Could I have your advice please. My rescue dog is improving all the time on recall but the problem is she loves other dogs.  Every time we see one on the fields (and she can spot one at quite a distance!) she makes a mad dash to go and play with it.  If I see the dog first I put her on the lead but all the time she is turning round and looking at the other dog.  As soon as I release her again she is up on her hind legs looking to see if it's still around.  If she does get to the other dog she just circles it wagging and then will come back, she just wants to play.  She does this even if Max (her son) is with us, and you would think whe would rather just carry on playing with him.  I've tried taking her favourite squeaky ball to get her attention back, treating and fussing when she takes notice of me etc.etc. I know I've got to make myself the most interesting thing to her but no amount of playing, treating or attention seems to sway her interest in other dogs.

I would resist putting her on the lead- as she may start to feel that is a punishment, installing a fear into her when she see's other dogs,
your'e on the right tracks by distracting her, if its really not working- try a whistle, horn- anything that startles her into looking at you- then you can call her back - hopefully!...
but do try to resist putting her on lead- as she'll associate coming to you with the lead- and may start being difficult to put on the lead at end of walks?

goodluck- magz

Thanks. In every other way she's great.  Friendly with people, but not over-friendly, she just sits and waits if I have a conversation with anyone, doesn't jump up.  At the end of the walk, I shout 'wait' and she just stands still and lets me put the lead on. I see what you are saying about the lead, I'm just sometimes nervous in case the other dog isn't too friendly.  If she goes to the other dog Max sometimes follows and he's only a pup and so happy, he just thinks everyone and everything is going to be nice to him.  Do you think I should try taking them seperately for walks some of the time so that I can not put her on the lead and see if I can stop her running to other dogs when it's just me and her?

Actually, you are being very responsible putting her on the lead when you see another dog ;)  you don't always know how other dogs will react to her and if the dog has a had a difficult start to life then your dog racing up could well spark off unwanted aggression :(

If you want to avoid her connecting coming back with being put on the lead, then all you have to do is call her back to you regularly during her walk and reward her, either with praise and petting or with food - keep her guessing as to which ;)  and then release her :) Sometimes put her on the lead for a few seconds and release her, sometimes put her back on the leash and walk 5/10 yards before releasing her, keep her guessing as to what will happen and she will find you more interesting to be with :) :)  By doing this you are also working on her recall when there is less to distract her :)  by the time you see another dog, coming back to you is just part of the game you both play while out :D

You should be walking and training them together and separately so that Max will learn to be confident without her and will learn to listen to you rather than follow her, and she will learn to listen to you and not be leading Max astray :) you will then have two dogs under control and with good recall, which is so much more fun than two dogs taking their cues from each other ;)

Ddoes she ever get to play with other dogs?  I woudl put ehr on the lead as now but ask the other dogs owner if it is OK for ehr to play, most times it will be.  If she gets to play iwth other dogs then they won't be such a novelty to ehr, and she will be easiuer to recall if she knows she will be rewarded with a game with the other dog more often than not, and with a treat or game of ball with you at other times.

interest in other dogs is perfectly normal! why not take her to a park some times where she can mix and play with other dogs without running off to get to them?

We had the same problem with our rehomed dog when we first got him, and still now about 10 percent of the time. If we see another dog we tell him to sit then stay, we then put him on the lead and take him over to the other dog and ask if it's ok to let them sniff and wot not. Or if the owner doesn't mind we let them off together. I feel it is best to do this for his own safety as not all dogs are friendly. He now sits without being asked as his reward is most of the time getting to meet the other dog. It did take a while though as he found the temptation so hard as he is a doggy lover too.

I find that this method has worked well for my own dogs that are freindly bit also for frustrated large breed puppy owners too. 

Often owners of thelarge breeds as pups find that people aviod them or are worried about their dogs if loose, so out of courtesy they leash them, but this leads to the pups being very frustrated and trying t6o avoid being put on lead if they spot a dog first. 

Now the ones that have tried this controlled meeting and play method have found their dogs willing to co-opertate and of course end up with pleasant interactions with appropriate dogs.

Yes, she does get to play with other dogs, there are a few regulars on the fields and I let her play with the friendly ones.  I'll try getting her to sit first and then letting her play with them. I love to see her enjoying herself, I just want her to be under control so that when we go somewhere new, for instance when we go on holiday, I can let her have a run on the beach and not worry too much.