I am so proud. Abby biggest problem is her recall, on her own no distractions she is perfect but when she is playing with other dogs she wont come as soon as I call her. Well with lots of practice when we were out last night we met another dog, I called her and she came back and walked to heel even when he came bounding up to her to play she didnt leave my side until I said go play, after 5 mins I called her to me to go home and she came first time. I was really pleased I guess that all the running away and hiding works, well until we turn into Kevin.
Mary

OOh - Mary, can you please tell me what you did? I've got a 8mo Great Dane puppy who is like what Abby used to be like! She is generally good about coming when there are no distractions but the minute she is playing with a dog, she goes deaf! Although I tend not to call her in those situations as I was told not to give a command which cannot be enforced and I don't want her to learn to ignore a "Come", so I usually go over and try to catch her...but I would really like to get her on a reliable Recall when playing with other dogs.
Would really appreciate any tips you can give me!
Thanks,
Hsin-Yi
ps, how old is Abby? Could it be an age thing?

Hi Hsinyi
Abby is 9mths. What we did is if she didnt come back when called I would run and hide behind the first thing I could find(a tree or a dustbin) if there wasnt anything about I would run like hell and keep running even when she started to come to me, she is more afraid of losing me than I am of losing her(or so Im told). you get to look like a complete fool but who cares as long as it works.You should see us preparing her for joggers running about with arms waving all over the place.
Good luck
Mary

Thanks for the tips, Mary! But did you do the hide/run thing when she was playing with other dogs? What if she ignores you and continues playing? I'm worried that if I just leave her and hide when she is with other dogs (or run off far away), then what if something happens (like a dog fight) and I'm not there to intervene? (I'm constantly paranoid that because of her size, she'll harm another dog - even though she has never been aggressive).

Would Abby notice if you ran off or "disappeared" when she's playing with other dogs? Honey hardly looks up when she's playing and seems completely oblivious to where I am or what I'm doing. :(

Hsin-Yi

I let her know I'm going as I am running away, hide somewhere that you can still see her it will make you feel better, most of the time you wont even get as far as hiding.  I know whwt you mean about her hurting other dogs Abby has never shown any signs of aggression still I panic what if just this once she bites someone or another dog, hopfully as they get older we will panic less I doubt it.
Mary