xP
Re: Hello I just love this forum. I can spend hours reading the posts and I get such encouragement from your comments and advice. Talking about training leads, I did try. Actually I spent most of last summer attached to a 20m long line with miss Ruby harnessed and pulling me along. My long line is all frayed and worn from being tangled in shrubbery and around trees. The last time I used it was almost a disaster. Ruby went into the river and managed to get the line wrapped aroun a large boulder. She was stuck there, so I had to climb down the steep bank and go into the stream to release the lead from her harness. Ruby ran off, while I clambered up the bank on all fours. It took a while, as I am in my 70s and had a sore hip at the time. When I got up I spotted Ruby in the distance, harrassing a man with a Westie. I have not used the long lead since!
Re: Hello Ruby is certainly giving you a workout. She sounds like a real character who is living life at top speed. I'm sure it's a struggle to keep up at times. I really would echo others' advice that you see if you can go back to the good trainer. I know your husband isn't keen, but you are the one who has ended up with the main training responsibility and it does sound like a pair of eyes on the ground and experienced instant feedback might help you. With the pictures you need to put them on a photo sharing site first, like Flickr, and then copy a link to paste into your post here.
Re: Hello Some of the info in this thread might help with the photos: http://www.thelabradorforum.com/index.php?topic=1903.0
Re: Hello Hey everyone, I am rhea and I got a labrador on 17 march 2015 who was 40 days old . He's the cutest, naughtiest thing ever !
Re: Hello Hi Rhea and welcome! Where in the world are you? That's very young for a puppy to be leaving its mum. :-\
