Keisha's (GSP) coming upto 2 and i am still having really big trouble with her recall.  She has seperation anxiety and has done since I can remember.  However, she completly ignores me on a walk, if I can get her facing me, she still looks straight through me or round me.  She will do watch me on command in the house, and therefore probably a generalisation issue, but I can not get her attention to generalise it.

Got a theory that she feels safe when I am there and therefore pretends that I am not, but when I leave her she feels unsafe and therefore panics and barks and howls.

the problem is that i really do not know to solve it and i wish i could let her off her lead, so any suggestions would be very welcome.

Sarah (sorry, i pressed the wrong button at the begining)

Hi,

I think you should forget about your theory about the link between the SA and the recall.  For now, think of them as 2 separate things and deal with them as you would if they existed on their own.

For the recall:  Call her to you around the house constantly, for a really really tasty treat.  Like a bit of smoked fish.  Garlic sausage.  Different things - don't always use the same thing.  If there are others in your family, give every one a little bag of treats and send them to different rooms or parts of the house.  Practise calling her in turn and give her a treat when she gets to you.  Try this same exercise in the garden too.

When you've done this for a week, several times a day, around your house...

Then take her out on a long line (not a retractable lead - a long line - the longer, the better), hold the end of it and practise calling her for the tasty treat outside too.  (Every time you go out, you need to prepare a little bag of random tasty treats.)  Don't let go of the lead yet.  You might need to play tuggy with her and lots of other games to tire her out because she won't be off the long line during this week.  If she doesn't come when you call, don't call again - just gently reel her in on the long line and then give lots of praise when she gets to you and immediately tell her to "Go play" again (or whatever your release word is).  Don't give a treat in this case.  Only give a treat when you don't need to reel her in, and when she comes to you of her own accord, immediately, after one call.

If all's going well, and she is 95% of the time coming to you, then you can drop the long line on the ground and let her trail it.  And keep practising calling her for a tasty treat. 

When you get to this stage and are 100%, you can either cut the long line progressively shorter so she doesn't notice that she's suddenly free, or you can take it off entirely - this depends on the dog and your judgement.

Don't ever call her more than once, because you are teaching her to ignore you or you are teaching her that she is allowed to wait for 5 calls before coming, which she is not. 

It's about managing the environment so that she can't learn it's possible to run off, with a long line, while all the time drilling her into coming when called by giving her a good reason (tasty treat). 

For the SA, here's a link: http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2002/sa.htm

onetwothree, that is a brilliant idea about recalling around the house :) I am having to go back to 'basics' with my girls as I've let training lapse somewhat. Really like the clear, easy to read way you replied there.
Thank you :)

Edited : oops just realised, what can you reward a dog with that can't have treats? how would you master the recall without treats - just ideas needed really please

Hi

I know some people see these as a quick fix and not realy dealing with the root of the issue, but I recently bought a remote spray collar for another behavioural problem around the house. When I had solved that problem I then thought I would give it a go with the recall. When I call Milo back and he ignored the call I pressed the button and the collar sprays, brings his attention back to you and then call again and treat when they return. I ahve had very good results and the urge to go and play with other dogs has gone. He is still happy to run around and play, so it hasn't changed his behaviour in that sence but he is a lot better behaved and responsive. I found the trainer and lots of other cool stuff on http://www.britishdog.co.uk
I hope this is of some help.

The main problem to using a spray collar is that the dog soon becomes "collar wise" and knows when he is wearing it and when he isn't.

The Americans have got this down to a T with the ecollar - they have created "dummy" ecollars, which the dog wears for weeks before "collar conditioning" begins.  The ecollar when used is also never put on the dog immediately before training, to reduce the risk of the dog associating the collar with being shocked. 

A lot of thought and planning goes into using the ecollar and preventing the dog from associating it with the shock, and the same principles go for the spray collar.  It's unlikely that most pet owners will take these precautions.  By the way, I'm not advocating ecollar usage, just trying to show some of the thought which needs to happen before you use any kind of collar.

Unless you want your dog to permanently wear the collar, every day, for the rest of his life, it's probably better to train a good recall without it.

thanks for both of your replies.  I have used the long line idea, without much effect over a period of a month or so, because she still looks through me, or faces away from me if i reel her in, constantly watching what else is going on in the environment, as she is bird mad, and where I live there are an awful lot of pigeons and seagulls.  I will keep on persevering even though it is down heartening when you see no progress what so ever.

I never attach her halti to the long line, but she does keep it on, that is correct isn't it?
Sarah

I think you need to do more repetitions around the house and garden, to incredibly tasty treats. 

When she is focussed on the birds, just go bananas - hold the long line, whoop and run away from her, waving your hands in the air, woof and growl at her - she will chase after you.

You can leave her with the Halti on, if you want, as long as it's not attached to the long line - if you attach it to the long line she could do injury to her neck.

GSPs, being a member of the HPR sub group of gundogs, are bred to be bird mad! :)

Why not harness her air scenting abilities and encourage her to hunt for things for you so that when you are out you can harness her instincts in a mutually enjoyable activity which will get her more focused on you and hence will improve your recall?

when she is tired, she will put her nose down but she prefers to air scent, when she does point then i praise her and say ok-her release word and then carry on on the walk.  I will give your suggestions some more work on the ideas you have suggested.

Sarah