Our boisterous 7 month old lab has just completed his first basic obedience training recently but whenever we let him off the lead, i.e. in the woods or park, he runs off and doesn't respond to recall until he decides he is ready. This is becoming a problem especially if there are other dogs or small children in the distance. We only let him off generally when the area is free of other dogs etc. He started responding to recall really well so this is very frustrating but it doesn't seem natural to keep him on the lead all the time. Any tips please?
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! Hi and welcome If it were me, I would take him right back to basics , practice recall on your garden and in the house . When outdoors , use a long line, not a flexi lead but a long training line so that you are totally in control . I understand your reluctance to let him off lead around other dogs but its only by doing this that he will learn to socialise and recall so again, use the long line around other dogs and children . It is very normal for dogs to become rather naughty at this age, they are feeling their feet and gaining confidence , I would also recommend you buy Pippas book Total Recall or The Happy Puppy Handbook, both from Amazon and really useful guides to own , good luck
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! Thanks for your quick reply. I think we will try the back to basics approach on a longer lead and see how we go. He goes to a as socialisation centre once a week so is good around people generally and other dogs but he seems to think everything was put on this earth for him to play with so I think we need to reign him in a bit without affecting his lovely temperament. Thanks again
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! I would certainly recommend the Total Recall approach. It breaks everything down into small steps for you to work through. Good luck! If you have any pictures, it would be great to see them!
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! hi use a long line but keep it fairly short to start with find a quiet area and walk randomly around constantly changing direction and each time you change say this way i did this when i got milly she was 6months when i got her and had fairly good recall but this now works even thogh she goes further away in the woods she always comes back to this way command sometimes i treat her but not always have some high value treats as well this did work very quickly most labs are very quick to learn new things let us know how you get on
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! hi i was happy with millys recall but that has now gone very bad as she has started running far away asoon as she is let off lead she runs flat out and far away she does come back but takes a long time today she went for longer than ever i have not tried a long line yet as she does need to run a lot but think i might have to start from scratch again no treats make a difference at first when she is let off lead
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! If you can let him off with NO small children and dogs around, do so and soon as he legs it one way, you turn immediately in the opposite direction, when he looks back and you are not there, he will whizz to find you, as soon as he passes you again, turn the opposite way to him! Hide behind a tree, jinx up another path, keep him guessing. Remember it is your dog who needs to keep his eye on you. Recalls can inadvertently lead to the dog ignoring you, they know where you are, why should they worry and once they ignore one recall they can learn to ignore more!
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! milly runs far away as soon as she is off lead she can not see me run the other way i do try that when she comes back but not helping yet i take cheese or cooked sausages as treats but not having much luck i am looking for a trainer to help but have not found one yet
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! Have you got Total Recall by Pippa? I strongly recommend if not that you get it and work through the exercises with Milly because they WORK. I cannot stress enough not letting your dog run off as this will only get worse and then it's the hardest behaviour to undo . We have spent 3 years with our rescue dog Charlie who was an absconder undoing the harm this had done, he's not perfect but he's a lot better than he was. You will need to use a front fastening harness and a long training line for this training and up your training treats to maybe warm roast chicken, does Milly like retrieving? Good luck with finding a trainer
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! [quote author=charlie link=topic=9281.msg142435#msg142435 date=1423401734] Have you got Total Recall by Pippa? [/quote] Oh yes, I can recommend this 1000%! ;D
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! No she may not see you run the other way, but when she eventually looks back she will see you are not there and panic and then she will come looking for you. At the moment I think you are 'bribing' her with the food she ignores. She needs to be aware that you are her safety blanket
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! hi yes milly does retrieve a ball is favourite if we go to our local playing field with a ball she stays near me and wont run off i am very upset that she has started to run off in the woods as i put a lot of time and effort into teaching her this way which still works ok when she can see me now need to find a harness i saw one advertised as being 3 parts so if one section broke you could just replace that but can not remember the name of the company
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! have found the harness now will order one the book is coming tomorrow
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! hi i have had a quick look at the book i think the about turn walk sounds good we have woods with long straight tracks that we can practice that on she does not always run away if we are at the local fields she stays near so think i will start that and see how we get on
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! today was our first outing with the harness and long line i just went the usual walk in the woods and let about half the line out and milly was really good on the way back i tried to let the whole line trail along while holding the end and that went ok will be having one to one hour with gundog trainer soon
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! Do be careful if you are holding a long line, I knew a chap who was cut to the bone by the long line sliding through his hand as the dog ran. Best, I think, if you put some knots in the line and then you can step on it. Or wear very thick gloves!
Re: my labrador keeps running off when let off the lead..help!! yes i have put some knots in it and only went slowly she did not seem to mind being on the line did not pull quite pleased with our first try
