What can we do for a dog that ignores its owner when out.
If we meet another dog he runs off to greet it. When he is
called he will come back happily but if he see's another dog
he ignores us. He is socialized to other breeds of dog.
He thinks that all other dogs should love him.
Apart from this he is a very good dog, but it worry's me that
he switches off. Has anyone got any advice what I can do.
He is shown and will try and stick his nose into other dogs on
the benches as we walk by. I have to hold him tight as he
will get bitten yet if he keeps doing this.

Hi Nutkin,
What breed, what sex and how old? I have been working through this problem with my 16 month old Beardie dog. He loves all other dogs and went deaf esp at training classes when off lead also he seems to either be totally unaware off or totally misunderstand signals given by other dogs, if they growl show teeth he just wags harder. On the other hand he is easily frightened by loud dogs and will run and hide. After one particularly bad class I had a think and decided I would have to work harder and put him in the situations that were difficult rather than avoiding them. I was planning to use a long line but in fact I haven't needed to, I already use a clicker but toys titbits or whatever will do. All I have done is gone out and called him back much more often when there are no distractions clicked and titbit but praise toy food whatever will do. If he ignores me I use a very firm voice to get him to look as soon as he looks change to light voice click food. So far it sems to be working if he is a bit slow and my other dog arrives first I sometimes say too late give her the food then ask him to sit or somethin then treat. Also I ask him to down if I see another dog coming even when he is on lead and praise for that too. I still get bits of ignoring esp if nice smells are around (hormones?) but I would say he is 50% better in about 3 weeks and all it has taken was some hard thinking and a bit of work on my part. These things can creep up on you I don't often meet any other dogs when I'm out so had not really appreciated that the behaviour was getting out of control. Hope this helps Anne

My 3yr old "collie-cross" Ben is pretty much the same. I have to keep calling him back on a regular basis so he knows I've got treats (shame toys don't work with him). I keep a close eye on his behavior when we're out to see if he's "in the mood" to run! If I see another dog, I'll be telling him no and leave it, before he's thought about going for a visit. If I can stop the outward run in the first place we tend to be okay. Some days though I just know nothing I say will stop him so he stays on a long lead until the temptation is passed.

Have you tried caviar as a treat?

But seriously, trying to bribe your dogs back to you with ever tastier treats is always going to be hard, and not terribly reliable. The reality is, other things are more exciting than being with their owner, and it's a tough job to overcome this. Firstly, they have to learn that when you call them once, and once only, they have to return, no matter what they are doing/sniffing/eating. Use a line or restricted area until this happens every single time. No repeat calling, chasing after etc, waving favourite toy in the air. With gundogs we don't allow any free hunting until they have learnt that everything exciting is going to happen around the owner, and that getting more than a couple of yards away is quite far enough, you can always push them out later. Problem is, we always instill this from day one, so I'm not sure if the solution will work for older dogs that have already tasted freedom, so to speak. Another thing to try, but again may only work with younger dogs, is to hide from them. Sure they carry on doing what they're doing, but sooner or later they twig that you're not there, then the panic sets in. If they can still see you or hear you calling, it won't work. Remember when you lost your mum in Marks & Sparks? Same with dogs. I guess there are some strong willed independant dogs out there, and for those I suppose you have to live with it, but as with toilet training, which we all achieve almost 100% reliably, the same consistant training and dedication is needed to sort the recall, starting right from the beginning.

Hello and thank you everyone.
My dog is 11 months old, and a Weimaraner.
When we have no distraction he comes back.
If he has something else to think about he will
not come back. He goes deaf. Yet he has brilliant
hearing as he can hear a pin drop if he wants. so
its him choosing to ignore us. If another dog is
present he is gone. The only thing that has worked
is to run in the oposite direction and make daft noises
then he comes running. But I cant keep doing this.
I want him to come when I call. Its so wierd as I own
other dogs and they all come on first call, and two dont
leave my side. Then their is our boy who is gone like
a flash. Its not as if he sees no other dogs as we own
four beside him. Its not as if he is not socialized as he
is weekly. He ran up to someone with out a dog three
weeks ago and the woman was so upset. She did not
like dogs. I myself felt aweful as I know full well how
terrible it must be to be approached by a dog full of
the joys of life and being scared of dogs. I really felt bad.
Because this dog is my responsibility no one elses.
So any advice is really welcomed.
Nutkin

Hi Nutkin
I just want to let you know you are not the only one, because sometimes I feel like im the only one on the park who has a naughty dog and people look down their noses at me!
I put nellie on a long line called a lunge line normally used for horses. She is 7mths old now and ive had it on her for the past three months after enough was enough and I decided to take control. It was really funny because when she was off the lead running round like a lunatic people would look at me as if to say get your dog under control and I was constantly saying sorry. Then when she was on the line I would get comments like "oh poor thing let her off to have a play" its so annoying!!!
anyway the lead starting rubbing her and causing sores on her chest and under her front leads where she was pulling on it so I decided to let her off it after three mths to see how it goes. The first time was brilliant she was constantly watching me and even came back when she saw another dog and now a week later back to her old self, she even looking for things to run off to!! so I am afraid I am back to square one and I let her off to soon. So I am going to sow some sheepskin stuff on it so it doesnt rub and start all over again!!! Good luck I really do know how frustrating it is.

Hi Rachael

I don't know if this is of any use to you but this is what we have done from day one with our weimars and I would say their recall is good in that 99% of the time they will recall particularly if I use the whistle. Unless they get the whiff of deer or a rabbit and well sometimes that can take a few whistles OR my emergency voice :rolleyes:

When out walking and they are in front of me I will often change the direction I'm walking in without telling them, I do this from them being babies when they are not quite confident enough to run too far away from me and still do it now even though my oldest is nearly 4 yrs. I will also hide say behind a tree, just long enough for them to look up and run back to try and find me, then I'll walk out from behind the tree as if "well this is what I do, I chose to go behind the tree, it's not a hide and seek game"

I have found this teaches them to keep their eye on me and not me keeping an eye on them. Now when they are running ahead they will keep looking back every few seconds just to make sure I'm still there. ;-) If I see another dog in the distance that I don't want to meet I will either whistle to get their attention and point in the direction I want to go or simply change direction without saying anything and 2 seconds later they are following me. Either that or I may recall my dogs, get them to sit, give a treat and pop them on the lead and do some heel work. I also do all of this even when there are no dogs in sight as I don't want them to associate changing direction or being put back on the lead with a dog approaching.

HTH. :-)

Nellie and Clare
Thanks for your replies.
I will try your suggestion Clare as this could work.
He is so full of himself as last night at ring craft he
was trying to play with another Weimaraner and he
was so excited. He thinks all dogs love him.
A Samoyed who is lovely wants to play with him and
our boy thinks its just the best. Its nice to let
them be so friendly yet when out he has to realise
they may not all be friendly. Also getting him back.
I will try your suggestions. Thanks Clare.
Nutkin