Took Dexter out tonight at 10 pm,Chris usually does that walk alone.There is a rabbit in the park.....yes all you country folk A rabbit,UNO!its always out at this time of night ,we think its a pet that has been let loose and sadly for Dexter he believes it is an alien as our poor gun dog has never seen a rabbit before! Anyway Chris does his own thing about it which basically comes down to an on lead wrestling match....He won't let him off in that area since he wouldn't come back once and Chris came home picking bougainvillea thorns out of himself as he finally caught him in a bush.......I digress.I was talking to a spaniel owner about it saying I was trying to get brave and let Dexter have a chase to see how he reacted to me calling him back and he said give it a go because the rabbit disappears down one of its holes so the dog will give up the speed chase and just go on a mad sniffing rampage wondering where it's gone.... Anyway Dexter was off lead and he saw the rabbit and set off like a rocket.....and good enough,it disappeared as described.......I called him a couple of times and he stopped and looked at me but didn't come so on the third I called him and when he looked at me I ran in the other direction and he came straight after me and stopped in a sit for his treat.......good boy,this might sound sloppy to the experienced owners but this felt good to me,first time dog owner........however now the crux......This park is in the middle of our estate ,set back from the roads but paths come off it that lead to roads and whilst it was 10 pm there are still cars about and its not very well lit.I KNOW I should have let him go again but I was scared in case the rabbit shot out again and headed off down a path so I put him straight on his lead...... :-[ :-[ :-[ some reward hey for coming back......he did get chicken and loads and loads of praise and I lay on the floor and had a massive roll around with him so he seemed happy enough and just carried on walking nicely without a backward glance at where the rabbit was .......but I'm kicking myself now that I wasn't brave.There's always a fear in me that he will run away and whilst without distractions his recall is brilliant ........I wonder will I ever have confidence and be relaxed about this .....I feel less anxious in the Desert because there isn't the danger of cars and I allow him a further range and apart from if he gets into a run with one of his dog pals....he never goes far and even then he checks in....sorry I'm beating myself up out loud now and rambling Gnite ;D
Re: Missed Opportunity..... angela dont beat yourself up, you was very brave to have him off lead especially as chris normally does the walk .......what a proud moment for you and the lovely dexter
Re: Missed Opportunity..... Angela, if I had been in that situation I too would have put Dexter back on lead, as you say it's not well lit and cars around, we must always keep our dogs safe. The positives are he came back when you called him, the rabbit survived When you set out on your Total Recall you will be able to work through all levels of distractions and eventually blow your whistle and he will come back, but as I know only too well you have to work through the exercises and it won't happen over night. There will be many more opportunities so don't beat yourself up Dexter did well under the circumstances tonight. You have a right to feel good. I spent a long time waiting to see Charlie running towards me whilst I blow my recall whistle and his sits firmly infront of me for his reward but I still have a long way to go. Keep going your confidence will grow, even mine has with the naughtly Charlie boy!! Helen xx
Re: Missed Opportunity..... I realised the other day I have made the mistake of putting Amy back in the lead after she has recalled back from a dog. I left her off the other day and she sat for her treat but then was off again before I had even given it you her! ???
Re: Missed Opportunity..... Sounds good to me too Angela. I think its all about small steps and building up your confidence. Our trainer says if you don't believe you can do it, then you are less likely to achieve it. He's right I know, but I can't get away from the "I must make sure she is safe" feeling. I know exactly what you mean about disappearing off after a rabbit - the exact reason I don't let her off lead in our public park. There is an unsecured exit and lots of bunnies ......and a very busy A road a spit away I would say tonight was a definite result for both you and Dex 8)
Re: Missed Opportunity..... Just to add and not very pleasant I will say sorry now, the son of a neighbour of mine had the most beautiful Golden Retriever - Mabel aged 2 years old and they live in London. They let Mabel off lead in a park, she spotted something and gave chase and ran out through an open gate and was killed on the road. You never know what they see that you don't, so better to be safe than sorry, tomorrow is another day. :'( Helen x
Re: Missed Opportunity..... oh helen that brought tears to my eyes, my biggest fear is the roads.....once jasper ran out the door i rugby tackled him to the floor,i had heard a car and thought oh my god what am i going to do :-\ now i have him sitting at roadsides, as you say who knows what they see before we do
Re: Missed Opportunity..... Roads are always a worry - I had no problem with letting previous dog off leash and he always came when called, but sometimes I would let him come with me when I got the mail, across the street from our cul-de-sac. So he would get a head start on me and be across the road before I could check it was safe (beyond the mailbox was a park that we would do frisbee in, so he was always eager to dash there). I had trained him on "lie down" so I always made him lie down and wait until I could join him at the curb and we could cross together. He always obeyed, bless him, but it was always a bit of heart-in-mouth for me. The road was not a busy one, or I would not have taken the chance. It got to where I would not have to use the command, he would just run to the curb and then lie down, looking back at me. The tricky part got to be making him stay until I was able to see if anything was coming - he would be ready to spring up as soon as I got what he judged to be "close enough".....
Re: Missed Opportunity..... I think that Dexter had ample reward and I reckon I would have put him back on lead too! I always play it very safe near roads. Dexter did well to come back from the rabbit and you did the right thing in not pushing your luck
Re: Missed Opportunity..... Ah you've all made me feel a lot better....thankyou.he was great in the Desert today,we went out with his quiet pal Loco a white German Shep......Dex is the ring leader in that duo for sure and he responded 100%. He's not forgotten his whistle either ;D so continuing to train that for recall.....although we are still only in the house and garden......we will get there
Re: Missed Opportunity..... Safety comes first Angela, and you did give him treats and a game, so it wasnt a case of 'I came back and she put me straight on the lead and took me home, wont do that again in a hurry...' 8)
