Marcus took the dogs out this morning...usually a nice quiet and relaxing walk, we rarely see any dogs on this route, however today, things go a bit wrong. Out through the back of the farm, through some very pleasant footpaths. Both dogs very well behaved, however Benson is on a lead most of the way down, and as he seems OK is let off.lead. Benson picks up a scent and is gone ......nose to the ground and Benson takes off. We were able to map his progress, and think we know where he was heading! Absolutely horrid though for huby, who sprinted approx 350 metres in panic before being able to grab him trying to get through the gate. Really can't wait for his implant to take effect.... Benson roaming by Kate Hart, on Flickr
Oh heck Kate , a heart in mouth moment indeed , thank goodness is all turned out alright, that must have been awful
Oh gosh, scary! Poor Marcus- I bet he beat his personal best over the distance !! By the way, quality graphical illustration- yes, I see what you mean about Benson's intended destination......
Crickey, I am so glad Marcus and Benson are OK. I know only too well what that feels like when your dog runs off, stomach churning. xx
Yes poor Marcus was really upset. I think it is that "what if..." thought hanging over you in those situations, and it is very clear there is nothing you can do....Benson tastes the air..nose down and he just goes! I can spot those moments a fraction of a second before Marcus, so usually pop him on the lead, quick about turn and off in a different direction. I watch him like a hawk, looking for nuances in body language which give clues as to what he is about to do, how engaged he is. The video below shows what he is normally like. Here we are training keep close. Taken in the same area where he took off with Marcus. The walk was in total just over an hour, used the recall whistle once, just at the end of the clip, where he starts to look disengaged. So we turn about down a different path. [video=youtube;D__g-qrvkcM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D__g-qrvkcM[/video]
He's looking in good nick. Nice vid of your walk and clicking for attention Well done to Marcus on outrunning Benson. Thank god for adrenalin, eh?
I have a friend with a same problem but worse! She suddenly takes off, runs the whole length of a very large field which is almost like a wood,and then goes across the ROAD, which is a fast, straight road. She went for a dead badger the other side of the road, some chip paper and yesterday the owner does not know why. He now keeps her on an extended lead until he is way into a plantation away from the field and road, but she has such a memory for something she has sniffed and she is away. She is five years old and has only recently started this behaviour and it is always because of food (dead badger is food to her!), she is well fed. So any ideas about stopping Benson will be appreciated!
If my girls ever stayed that close to me on a walk then I would think they were sickening for something! Mine would be out of view, in the hedges and running!!
It has been a bit of a challenge. All our walks we consider are training walks. I would love to amble through countryside but with the two we have we can't. Well we can't yet. With Benson it started by creating a drive for a squeaky ball/whipit/tuggy whatever made me really really interesting. Started in the garden first, would get Benson really really excited. I kept the games very brief and just before he lost interest switched to something else. One other thing is playing hide and seek with (me) and hide and seek with food. On a walk I hide pieces of jackpot food (again started this in the garden) then used a cue "lost". So we then started to incorporate these games into our walks, using the toys as a distraction, then using the "lost" games to keep Benson close, he does love to hunt so that is an advantage. I play these games quite close to me, and at the same time incorporate a clicker when he is checking in.This probably started earlier this year, when we also started adolescent classes with him.
I think you sound to have a great set of tools there, Kate. If Charlie free runs, things deteriorate rapidly with him - I keep his free running (which I aim to be a bumble within 10m of me) to no more than 20% of a walk - apart from that, he is doing something with me. I don't know whether it's just necessary with a young dog, and one day he'll be able to bumble for longer times. But letting him off lead to do his own thing just ruins his training. And this is a just a choccie show line bred pet.....
I think we are in a similar position Julie with Benson, predominately show-line and chocolate. I really have to keep him quite close, and don't allow him to free wheel..as we call it unless cued.. He is much more likely to become distracted f there is too much distance between us he loses focus, then I waste time and energy trying to regain control. We only use positive methods so if I "lose" him it can become quite frustrating.
Charlie is a bit older than Benson is now, and his default is to pay attention to me off lead - that was hard work to get. But it takes only a few walks of him being allowed to do his own thing for him to think "oh yes, I do my own thing when I'm off lead". If he is walked by my OH for a week say, towards the end of that week OH will start complaining about him and I know I've got to get him back and do a couple of weeks of training, not walking. Charlie is never better than when he gets no walks but just training.
