Not posted an update for a while, but unfortunately this is not due to a lack of things happening..... Dexter continues to grow, develop and change with the challenges moving in their own directions both positive and negative. We have started a gun dog training course which has been better than puppy classes as it takes place outdoors and there are fewer dogs with more space whilst listening to the trainer, and you can also go off around the field to practice which means less distractions - most of the time. Clicker now employed all the time and a dog whistle for recall, finding etc so that in particular has been new. He is certainly more settled but is probably the most delinquent dog at times because if he is not "doing" and standing around he wants to be interacting with anyone close enough to take notice or may bark though far less frequently then the indoor puppy classes and you can just walk him away and back again to settle him. The trainer says he is just a bit immature but very trainable, learning things quickly. Walking loose off the lead has become hard work from a number of perspectives. In areas he knows he is charging off a long way in front and since he discovered a pair of deer and chased them through the woods he seems to have got the scent of them and now disappears sidewards through the bracken in the woods searching. If we walk somewhere he has rarely visited or new he stays much closer. My biggest problem is interaction with people, he is so friendly he wants to greet almost everyone whilst off the lead and far too frequently will jump up - this has led me to recalling him when I spot anyone or letting him off less as you never know if they are dog people or not, and of course those not keen on dogs always raise their arms and that makes things worse. I mentioned previously that we had problems when both of us walk him in that he jumps up at whoever is not on the lead and can get hyper. Unfortunately my OH has not been keen to continue these short evening walks with a trip into the local shop (as he reacts to this badly quite often due to missing the person who has gone in). Recently a friend came over and we went on a walk to a regular area where he is let off quickly - his behaviour was the worst I have ever seen. Got sensory overload and kept jumping up at my friend throughout the walk, though a stick helped settle that (not beating him !) by distracting him and putting it in his mouth when he was about to leap all over them. I think the fact he met us at home first and likes rough housing with Dexter probably caused this more than anything by getting him over excited. We are going to plan a few more walks more carefully to break this - they love dogs and happy to support this. A week ago we had a health scare which led to a stay at the vets, he was sick most of the night after his evening meal (frothy white once the food was gone) and the next morningI took him into the vet. They took him in for IV drip, X-rays etc as concerned there might be a blockage. Thank goodness it was a pocket of wind passing through the intestines, though this was caused by acute gastro enteritis and the obvious side effects of that which kicked in later. No idea what he ate of course. A night and a further day at the vets and he came home a somewhat quieter puppy but on the mend with various things for us to do ref feeding and care. As the receptionist, vets and nurses said - does his tail ever stop wagging - sure he would have gone home with any of them. Returned for checkup on Monday and all progressing well though he needs to put some weight back on. Glad I took out insurance - now we will see how good they are at paying out ! Onwards and upwards for the next challenges ...
Hi @Diablo sounds all perfectly normal behaviour to me. You need to have him on a long line until recall works whatever the distraction. As you point out, he is off with the thrill of the chase when he smells deer. That is rewarding. And behaviour that is rewarded will increase. The long-line is to be used to prevent the "hunter' from chasing the scent. If you prevent the behaviour so that it is not rewarded, then it will disappear. When you notice he has picked up a scent, reward him for the recall. The long line is your 'prevention net'. Tell him to sit when he jumps up on your friend. And reward him for relaxed compliance. Tell the friend no more rough hosue play. The dog can't be expected to work out when it is okay and when it's not. Sounds to me as though you are doing a wonderful job of bonding with him. Good luck with the gun dog training.
I really enjoyed reading your update, thanks @Diablo ! I'm glad Dexter's recovering from his misadventures
