Hi

My 8 month whippet as started a annoying habit and i want to nip it in the bud pronto.

When we are out for a walk I let her of and she has a fantastic run. She has excellent at recall, doesnt run away. When it is time to put her lead on she will come to me but stand just out of arms reach so I cant put it on. If I take a step towards her she will move back. My other dog is no problem and i put her on the lead. The last couple of times we have used tactics to catch her, eg we make a fuss of looking at something on the floor and whippet being so nosy has to come over to see then I can catch her, but I dont want to do this I want her to come to me and stand while I put the lead on. I have treid calling her first but it makes no difference.

She has been great up till now. Occasionally she would push her luck and take her time but she always came to me and stood. Today she came to me and when I walked she walked beside me. Also today we went through the woods were she was of, I had to put her on the lead which took me about ten mins to catch her, we walked up a farm track and back into the woods were i let her of again so its not like putting the lead on  always means end of walk and home. I have always made a point when she is off to call her to me and make a fuss of her when she comes so I am not only calling her when it is lead time

Any suggestions.

Wendy

I think alot will be to do with the age... I have a 6 month old and i have a long line attatched to her, so when she is off and then decides to see recall as a big game, i only have to be within 30-40ft of her to re catch her :-D  she still gets the freedom of the run as she won't go completely out of sight and comes within feet of you on a recall sometimes coming all the way back, but the times she doesn't i have the reassurance of the line that i can grab her without having to literally grab her ;-) I also call mine back all the way round when walking so probably about 5 times or so, so they don't automatically think it is hometime when I do call them. Sometimes i put them on lead halfway round and then release again.

Hi

i do have a long line but I would be scared to use it incase she got it tangled on something. When she is off the lead she just runs and runs. in the woods she darts in and out the trees, the field in a huge big circle, Never goes  to far away from me but just loves running. I do call her back to me and she will come. I make a fuss of her and she is of again.

Wendy

If she comes when called then can you not just do that and then put the lead on. Once the lead is on a high value treat that she only gets could then be given. Don't change the recal just because she is having a lead put on.
My little dog used to be a little so and so for having her lead on until I used her fav treat and it was only used for that time. She soon loved having her lead on.

Hi

I wish it was that easy lol

She comes when I call her but when i bend down to put the lead on she steps back so I cant reach or she will stop just out of arms reach.

I will try the treats. I was using them for a while but it got to the stage with her she wouldnt do anything unless she saw a treat so I backed of a bit with them. I think I will go back to using them sparingly for putting the lead on only.

Hubby reminded me earlier my Jack russell went through this aswell. He reminded me of the time I phoned him on my mobile to come and catch the little darliing as i had been trying for 20 mins and was about to murder her if i could catch her of course. She is excellent now and I had completely forgot about it so hopefully Megan will be the same to.

Dogs lol

Wendy

Hi Wendy,
If it were one of mine going through that "phase", I'd bring lots of extra tasty treats on every walk. When she was off the lead, I'd call her back several times, give her the treat and at the same time put the lead on. Then I'd quickly release her again, giving a "free" signal. This I'd repeat several times during her "off the lead time", so she realizes being put on the lead isn't the end of the world. Just make sure you do it all exactly the same way each time, or she will make out when it's actually time to stay on the lead and go home, if she's anything like mine ;-)
Good luck,Karen :-)

My dog still does this occasionally.  So embarassing when everytime you take a step forward they take a step or two further away.  What I find tends to work is taking a step back instead.  When I start stepping backwards she starts coming towards me and I praise her.

At training we were told never to step towards them if they haven't come right up to you but to run a few steps backward making an excited sort of noise. Sometimes it works so may be worth a try :)

I get this sometimes too - but I get reminded about what we learnt in puppy classes because my agility trainer was also one of the puppy trainers.  He always told us to encourage the dog to come right up close (using the command close) and sit in front - achieved by making room with feet and legs and luring with a treat. - walking backwards if necessary.  I know what you mean by speed - we meet a whippet regularly on our walks and he loves to play chase with my dog.  The speed is tremendous. A long line does inhibit and gets tangled in undergrowth and covered with what ever it gets dragged through!!!  I used one for a while but the dog knows the difference and acts accordingly.   Oh and if you let the least little bit of frustration show in your voice - don't they just know it! 

Hi

The treats worked.

She had  good run and a few times I called her over made a fuss and gave her a treat.

When it was lead time I did the same and she instantly came. Even better she was flirting with another dog at the time and came when called lol more than the other dog did whos owner was about blue in the face calling him. She let me put the lead on and got another treat.

yes her speed is unbelievable. She is my first whippet. I use to work with racing greyhounds and although I new they enjoyed to run I really didnt appreciate how much  until I  got Megan. Even just going around in a circle as long as she can run She has the biggest smile on her face the whole time. It is great exercise for the russell as she chases her lol.

Wendy

My collie is 18 months old now and I still give her treats when I call her back to me.  Her little whippet friend always runs in a bigger circle around - my Meg (!) she soon learnt not to follow but to cut corners.  Now she and her friend Smudge take turns in playing catch me.  He is a delightful little dog - grey and white with one patch on his rump that looks like a horse's head.  I could take him home with me any day. 

I remember this phase so well, Wendy! Only at about 6 months old, having been no trouble up to then, His Lordship decided that he'd now be going back on the lead when it suited him. He also played the come up close then tear off and put himself out of reach game. Indeed, he was such a little git that I can still remember having to throw myself dramatically down on the ground (desperately hoping I wasn't go to get up and discover my hair full of some other dog's poo!) and play dead in order to get him out of Friston Forest one afternoon.

Not being tremendously food orientated, I had to find a really tasty treat first, then worked out a series of cunning plans which involved taking his lead off and on when he wasn't expecting it and also completely baffling him about when he'd go back on the lead during familiar walks. So just when he was expecting his lead on again, I'd carry on walking or change direction so he couldn't work out how the walk was going to end. I also never let him see the lead so he didn't get advance warning!

I still carry treats on walks - although nothing very exciting - because he knows that when my hand goes into my pocket to get one out, it's time for the lead to go back on and I don't expect to argue the matter!

Hi

all has been going great with the treats. she is so much better and responding more.

But this morning was the best. Took them out and it is blowing a gale but needed to take them now as I am working shortly. They had a good run and then the heavens opened. Enough is enough shouted them over and before I even had the leads ready the two of them were standing waiting. Didnt wait for treats once the leads were on either they turned and pulled me home Lol

Wendy