Today I had a very strange experience whilst walking Nando.. at my local woods he was off lead in an open area, and suddenly quite close to us both was a couple walking a big persian cat on an extendable lead!! He definitely saw the cat and acknowledged its presence.. however as soon as I called him back he turned around and ran straight to my side!!!

I could not believe it. On lead he lunges and barks at cats.. and as you all know his recall was something I really struggled with when he was younger.

Just another great reason why I believe in non-aversive, positive methods, they have worked so well for me.

a couple walking a big persian cat on an extendable lead!!

I only ever saw a couple try that once, they had not got 10 metres out of a Richmond car park & dogs were heading for it from a few directions, thankfully they came to their senses, picked it up & headed back towards their car, what stupid thing to think of to do in the first place.

Just another great reason why I believe in non-aversive, positive methods

Ah yes, its probably been passed down the centuries from the Romans, maybe be before that but I only know of ancient world recorded artefacts illustrating its use from that period.

see
http://bit.ly/1iJ8dlm

.

Well done Josh and Nando! And what weird people!!

Thanks for the link Hethspaw. Thankfully this incident was nothing like the other dogs trained using positive, treat based methods. You see I followed instructions from experts and built up his re-call around distractions over a period of time. Clearly those other dog owners haven't done that as they are expecting too much too soon from their dogs who are clearly not ready for that level of distraction and by the looks have things have already built up a big chase instinct/drive towards the deer.

What a peculiar video.

It does take hard work with some dogs around prey animals or cats - I know, I've done it with one of mine who has a HUGE prey drive.  If she got hold of a cat she would kill it without a second thought.  She has killed small pets of mine (my spare room is now solely for my chinchillas because of her) by breaking open their cages to let them out to hunt them, and when I got her she was super intense when she saw deer - fortunately the first time she saw one I'd already seen it as I didn't then know what she'd do, so I'd put her on lead just in case knowing how high her prey drive is.  She went bananas.

But the last time we saw one, she saw it first and gave chase; and spun on a sixpence to come back when I recalled her.  Last year I recalled her from several cats, one after she'd given chase and was only 20 or so feet away from it.  I can also recall her from my fence when next door's cats are out (mesh fence so full view of them).

There can be a tendency for people to jump the gun and assume that because Fido will recall with a rabbit in the next field, he will now do it when one runs under his nose - but that's human nature, and the 'I want it NOW' culture.  People expect too much too soon.  But put the work in and take it gradually, and it does work.  And it doesn't matter one bit what time the methods come from.

Well done Nando and well done you :-)

>Thanks for the link Hethspaw. Thankfully this incident was nothing like the other dogs trained...

Great reply!
It's a great feeling isn't it when you reap what you sow ~ as a Husky owner I'm always immensely proud when people chase us across the field or down the road, or on the London Underground (!) to come and comment on what a well behaved dog he is. We take great delight in telling people it's achieved without the use Sleazer Milan, quick fix or aversive methods... And if an 'independent' breed can do it any can!!!

That must be lovely! I couldn't take Nando on the underground.. far too busy for him. No matter what training he'd had he just isn't 'that sort of dog'- but it's amazing that you've got a husky of all breeds to be so well trained! Well done you and your dogs :)