My (nearly) 18 month old lab has never had wonderful recall when other exciting dogs are around, but it was at the point where I was happy with it. But, but, this last week or so she has just gone off like a missile when she sees a dog she takes a fancy to and has even gone back to her old habit of jumping up at people! What do you recommend? Back on the long line and high value treats till it is solved? I have heard about citronella collars, but mostly negative things. ???
Re: 18 month old - recall broken down Imagine that she's a puppy again, and go right back to baby steps I'd have her on a normal lead or medium length line for a bit, and do lots and lots of recalls with great treats - but initially only use your recall when you're sure she'll come to you - such as when she's already looking at you. Once you're getting a good response to that start using your recall when she's not looking at you but isn't particularly distracted. Once that's good, make it a little more challenging again. Once you're confident, try off lead in a fenced area with no distractions, and keep building up from there
Re: 18 month old - recall broken down My Molly is also 18 months and I had a blip back in October. She now has very good recall, apart from from bikes, which are still our Waterloo. The main thing I changed in my approach was to make myself a much more fun person to be. Since then one of our 3 daily walks is a trip to somewhere like a recreation ground just to play. I take a bag of toys and do a whole range of games: proper retrieving of dummies, chasing a plastic bottle (when the same rules of retrieving don't apply - she can toss it in the air, shake it etc), catch with squeaky ball, chase and tug with a toy on a rope. All these interspersed with short stays, walking to heel off lead etc. Even on walks through the woods etc I carry at least one small toy in my pocket. I also started to reward Molly with food for voluntary check-ins and she now comes to nudge my hand very frequently when actually on a walk. The third thing I did was about-turn walks in places like the forest, where as soon as she got a short distance ahead I would turn and walk in another direction. This strategy is in 'Total Recall' and is really useful. I think you need to discover what motivates your dog. Molly does like food rewards but she is much keener on play. I think for a while I'd got so determined to do 'proper' gundoggery stuff that it had stopped being fun. Now I enjoy playing with her and the more formal exercises are just slotted in amongst the jolly stuff! Good luck.
Re: 18 month old - recall broken down i have had the same problems but have a harness and long line have started getting milly to sit in her crate with the door open and walk up to her with her food then back away and blow the whistle 3times as from total recall she is so quick to learn new things now when i let her off lead i have liver for treats and if she goes away i just blow the whistle and she come galloping back
