Morning everyone, just got back from 1 1/2 hour walk with Hattie & Charlie, Charlie was let off lead up the track I mentioned before, now he did on several occasions go through the barbed wire fencing into the fields, BUT he was mooching/running along the hedgerows NOT running across the fields like a lunatic like the bad old days but whether he would if he had seen a Deer etc. who knows. However he was out of sight for 60 ish seconds during these times but he would come running up the track to me for a treat and one time for a jackpot treat. He did have on occasion selective hearing not responding to a verbal recall and no Pippa I DID NOT HAVE MY WHISTLE I did keep changing directions for a lot of the time when he was 20 meters ahead which worked and he looks most concerned to see me heading into the distance . Is this too risky or is this behaviour acceptable as I DO NOT want to risk any of the training I have done? It's just so lovely to see him doing what dogs do Any comments very much appreciated. Thanks Helen x
Re: Is this RISKY? Hi Helen. Sounds like you are doing really well with him, but I wouldn't let him go out of sight as he's essentially not under close control when you can't see him. Suggest you work on checking him if he looks like he's going to disappear or get out of the "close" distance ie 20 metres or so.
Re: Is this RISKY? Thanks David, easier said than done with Charlie as he likes to spend most of his time in the hedgerows and so can shoot through in a split second, so not sure how to stop him. Helen
Re: Is this RISKY? Helen, Helen, am I reading this right, you were walking Hattie AND Charlie together, and you were letting Charlie off the lead and he was coming back to you??? CAN YOU HEAR YOURSELF??? Do you realize how incredible this is, and can you remember how despairing you were just a few short months ago???????? David's right though, try not to let him get out of the 'control zone', as you really wouldn't want him suddenly to see a deer or whatever and the red mist to descend... I guess you will have to make that call yourself, only you know how much you can trust him. I take it Hattie's recall is good - she's probably a very good influence on him, so it's great that you can walk them together now. 8)
Re: Is this RISKY? Karen, yes you are reading this right, I am walking them together, Charlie on a harness though. I know it's pretty incredible but I don't want to tempt fate ??? I did manage to call him off a Pheasant chase yesterday with verbal command still feel he is a little unpredictable. Hattie's recall is good and she spends a large proportion of her time 'rounding' him up bless her - I do believe she thinks she is a sheep dog ;D. This works sometimes but he is quite a loner off lead, not too bothered about her, ball etc. but checking behind to see if I am still around. I am soooo relieved to be able to walk them together as it was becoming very tiring as I was walking many miles daily . I don't know about Lady's waist line expanding but mine is shrinking, and at 7 stone ringing wet that's not good ;D One thing I just want to check is if I verbally call "Charlie come" should I repeat it if he doesn't recall? Thanks Helen It's difficult as for me there is a lot at stake and I need to get it RIGHT.
Re: Is this RISKY? I call 'Poppy come', and if she doesn't I give it 10 seconds to sink in, then call once more, but never any more than that. Otherwise I think they start to believe you don't really mean it until you start bellowing and swearing!!!!! Actually Poppy's recall is very good, but if she is playing with another dog she gets so involved it is sometimes hard to get her attention. In that case I don't even call her until she is near enough that I can get her attention or until she happens to be looking at me. Then I call loudly and firmly, and start walking off in the other direction. That generally does it. And although I dont hand out treats very often any more, when she comes back from something that was a lot of fun, she gets loads of praise and a nice treat. But then you know all this stuff already... I just really wouldnt call Charlie more than once, or twice at the very most.
Re: Is this RISKY? Hi Karen, thank you for that and I have been doing that with Charlie. He always seems to be very busy almost cantering and won't stay close to me like Hattie, but I have been working on 'heel' work with his ball when he is off lead and he will do it even for a short while. I always feel uneasy that in a split second he could go, but I must try to relax and trust him ??? David, I will do as you suggest and try to keep him closer. Thank you. Helen x
