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Please help me with recall before I lose the plot!!!!

As most of you know I have reuben the monster, who can be very bolshy and cheeky at times; however lately his recall is slipping again and he is ignoring the whistle more and i end up retrieving him and going home in a huff.
I am not sure how to really get this bad habit sorted and he is not interested in food or toys particulary and i am not sure that going back on a long line is the answer. He sems to get really excited and goes into his own world and I am getting more frustrated daily.

Does anyone have advice on what would be a good strategy to work on this aspect of training as I do not want to accept partial recall and feel like I am on edge all the time when on walks. My frustration and anger is obviously detrimental to our relationship and I am determined to persevere with training and do whatever necessary.

Would it help if i found a gundog trainer? Any help would be very much appreciated.

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I finally cracked the dodgey recall by taking Benson to an old, enclosed tennis court and putting him on a long line with knots every couple of feet.  I let him go to have a sniff round and then gave the command and if he didn't respond, I stood on the line so he felt a tug.  As soon as he looked up, I'd recall him and give him lots of praise when he came back.  He soon got the message and I've not had too much trouble since.  The "hide behind tree" trick early on in the walk is also a good idea, he then makes sure he knows where I am and doesn't stray too far.  I've started using a whistle as it's easier when we're in the woods.

Poor Louise!!!

Think out of the box! He is a boy, a teenage boy and he doesnt rate you much at the moment. you  are grumpy and you aint much fun.

 

How do you call him and when do you call him to return to you

What do you do when he does and what do you do when he doesnt. answer these for me please and in the meantime buy a whistle and everytime you give him ANYthing that is edible peep the whistle three times before you give it to him.

 

the whistle replaces your voice which he isnr listening to and the whistle means some really tasty thing.

Walk him hungry - even if it means changing feedig routine for a while.

 

Remember he is very clever and you just need to work out how to be smarter than him.

Finn Louise is confused enough poor thing - if you add a hand signal at this early stage she really will be a goner!!

I'm so glad Louise started this thread because Errol has started playing up as well (must be the Spring air). He's 18 months now. We recently had to resort to walking him in different locations because of B&H Council are introducing sheep grazing into every known public green space (a conservationist's dream but a dog owner's nightmare). As a result I'm now walking in areas I don't know so well / don't like as much and I'm not sure whether this has made a difference.

Last week we were doing a round in the park on the long leash for 15mins and then another 45mins off leash and all was fine with him not straying too far away and playing little treat games etc. It was cold, wet, windy and very slithery underfoot so I was glad to get back to the car when the Peril suddenly decided that now really wasn't time for going home. He took one look at our car and off he went in the opposite direction barking, chasing seagulls, skidding into puddles. To make matters worse he would come running back to me and then veer off just before I could grab him. He was completely ignorant to my calls, waving treats, walking in the opposite direction etc. And he was getting closer and closer to a really busy road - I expected him to end up in front of a car. I was livid!

But surprisingly what got him back in the end was not shouting 'Errol' and 'Come' at the top of my voice but something I do at home which is a really silly "Errooooooool" and "Where are youuuu? Thiiiis waaaaaaay" in a sort of high-pitched singsong. He came willingly for a treat and I was able to put him on the leash no probs. I read somewhere that a dog will most definitely not come when the owner shouts its name angrily or fearfully so we need to train them to respond to something else which ALWAYS ends with a reward or cuddle. I'm not saying this works all the time but it may be worth a try?

 

The next day he started playing up on the way back to the car we just got the footie out of the booth and bounced the ball around for another 10-15mins. As it had already been a long day he knackered himself out really quickly and was happy to be put back on the leash. Sometimes I think the trick is to just stay ahead of your dog at all times. :)

H

ey thank you everyone for your replies - Happy to report now since this post back in october, that Reuben has almost 100% recall now. kept with the 3 peeps on the whistle and tasty rewards. Even when i call in my cheery high pitched tones, he will come to me and have his lead put on quite happily. often when i m out and then suddenly cant see him, I whistle and he keeps running immediately, people are very impressed and i feel so smug! When walking now, he will often stop if too far in front and wait for my handle signal to direct which way or even wait when i use the hand signal. He is coming up 20 months now and such a good boy and walks a real pleasure, especially as I have got rid of the bad habit of running down alleyways etc. I am now reaping the benefits of all the training. Of course he is cheeky and keeps nipping upstairs to bring down a white teddy of mine from my bed and trying to hide it in his bed as he is obseessed with it, lol. he is hugely funny and a real character. When I arrive home from college on a tuesday - i cam see through my large lounge window the most perfect sight, ie, Reuben sat on my mums lap on the sofa, my little boy next to them, my mums dog (miniture Dasch) in between and the cat!

It can be done, this recall lark!!!!

It certainly helps if you've got the recall in place.  It does take the stress out of walks and makes it more enjoyable.

Glad to hear that you've cracked it, Louise!

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