Ok I am a first-time owner and my dog isn't perfect (we are having problems with recall and I know how serious that is).

BUT I did research the breeder/breeder, she did go to puppy training at 12 weeks, I read books for months before I got her(Ian Dunbar -what to do before you get your puppy and after you get your puppy, Gwen Bailey, Jan Fenell - to name a few)and trained with treats and praise from the minute she came home (and (in my opinion!) I am not totally without a brain). 

So I get really disheartened when I approach people about the issue of recall and get treated like I really had no right to get a dog in the first place - I know something hasn't quite worked with my approach but it really isn't for the want of trying.

I just wonder if some people have a more assertive personality with dogs that I don't have.

Admittedly, some people (when they realise that I am not a total idiot and I didn't just buy a cute puppy on a whim) do try to suggest solutions but today I've had a dose of the other and I feel a bit disheartened. 

Down but not out - I'm determined to solve this problem.

Poor you - the little s*ds can get us down sometimes, can't they? Our Piglet was a case in point, and was right little so-and-so with his recall when he hit the Kevin stage. The only thing to do was be persistent. I took him out singly more often, and when he did go out with the others he didn't get let off at the same time as his brother (who got very miffed at having to be on the lead more). But after a few months of concentration and 'back-to-basics' he came good, and is now very (though not 100%) reliable. Even with livestock.

So hang in there girl, and don't despair. We've all been there.
:)

Hang on in there - you've had some sounds advice from others on CD - keep working with your dog through these teenager moments and you'll have dog to be proud of :)

Id just like to echo what digger has said. Bradley is the same with recall sometimes he just sticks two paws in the air and runs away. Nobodies dog is perfect, I bet the person who gave you a hard time is struggly to stop thier dog from pooing in  peoples shoes after 7 years.

I know it's hard, but try not to feel disheartened :)

We have all been there - only one of my dogs never had a recall problem at all, the others have all had the typical adolescent (as someone described a similar scenario) "daddy or chips" moments :D

Try to remember that it is a natural thing, the dog is growing and learning, hormones may be kicking in, and so on. 

It is something that needs to be worked through, that's all ;)

Some ideas that got me through were: judicious use of long lead, toy training (ie special toy kept for recall only), never calling away from other dogs (you can practice and perfect this later when you have more control), if the dog is playing - call when it looks tired and is about to return anyway. Finally, try never to call it if you think there is a possibity it may ignore the command, as this will be training it to ignore you. And dont keep calling if he DOES ignore.

On walks, practise changing the route, hiding, turning back etc and run away and mean it!!! All these help but it is the hard work which will pay off in the long run.

Have fun - and get yourself a box of choccies ;)

Lindsay

Thanks for the support and suggestions - I particularly liked the last one - and a bottle of wine to go with those chocolates do you think?

I actually teach happy recalls with my pupils right from the start the dogs getting lots of praise toy or titbit as long as they come towards the handler No sit in front & of course on lead then with lead on & me holding it handler standing right in front of dog & running backwards  calling the down immediately

The sit/down taught separately then when they have a grasp of what is expected the handler taking one step away from dog erc until they can get a good distance away & then we try off lead me holding the collar etc until I just stand there & gradually I back away

This means when the dog is outside away & from the club the recall is a happy event & I advise my pupils to do a recall when there is no distractions clip on the lead do a bit of heelwork then release the dog again

We always get a few hiccups somewhere along the line due to the "Kevin teenage stage" but if the basics are taught right you will win though(says she whose cavaliers are 3 year old/18 month old Kevins at times)

Keep going it will some right

PS don't think much of the Doggie listener who tells you not to cuddle your dog as it invades their personal space :O

Blimey, I know exactly how you are feeling.  We had the model Rottweiler pup - fab with recall not terribly bothered about other dogs.  Then he hit the beginning of the terrible teens.  Now his hormones are far more interesting than Mummy calling him back and he wants to be every dogs 'friend'.  Don't give up I won't but I know it can be really frustrating.........  I always call in a high pitched excited voice and have titbits, it doesn't always work so I do resort to a retractable lead and then can give a gentle reminder if he doesn't listen.  Keep plugging at it and I'm sure you'll reap rewards in the end.

It will get better :)

You just have to persevere :) Moose my two and a half year old has been a constant battle to get a perfect recall.

I took her out for the first time on her own yesterday after ten days of post OP lead walking and she was perfect !! :D .
She responds to my whistle now without a thought and gets to me and sits and looks at me with that ' Have I done it right mummy ? ' look :D

It has been a battle of wills over the last year as she is very headstrong but once they get past a certain age and with the right encouragement and correct technique, you will get there !! ;)

Hang in there as everybody has said we have all been there and read the book !!

If you want too have a good book to do basic obedience and training then next week hopefully a certain book is scheduled for it's first print run ! :D

Anybody who wants more details PM me !! :D

Lucy
xx

Don't get disheartened! Even the most advanced trainers cannot get a perfect recallmediately. All dogs have their own minds and until the teenage stage is over (and in some breeds, never!) no training in the world is going to create a dog with a perfect recall. I went through a stage of awful recalls with my border collie, now almost two. I persevered for a long time and now she is 95% perfect. I have followed exactly the same technique right from the beginning with my retriever, now 10 months, and she is still far from reliable. With a long line she is fine, treats and no distraction,fine, but the problem is any sort of distraction and she doesn't want to know, and that is because you're the wide world is still exciting to her. She is learning, slowly, but of course she is going through a teenage stage.
It sounds like you have done lots of research and that is the most important thing. the I get any well meaning but very annoying people that i meet out on walks telling me that the key is a pocket full of treats and i smile politely, but quite frankly after training my other dog for two years, in obedience and agility, i never leave the house without my pockets bulging with treats! (and poo bags, clickers, whistles, e.t.c.)
Don't give up, it'll be worth it in the end.

Hi Matilda, it happens to us all. This is a hard stage but you will win through it. :) Im just coming out the other end of Kevin phase with Morse and like you hes my first dog. At times I have wondered why I thought I could train a dog, I have cried in public places and at times given way to hysterical laughter. Hes improved a thousand percent through patience, persistence and maturing himself as you cannot put an old head on young shoulders. Hes learned, I've learned so much and have more authority and confidence with him now - I can read him like a book and get that one step ahead, winning his respect. You will be amazed at how much better you feel in a few months. Keep in touch and heres a wee story to keep you going. A friend competes in Working Trials with her dogs, these dogs follow her without leads and turn on a sixpence. Used to make me feel such a clot ( shes a lovely encouraging lady BTW) well we met em out the other morning and Morse started over, I recalled him in case she was training, and her young dog came tanking after Morse slinging her furious owner a deafie :D After a short burst of parade ground roars, she returned to my friend not one whit abashed. So dogs are dogs not robots which is why we love them.

I am doing recall with my 51/2 year old bitch.  I have only had her sincce the end of November '03 and she is a right pest.  She is not let off the lead but I have a training lead on her with about 15ft of line attached to that.  Jasper comes back no problem, Tammy looks at me as if to say 'not on your nelly' and saunter's off in the other direction.  I am determined to win this battle however long it takes.  At least you are making the effort to train your dog so keep with it.