Hi, I have a year old border/Norfolk terrier cross who is absolutely wonderful, and up until now has been really great off lead, coming back immediately when I call her even when another dog was approaching. But in the last week or so she seems to have changed completely, she is totally ignoring me when I call her, coming back eventually when she is ready, even when I run in the other direction she just stands and watches me then carries on sniffing. Then today after we had got completely soaked in the rain she ran to the other side of the field dissapeared through a bush and I finally found her in the field next to where we were walking playing with another dog, totally ignoring me. I felt like crying on the way home as I was so stressed, every walk this week has been the same and I dont know if I should just keep her on the lead for a while, while practising our recall somewhere safe. If anybody could offer some advice it would be gratefully accepted as up till last week I loved our walks and now I just seem to spend the walk getting cross with her.Please help !!!

Hi Sam,

I've always found that otherwise well behaved youngsters turn into mini monsters at some stage - in a small breed a year is probably about right :D  In my own it can happen anytime up until 2 years or more so think yourself lucky ;)

Try taking her somewhere different and use a long line, much enthusiastic chatter and loads of extra smelly treats while practicing recalls etc.  Persevere - your one time darling will eventually reappear.  This is just the "Kevin / Tracey" phase that they all go through.

Another point is she may be coming into season (unless of course she's been spayed already) and hormones affect them all differently too.

Keep your spirits up - enjoyable outings will return.  best wishes, Teri :)

Hi. Sorry to hear that walks aren't the fun they used to be..............I know how you feel !.
I'm guessing, if she's anything like my boy, she's found her own four feet and has become much more confident.
I had a wonderful first year then it just seemed that I didn't exist and had many teaful walks. He became, maybe understandibly, obsessed with rabbits and nothing would bring him back - apart from his own decision to.
It ended up with me pretty much going back to basics and keeping him on his long lead more often and starting recall again as I really didn't trust him.
Luckily, he's a dog who loves tennis balls so if I've got one he'll be with me !. He will still chase rabbits but if he knows he hasn't a chance he leaves it - before he'd just keep going !. I've even noticed that if he sees one in the distance he won't bother with it - it has to under his nose !. He's four now so he's matured a bit !.
The hardest thing was trying not to be cross with him. The first couple of times he ran off, when he did come back I'd really shout at him..............obviously totally the wrong thing to do as it probably made him worry that he was wrong coming back (if that makes sense !). Even now, when he comes to me after a run about I always make a huge fuss of him.
I'm sure things will calm down, but for your own peace of mind, and her safety, maybe go back to a lead for a while. Sounds like she's being a 'young lady' !.

Val

If I were you I'd have her on a long line for now - experience has taught me not to let them learn that they can run off and ignore you whenever they please!

Definitely don't let her practice the behaviour you don't want :)

I wondered - are you always calling her back/away from other dogs? as she may be very keen to socialise/investigate them.
If this is the case, she probably needs some dog friends :)

Lindsay
x

I do always try and let her say hello to other dogs if they are friendly and sometimes let them play together off lead. I think maybe I will follow your suggestions and keep her on the long lead for a while, which I think will be hard on us both as I do love seeing her run around and enjoy herself, but I guess she is just enjoying herself a little too much at the moment. So thanks for your suggestions.

A tip is to wait until she is tired/bored of playing and looking as if she will come back to you - then and only then recall her and give really good rewards like liver/chicken  or a toy game. Over time, you should find she will still return to you even if you call her just a little bit earlier...keep rewarding and gradually building  up on this, also sometimes in this situation and others, recall her and reward, then let her go again.

Use a release word such as "Ok" or "free!" for this. It's important as then she knows you are allowing her to go off again, and she's not just doing it herself :)

Lindsay
x

I agree with what everyone else has said. If a dog's off lead, it can learn very quickly that you can't get it back until it decides to come, so long lines are a godsend for reinforcing recall, together with praise and tasty treats. And if it helps, I've been through the selective deafness thing with mine too. ;)